$47 sessions with Whitney. 30 minutes, 1:1, credited toward your project. Start My Funding Plan

Your mission
deserves
funding.Grant writing & nonprofit formation services

I'm Whitney Fagan. From your first IRS filing to your first grant application, I'll guide you through every step of building a fundable nonprofit.

Start My Funding Plan See the three stages
Whitney of Words by Whitney Consulting, grant writing and nonprofit formation consultant, standing in a gold arch

Over a decade of grant writing and nonprofit development, helping organizations across the country get funded and stay compliant.

Stop guessing.
Start granting.

Plenty of founders get stuck on what to do first. Does any of this sound familiar?

  • No EIN, board, or bylaws yet. You have a mission and a name, but not the paperwork behind it.

  • Form 1023 is open in another tab. And you're not sure where to begin, or which form is even right.

  • Applications, then silence. You've applied for grants and heard nothing back.

  • Missing what funders ask for. A budget, outcomes, or financials you don't have ready.

  • Writing at midnight. Proposals squeezed in after your day job, with no one to check them.

  • Not sure you can apply yet. You don't know if grants are possible before 501(c)(3) status.

Start with the order of operations. In 30 minutes, you and Whitney put your next steps in order, from paperwork to proposals.

Start My Funding Plan

Where are you
right now?

Nonprofit formation, grant readiness, and grant writing services, matched to your stage. Pick the one that sounds like you.

Nonprofit Formation & 501(c)(3) Status

Turn your idea into a legally formed nonprofit. Whitney guides you through incorporation and your IRS application, so you know which form fits before you file and you set things up right the first time.

Start My Formation Plan

What's included

  • Incorporation, EIN, and bylaws
  • Board structure and conflict of interest policy
  • IRS Form 1023 or 1023-EZ, prepared with you
  • A plan for what comes after your determination letter

Grant Readiness

Get grant ready before you apply. Build the documents and story funders expect to see once, then reuse them for every grant that fits.

Start My Grant Plan

What's included

  • Mission, need, and program narrative
  • Program budget and measurable outcomes
  • A researched funder list and deadline calendar

Grant Writing Services

Professional grant writing for foundation, corporate, and government grants. Full applications written, edited, and checked against each funder's requirements, in your voice.

Start My Grant Plan

What's included

  • Letters of inquiry and full grant proposals
  • Needs statements grounded in real community data
  • Budget narratives that match your numbers
  • A final review before you submit
Whitney holding a laptop, writing grant proposals for nonprofit clients

The right words
win grants.

A grant application is an argument. Funders read stacks of them, and the ones that get funded make the need, the plan, and the proof impossible to miss. Whitney writes yours so it sounds like you, only sharper.

What a strong application covers

  1. A funder who actually supports work like yours
  2. A needs statement grounded in real community data
  3. Clear goals with outcomes you can measure
  4. A budget and narrative that tell the same story
  5. A final check against the funder's own guidelines

How we
work together.

Four steps, and the first one is a 30-minute session.

  1. Book your session

    30 minutes, 1:1 with Whitney, for $47. Hire her within 30 days and the full $47 goes toward your project.

  2. Get your plan

    Leave with your next steps in order, whether or not you hire her.

  3. Build it together

    Formation filings, grant-ready documents, or full applications, done with you.

  4. Submit with confidence

    Every piece complete, consistent, and in before the deadline.

Start My Funding Plan

$47, credited toward your project within 30 days.

Whitney, grant writer and nonprofit formation consultant, seated on a cream sofa in front of an arched wall

Hi, I'm
Whitney.

Words by Whitney exists for founders who are long on purpose and short on time. I help you turn a vision into a legally formed nonprofit, and then into a fundable one, with clear steps, honest timelines, and writing that sounds like you on your best day.

No one can promise you a grant. My job is to make sure that when the opportunity comes, you're ready for it.

Educate, empower, elevate. That's how I work with every founder, from the first conversation to the final submission.

I've spent over a decade in grant writing and nonprofit development, and I bring that to every founder I work with.

Whitney
Start My Funding Plan

Founders,
in their words.

“She helped me set up my nonprofit back in 2022, and it came back super fast. Since then, our nonprofit has educated over 100 people.”

Dionte LanteCEO, Journey To DevelopHER

“My back was against the wall, but she got me together in 24 hrs! Tap in with her for all your 501(c)(3) needs.”

Brandon BeasleyNonprofit founder, via Facebook

“Yes! My nonprofit is ready. I just received the IRS approval letter yesterday, so let’s go!”

