We know that there are many systemic barriers and inequities that make it challenging for organizations to apply for funding opportunities. To support organizations as they navigate Best Starts for Kids’ application processes, we partner with technical assistance (TA) consultants who bring a wide range of skills, areas of expertise, and language abilities to listen, support, and amplify the strengths of community-based organizations.
We recently completed a new request for qualifications process to identify TA consultants. We are excited to introduce our new TA consultants, who can support applicants by:
- Helping to determine appropriate fit between your proposal and the funding opportunity.
- Helping navigate our online application platform.
- Providing guidance on how best to answer application questions.
- Supporting your application’s development, including editing and budget review.
If you are interested in applying for an open and/or upcoming funding opportunity and would like to partner with a TA consultant, please reach out directly to them below. We encourage you to only contact one TA consultant and provide them 24 hours to respond before contacting any other consultants. If you would like TA in a language other than English, please contact jknickrehm@kingcounty.gov.
Please note, we encourage you to reach out to a TA consultant as early as possible. We cannot guarantee TA provider availability within 5 business days of when the funding opportunity closes.
Click on the links below to learn more about our consultants!
- Big Beard Media
- Collaborative Partners Initiative
- Communities Rise
- Crux Consulting Consortium
- Dicentra
- Inclusive Data
- reimagine collective
- RHL Consulting
Big Beard Media
Big Beard Media (BBM)’s strategists and problem-solvers can support with grant proposal development and technical writing. Rooted in cultural humility, lived experiences and inclusivity, we honor the unique practices and voices of the communities we serve. Our multilingual team speaks English, Somali, Arabic, and French, ensuring that our communication is accessible and equitable. We listen intentionally, collaborate closely, and co-create strategies that align with your mission and vision. We are committed to fostering innovation, adaptability, and community empowerment, equipping community-based organizations to grow, lead, and drive sustainable, lasting change.
Contact: mustafa@bigbeardstudio.com
Collaborative Partners Initiative
Collaborative Partners Initiative (CPIN) is a woman-led, veteran-owned organization committed to turning ideas into action. Our team brings over 50 years of combined experience providing technical assistance and capacity-building support to diverse organizations. We specialize in grant writing support, grant management and grant accounting, strategic planning, & community outreach, always tailoring our services to meet each organization’s unique needs. With team members fluent in Somali, Swahili, Urdu, Spanish, and English, and support potentially available in other languages, CPIN works with organizations to strengthen their capacity and tell their stories in ways that resonate with funders and communities alike. CPIN values accessibility, cultural humility, and authentic relationship-building. We have partnered with 40+ organizations—many led by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color—helping them secure resources, overcome barriers, and achieve sustainability in areas including homelessness, community health, workforce development, the arts, immigrant rights, and more.
Contact: asilva@thecpin.com
Communities Rise
Communities Rise fosters movements to build power in communities in Washington impacted by systemic oppression. Communities Rise provides technical assistance on grant applications for Best Starts for Kids funding opportunities. We can work directly with you to give feedback and editing advice on your draft proposal. Please note that we can assist at many stages in the process of brainstorming, development, editing, and polishing, but TA does not include writing your proposal. By valuing community voices, prioritizing racial equity, and sharing knowledge, we aim to build thriving communities. Communities Rise prioritizes providing TA to organizations that:
- Meet all eligibility requirements for the relevant Request for Proposals (RFP);
- Have an operating budget of $500,000 or less; some exceptions for those under $1M;
- Serve communities impacted by systemic oppression, which includes communities of color, immigrant and refugee communities, LGBTQ communities, persons with disabilities;
- Whose leadership (Leadership Staff and Board of Directors) reflect the communities they serve.
Contact: cbclinics@communities-rise.org
Crux Consulting Consortium
Crux is a multidisciplinary consulting group that supports the development of strong leaders and leadership. At the heart of all that we do is a deep commitment to principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. At Crux we use our skills in grant and technical writing to elevate your expertise and your organization in order to develop a winning proposal. We listen deeply to understand your organization’s needs and values, and work with you to craft the clearest expression of that for each proposal. Crux is 20+ members, partners, and staff with rich experiences working with non-profits, grassroots organizations, and public institutions. Crux has decades of experience in leadership in multiple sectors including health and human services, community action networks, early childhood education, among others. We work with communities of color in the areas of youth development, education, workforce development, community health, homelessness, food security and immigrant/refugee issues.
Contact: douglas@cruxnw.com
Dicentra
Dicentra Consulting’s team — Swee May Cripe, Ashenafi Cherkos, Carol Chin, and Jennifer Fricas — is delighted to support community-based organizations (CBOs), small businesses, and other organizations in applying for funding. Our team speaks Amharic, Cantonese, Korean, Malay, Spanish, and Tigrina. We have many years of experience writing proposals that get funded, designing projects, analyzing data, visualizing data, and conducting evaluations. We focus on building transformational relationships that are based on trust and respect. To promote social justice, we orient our work around community knowledge, experience, and values. We understand that every person has value, and we want to help you promote voices from your community. We will first listen to understand the vision and mission of your CBO or small business and what you hope to do with the funding received. Then we will agree together on how we can best support you to tell your story. We are excited to help you craft strong proposals that will be funded and lead to successful programs!
Contact: askdicentra@gmail.com
Inclusive Data
Inclusive Data is a consulting team of grant winners and tech wizards who support clients in creating community-led solutions. We’ve honed our grant skills into a $30+ million playbook for non-profits and small businesses in our community. We’re proud to mirror the communities we serve. For Best Starts, we provide both Technical Assistance and Capacity-Building in English, Spanish, Hiligaynon, and Tagalog. If you want help creating your own irresistible grant proposals, building the capacity of your team to create their own solutions, we are here to support you. Contact us today to start your winning proposal.
Contact: bsk@inclusivedatasolutions.com
reimagine collective
reimagine collective provides tailored technical assistance to help organizations successfully apply for funding opportunities, leveraging over 20 years of experience working with community-based organizations across the county. We help demystify the funding process by helping organizations identify opportunities, align their goals with funding priorities, and craft compelling applications. We have supported organizations applying for Best Starts for Kids funding opportunities, as well as county, state and federal grants. Our approach is to help nonprofit leaders become more confident in the art and science of grant writing.
Contact: marianne@reimaginecollective.co
RHL Consulting
RHL Consulting provides free technical assistance to organizations applying for Best Starts for Kids. We understand that grant writing can be challenging and time-intensive, often requiring resources that may be limited or unavailable within your organization—yet it’s crucial for organizational sustainability. Our technical assistance services include:
- Application Assessment – We help evaluate your organization’s eligibility and ensure proposal alignment with funding requirements.
- Grant Navigation Support – Our team guides you through grant requirements and serves as a liaison between your organization and Best Starts for Kids project coordinators as needed.
- Comprehensive Review – We provide detailed feedback and editing support for all application components, including narrative question responses and budgets.
Our commitment is to help you tell your story authentically, in your own voice. Our clients report feeling genuinely supported throughout the process while gaining valuable grant-writing skills that benefit them long-term.
Contact: rhlconsultingteam@gmail.com
