Sharmila Sitther
- Community-Centric Fundraising
- Outcome Reporting
- Prospect Research
I’m an experienced grant writer with an M.A. in International Development and a B.A. in English Writing. As a person of color, I bring a critical eye to how social dynamics and systems shape our world, and I’m passionate about helping nonprofits secure the funding they need to create lasting change. I specialize in supporting small and medium-sized nonprofits serving their local communities, whether they’re building a grants program from the ground up or strengthening an established one.
My approach is rooted in trust and collaboration. I believe the best grant strategies come from building strong relationships, listening closely, and understanding what makes each organization’s work unique.
Services:
- Grant writing and proposal development, from strategy through submission
- Grant coaching for nonprofit staff at all experience levels
- Grant strategy consulting and funder approach planning
- Proposal reviews, prospect research, and outcome reporting
Nonprofits I’ve worked with:
- Organizations addressing homelessness and housing insecurity
- Nonprofits advancing racial equity, healthcare access, and incarceration reform
- Children and youth-serving organizations
- Advocacy, economic development, conservation, food security, and gender equity organizations
Clients I work best with:
- Startups and early-stage nonprofits building their first grants program
- Small and medium-sized nonprofits strengthening their grant strategy
- Community-focused organizations tackling complex social issues
- Teams looking for a collaborative partner to build long-term grant capacity
I’ve worked closely with Sharmila for over 5 years now and have consistently been impressed with her professionalism, timeliness, organizational skills, patience, and warmth. In her capacity as a grant writer, she helped the very young organization I founded to raise over $1M in grants in 3 years. She took the initiative to identify grant opportunities, collaborate with the board’s fundraising committee, and assist in organizing our fundraising assets for ease of access and use. As a coach, Sharmila has provided me with affirming, clear, individualized guidance. She has been intentional about asking questions to better understand my values and goals, both as they pertain to the organization’s growth and my own. During times when I have felt overwhelmed by the many stressors of nonprofit leadership, Sharmila’s steadiness, realism, and compassion have been deeply reassuring. I would recommend her without reservation, both as a consultant and coach.