CathyNonprofit founder, via email
  • Email from a client named Cathy: my nonprofit is ready, I just received the IRS approval letter yesterday
  • Facebook post from Brandon Beasley thanking Whitney Michelle Fagan for getting his 501(c)(3) paperwork together in 24 hours
  • Text message from a client: my nonprofit is now official, with a photo of the IRS envelope
  • Instagram story thanking Whitney Michelle Fagan, showing an IRS determination letter with details blurred
  • Text message with photos of an IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter, details blurred

Messages and IRS approval letters shared by Whitney’s clients. Personal details are blurred. Individual results vary.

Questions,
answered.

Have one that isn't here? Bring it to your session.

Not sure yet? Start with a free 15-minute intro call and find out which session fits.

Book a free intro call
Can I apply for grants before I have 501(c)(3) status?

Sometimes. Some funders accept applications through a fiscal sponsor, and a few fund new projects or individuals. Most foundation and government grants require 501(c)(3) status. In your session, Whitney will help you see which path fits your timeline.

What does it cost?

Funding Plan Sessions are $47 for 30 minutes, and each includes a written next-step summary and a checklist. If you hire Whitney for a project within 30 days, the full $47 is credited toward it. Projects are quoted in writing before any work begins.

Can I reschedule or cancel my session?

Yes. You can reschedule for free up to 24 hours before your session using the link in your confirmation. Sessions cancelled inside 24 hours, or missed, are not refunded. If Whitney has to cancel, you get a full refund or a new time, your choice.

What can we cover in one session?

Anything from forming your nonprofit to planning your next grant. Tell Whitney where you are when you book, and she'll focus your 30 minutes there.

How long does it take to get 501(c)(3) status?

The IRS sets the timeline, and it varies. Form 1023-EZ decisions usually come back faster than the full Form 1023. What you can control is filing the right form with a complete application, so avoidable mistakes don't add months.

How do I find grant funding for my nonprofit?

Start with funders whose priorities match your mission and location: community foundations, local corporate giving programs, family foundations, and government opportunities listed on Grants.gov. Grant readiness includes building that researched funder list with you.

Do you guarantee I'll get funded?

No, and be careful with anyone who does. Funders make their own decisions. Whitney's job is to make your application clear, complete, and well matched to funders who support work like yours.

I only have an idea. Is it too early to talk?

Not at all. Founders at the idea stage are exactly who formation is for. Starting with the right structure saves you time and money later.

We're new with no track record. Will funders take us seriously?

Funders fund proof, and proof can start small: a pilot program, a realistic budget, and outcomes you can measure. Grant readiness is where you build it, and where you find the local funders most open to newer organizations.

I already have 501(c)(3) status. Can you still help?

Yes. Many organizations come in at grant readiness or grant writing. Bring a funder you're considering, or a past application that didn't land, and Whitney will tell you what she sees.

Should I file Form 1023 or Form 1023-EZ?

It depends on your projected revenue and assets, and the wrong choice can cost you months. Whitney will walk through eligibility with you before anything is filed.

Is this legal or tax advice?

No. Whitney prepares documents and guides you through the process. When a question needs an attorney or CPA, she'll tell you.

Nonprofits
start here.

Sit down 1:1 with Whitney for 30 focused minutes. Bring your idea, your questions, and wherever you are in the process. You'll leave knowing exactly what to do next.

This is for you if:

  • You have a mission and need funding to bring it to life.
  • You're not sure where to start with grants or nonprofit setup.
  • You want to spend your time on funders that fit your work.
  • You want one person who has done this before to walk you through it.

Why start now: many foundations review grants on fixed annual cycles, and IRS review of a 501(c)(3) application can take months. Starting early gives you more deadlines to choose from.

Questions first? Write to Whitney

Whitney seated in a cream armchair, smiling, ready for your 1:1 session

Book your Funding Plan Session

One 30-minute session for wherever you are. Tell Whitney when you book whether you need help with formation, grants, or both.

Funding Plan Session

For founders forming a nonprofit or getting ready for grants

$4730 minutes, 1:1

What you get

  • 30 minutes 1:1 with Whitney on your nonprofit or grant plan
  • A written next-step summary after your session
  • $47 credited toward any project you start with Whitney within 30 days
Included: your checklist (PDF), Nonprofit Formation or Grant Ready, whichever fits where you are
Start My Funding Plan

What we can cover

Nonprofit formation

  • Which IRS form fits you: 1023 or 1023-EZ
  • Your formation steps, in the right order
  • Board, bylaws, and state filing questions

Grants

  • Send one draft or past application ahead for review
  • The funders to research first
  • What to fix before your next application

Not ready to pay yet? Book a free 15-minute intro call

Sessions are paid when you book. Reschedule free up to 24 hours before your session. No refunds for cancellations inside 24 hours or missed sessions. By booking, you agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

Not ready to
book yet?

Start with a free 15-minute intro call. Tell Whitney where you are, and she'll tell you honestly which next step makes sense.

Book my free intro call