Funding Compass

 

Funding research and plan for nonprofit leaders

Your mission deserves the right backers.

A researched shortlist of the funders best matched to your work, the smartest way in, and a 90-day plan. Delivered to your inbox in seven business days.

One-time fee. No subscription.

The Funding CompassFictional example

Headwaters Conservation Alliance · river restoration and community stewardship · $2.1M budget

Watershed Community FoundationStrong match

Funds river health and land stewardship across a three-state basin. Typical grant $30K–$90K.

Fernhill Family FoundationStrong match

Invites letters of inquiry each fall; favors community-led conservation. Typical grant $50K–$150K.

Summit Outfitters Giving ProgramWorth a call

Grants guided by employee votes, focused on trails and waterways. Typical grant $5K–$25K.

State Water Quality Improvement GrantsGood fit

Competitive; strongest with a municipal or university partner. $100K and up.

Your first moveRequest a 20-minute introduction with Watershed's program officer before their fall letter-of-inquiry window.
The difference

Walk into your next funder conversation knowing you belong there.

The right funders are already out there, looking for work like yours. In seven days you will have a shortlist you can trust, a clear way in, and a plan for the next ninety days, so your energy goes into conversations, not searching.

For leaders like you

Lead with clarity.

For the directors, chiefs and executives who carry a mission, and the responsibility of funding it. Whatever your title, you'll find a clear place to begin, and the confidence to lead the conversation.

How it works

Three steps. Five minutes of your time.

i.

Answer ten questions

A short form about your organization and what you want funding for. No donor lists or personal information.

ii.

We research

We read your public information and each funder's own guidelines, then check the details that matter.

iii.

You receive your report

A PDF in your inbox within seven business days. If you'd like to talk it through, you can book a call separately.

What's inside

A report you can act on this quarter.

Short, specific and written for busy leaders. About ten funders that fit, three first moves, and a plan.

Page one

Your snapshot

Mission, programs, geography and budget, in funder language.

Pages two to four

Funder shortlist

Why each fits, how to approach it, timing and your next step.

Page five

Moves and 90-day plan

Three first moves and a week-by-week plan.

Page six

Before you apply

What was checked, when, and what to confirm.

A note on accuracy

Honest about what was checked.

Funder details change. Every report shows what we checked and when, and what to confirm before you apply. It's a researched starting point, not a promise of funding.

The report

Everything you need to make the first move.

One report. One clear plan.

The Funding Compass

$350

One-time fee. Delivered in seven business days.

Get your Funding Compass
  • A one-page snapshot of your organization, in funder language
  • About ten funders that fit, with how to approach each and your next step
  • Three recommended first moves
  • A 90-day action plan
  • A clear list of what to confirm before you apply
  • One round of revisions by email
  • A strategy call is not included. It is optional and booked separately.
About Alivest

Funding strategy grounded in research.

Alivest helps nonprofits build funding strategies from careful research, including newer options like mission-related and program-related investments. Jensyn Hallett has spent over fifteen years driving social and economic change — as Executive Director of Southern Capital Project, Director of Impact Capital at Heifer International, and now leading strategic partnerships at Invest for Better.

Questions

Before you begin.

What information do you need from me?

Ten questions about your organization, your work and what you want funding for. About five minutes. Please don't send donor lists or personal information.

Do you guarantee funding?

No. No one can. You receive a researched shortlist, a clear plan and an honest list of what to confirm before you apply.

How is this made?

Research and drafting are supported by AI tools and reviewed personally by Jensyn before delivery.

How soon will I receive my report?

Within seven business days of receiving your completed form, as a PDF by email.

Is a call included?

No. A strategy call is optional and priced separately. If you'd like to talk your report through, a link to book one comes with it.

Can I get a refund?

If you're not satisfied with your report, email us within 7 days of delivery and we'll issue a full refund.

Is my information private?

We use it only to build your report and never share or sell it. If you'd like it deleted, just email us.

Your next great funder conversation starts here.

Answer ten questions. Receive a shortlist and a plan.