Service Path

Northstar Package

For most new clients, the Northstar Package is required to start services, as this package builds the foundation for your grant-seeking strategy. Here’s what’s included:

  • One Strategy Meeting

  • One Nonprofit Wellness Audit

  • One Master Grant Template

  • One Prospect Report with 10-15 Grant Leads

  • One Implementation Meeting

Package turnaround time is 8-12 weeks; 5 additional leads for the prospect report can be purchased separately. After the implementation meeting, your agency can decide if you’re ready for retainer support as the next step.

Retainer Support

Strong grant programs are built through consistent strategy—not one-off submissions. Our 12-month retainer model is designed for organizations seeking long-term funding growth, stronger funder relationships, and a more intentional approach to grant development.

Rather than reacting to isolated opportunities, retainer clients receive ongoing strategic support throughout the year. This allows us to proactively build grant pipelines, pursue multiple aligned opportunities, strengthen proposal quality over time, and prepare organizations for sustainable funding success.

Retainer partnerships are especially effective because they create continuity across prospect research, proposal development, funder stewardship, grant calendars, and organizational planning. With dedicated monthly support, your organization gains a trusted, expert grant strategist without the cost of a full-time development hire.

Flexible Credit-Based Support Model

Each retainer operates to produce funding assets for your agency through a flexible credit system. Funding assets are resources designed to support your agency in the long-run; each asset is assigned a credit value based on the level of strategy, complexity, and development required. This structure allows organizations to prioritize the support most valuable to their goals throughout the year. Each retainer includes a baseline of 18 flexible credits and 5 fixed credits; more credits can be purchased to add more funding assets to your plan.

Credits Allocation

Flexible Credits

Funding Asset + (Credit Value)

LOI (1)

Foundation/Corporate Grants (2)

State Grants (4)

Federal Grants (Under 10 pages) (6)

Federal Grants (Over 10 pages) (10)

Performance Report (2)

Corporate Solicitation Plan (3)

Annual Appeals (2)

Annual Report (4)

Monthly Newsletters & social media posts (6)

Fixed Credits

The 5 fixed credits are reserved for core ongoing support, including:

  • Monthly strategy call

  • Ongoing prospect research

  • 48-hour business-hour response time for grant-related questions and needs.

    This structure ensures both consistency and flexibility—balancing proactive strategy with responsive, hands-on support.

Need service navigation?

Schedule your free Discovery Sales Call to learn more about the Northstar Package and building the best credit-based Retainer Support for your organization.

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Retainer Policy:

Retainer agreements are structured as 12-month partnerships with a 30-day cancellation notice policy. Additional credits may be purchased at any time to expand support, pursue emerging opportunities, or add strategic funding assets beyond the standard retainer allocation.
This model provides the structure needed for sustained grant success while maintaining the flexibility to respond to emerging opportunities throughout the year.