Grant research for nonprofits
Find funding that fits your mission.
by Shawn Mattern
Personalized grant research and funding reports for small nonprofits, so you can spend less time searching and more time serving.
Three researched opportunities. A thoughtful place to begin.
Opens a prefilled email for you to review and send.
to possibility. Your funding report · Sample layout
- 01 Example Foundation Alignment: strong
- 02 Example Community Trust Alignment: moderate
- 03 Example Family Fund Alignment: worth reviewing
Researched with your mission in mind.Illustrative only
Personal attention. Purposeful research.
Meet your research partner- B.S. in Sociology
- Social Work Minor
- Grant Research Experience
- Arizona-Based, Serving Nonprofits Nationwide
The person behind the research
A personal approach
Thoughtful research.
A personal commitment
to your mission.
Shawn Mattern · Founder & Grant Research Consultant
Shawn Mattern founded Midnitestar Consulting to bring small nonprofits the kind of careful funding research that usually sits out of reach.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology with a minor in Social Work, and she has grant research experience at Global Impact Initiative, where she identified grant opportunities and compiled funder information.
That work shapes how she approaches every engagement here: personalized research that helps nonprofits find opportunities relevant to their mission, organized clearly enough to act on.
Who I help
Built for organizations doing the work.
Research services designed for mission-driven teams that need funding options but don’t have hours to spend searching for them.
-
Small & mid‑size nonprofits
Lean teams that need a clear, organized view of funding opportunities relevant to their mission.
-
Community programs
Local and community-based programs looking for funders that support their population and service area.
-
New or growing initiatives
Organizations planning a new program, an expansion, or a capital need that calls for focused research.
-
Busy staff & boards
Directors, staff, and volunteers who want researched options organized in one place so they can decide where to focus.
Research services
Funding research,
shaped around your mission.
Choose the level of research that matches where your organization is right now.
-
Starter Funding Report
$500–750 one-time
8–10 researched opportunities with funder details, award range, deadline, eligibility, funding priorities, and an alignment assessment.
- 8–10 researched opportunities
- Funder details, deadlines & eligibility
- Alignment assessment for each
-
Ongoing support
Monthly Funding Monitor
$750–1,200 /month
Ongoing opportunity research, updated deadlines, new matches, and monthly prioritization.
- New matches as opportunities open
- Updated deadlines, all in one place
- Monthly prioritization
-
Custom Funding Research
Starting at $750 per project
Focused research for a specific program, population, expansion project, capital need, or geographic area.
- Focused on one program or population
- Expansion, capital, or geographic needs
- Scope and quote shaped to the project
Starting prices. Final quote depends on scope. Flat fees only; no commission on awarded funds. Opens a prefilled email for you to review and send.
The process
From your mission to a plan you can act on.
-
Free
Free 3-grant shortlist
You email a short description of your mission, location, and funding priorities. I send back three grant opportunities that appear to align, so you can see how I research before anything is paid.
-
Paid report
Your funding report
If you want to go further, a paid funding report expands that research into a full set of researched opportunities with funder details, award ranges, deadlines, eligibility, and an alignment assessment, organized in one place.
-
Your call
Choose your next steps
Use your report to prioritize opportunities and plan your organization’s applications. Ongoing monitoring is available as a separate paid service.
Inside your report
Clarity you
can act on.
Every researched opportunity is presented the same way, so you can compare options side by side instead of piecing together scattered notes.
Alignment reflects how closely the opportunity appears to match your organization’s mission, geography, programs, and eligibility requirements. It is not a prediction of funding.
| Funder | Example Foundation — fictional |
|---|---|
| Award range | Illustrative range |
| Deadline | Example deadline |
| Eligibility | Organization type, geography, and program requirements |
| Funding priorities | Focus areas the funder has stated it supports |
| Alignment Assessment | Strong Example: strong alignment, subject to eligibility review |
A little clarity
Questions
worth asking.
Clear expectations, before we begin.
Do you guarantee funding?
No. Funders make the final decisions. I identify strong potential matches through research so you can decide where to apply.
Do you work on commission?
No. Services use flat fees, never a percentage of awarded funds.
Who do you work with?
Small and mid-size nonprofits anywhere in the United States.
How long does a funding report take?
Typically 5–7 business days after I receive the information needed to begin. Timing is confirmed when we agree on scope.
Your next chapter starts here
Ready to find
your next grant?
Tell me about your mission and what you need funding for. I’ll send back three opportunities that appear to align, at no cost.
Get your free 3-grant shortlist
Opens a prefilled email for you to review and send.