MEET US

We are a team of funding strategists, researchers, and philanthropic advisors helping mission-driven nonprofits grow the support they need to amplify their impact.

About us

We bring strategy, candor, and clarity to the fundraising process

Founded in 2023, we set out with a clear mission: to help nonprofits build strong, effective funding strategies that actually support their work.

Since then, we’ve helped clients secure over $10M in funding and expanded our services to include individual giving strategy, annual and major gift campaigns, fundraising systems and operations for small teams, and comprehensive organizational fund development.

What sets us apart is our commitment to bridging the equity, knowledge, and resource gap between small, grassroots organizations and the massive billion-dollar nonprofits.

[Courtney] quickly proved herself as the best grant writer we had had during my tenure, and she remains one of the most outstanding staff members I have hired in my career.

-Llewellyn Crain, Director of Philanthropy
San Diego Opera

We are driven by a desire to simplify and streamline fundraising for nonprofits so they can maximize their impact

Our team

Courtney Oliphant

CEO/Co-Founder/Principal

Courtney Oliphant, GPC brings over 12 years of experience in nonprofit grant consulting and management. Driven by a passion for supporting under-resourced communities and fostering impactful change, she is dedicated to helping organizations unlock their fundraising potential.

Learn more about Courtney

Juliana Choi

CO-Founder

Juliana Choi received a BA in English from UC Berkeley and an MA in Literature from UC San Diego. She is a San Diego-based grant writer supporting arts and cultural institutions and humanitarian nonprofits. Prior to her work as a grant writer, she taught writing and modern Japanese literature courses at UCSD and provided digital content for an educational non-profit.  Her passion project is Special Education advocacy. 

AJ Dinsmore

Grants MANAGER & Research Specialist

AJ Dinsmore brings 5 years experience in grantwriting and nonprofit strategy development. They are driven by a deep passion for supporting under-resourced communities and helping to build a more equitable and diverse world.

Learn more about AJ

Kathleen Buckley

Grant Manager

Kathleen (Katie) Buckley, GPC is a certified grant strategist based in Saint John and Toronto, Canada. She has helped secure over $3.5 million and specializes in non-profit grant writing and consulting for arts and culture programs.

Doug Oliphant

COO/Principal

Doug Oliphant brings 7 years of on-the-ground experience in development departments that raised between $2.5M and $11M annually, establishing expertise in major gift solicitation, prospect pipeline development, annual fund campaign strategy, and operations. He is driven by a deep belief in nonprofits' ability to unite communities and transform lives, and the philanthropic people who make it all possible.

Learn more about Doug

John Paul Corton

MARKETING SPECIALIST

John Paul Corton is a Marketing Specialist with experience in digital marketing, content creation, and social media management. With a background in multimedia and film, he brings strong visual storytelling skills to his work. His mission is to help organizations strengthen their brand presence and communicate effectively through strategic marketing and engaging digital content.

Carrie Buchan

Office Manager

Carrie Buchan has over 30 years as a business professional in both the nonprofit and commercial sectors. With a wealth of experience in leadership development, strategic planning, and public relations, she has a passion for driving organizations toward their goals.

Learn more about Carrie

We bring a fresh perspective and a diversity of experience to the fundraising process.

We blend grant writing, fundraising and operations know-how with wide-ranging lived and professional experiences that bring depth and a unique lens to this work.

Our team’s passion for the arts extends beyond our work

You can find our team members:

  • Co-producing and writing podcasts

  • Serving on boards that promote arts, culture, and social justice

  • Supporting local theater through fundraising and advocacy

  • Writing grants for fun (true story: AJ was successfully accepted into a prestigious writer’s program from one of her submissions)

Outside of the arts, we’re a team that loves to get outside, explore and spend time with our families.

OUT OF OFFICE
Courtney and Doug in front of step and repeat at the Old Globe

Learn more about working with us

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