Great mission-driven work deserves to be funded. But for many small nonprofits, the gap between doing important work and being able to articulate it compellingly to donors and funders can be wide. Writing a persuasive concept paper, structuring a grant-ready budget, and building a reusable grant template each require a specific kind of expertise that most lean organizations simply don’t have on staff.
The Planted Brain knows this challenge well. Founded by David Washington, the organization works at the intersection of neuroscience, mental wellness, and community empowerment, helping people understand and harness the healing power of nature and horticulture. The mission is compelling. The work is meaningful. But to grow, the organization needed the tools to tell that story in the language of funders and to build the infrastructure for sustainable fundraising.
That’s where Jericho Road Pasadena came in.
JRP matched The Planted Brain with volunteer Erin Simon, a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) whose experience in nonprofit development made them precisely the right person for the job. Erin worked closely with the finance team to produce three foundational deliverables: a program budget built to meet grant-application standards, a reusable program grant template, and a concept paper that could introduce the organization’s mission and goals to prospective donors and funders with clarity and impact.
For Erin, the project was a chance to put deep expertise to work for a mission worth believing in. “The Planted Brain is doing really important work, and David and his team have such a clear sense of purpose,” Erin said. “My goal was to make sure that passion came through in the materials, so that funders could see not just what the organization does, but why it matters. It was a rewarding project to be part of.”
The result was transformative for the organization. As David put it, “Erin was great. She took the time to learn about our organization and developed strong templates for grants, that have won several grants due to her. We are now seeking larger grants using her framework and even using that language to guide our website update.”
That combination of practical deliverables and a clearly framed narrative is exactly what early-stage nonprofits need to break through. A well-constructed concept paper doesn’t just describe a program. It makes the case for why it matters, who it serves, and why a funder should believe in it. A grant template saves hours of work on every future application. A program budget signals organizational credibility and readiness. Together, these tools don’t just open doors. They help an organization walk through them with confidence.
For David, the partnership with Jericho Road Pasadena represented more than a single project. “I am very grateful for JRP and the volunteer service,” he said. “Jericho Road was very organized and matched us with a qualified volunteer, and we are now using them on another need.”
The Planted Brain now has what so many promising nonprofits lack: a strong foundation for telling their story and the infrastructure to pursue the funding that story deserves.
To learn more about The Planted Brain, visit www.theplantedbrain.org.
Want this kind of support for your nonprofit? Request a volunteer through our website.
Thanks to volunteer Wes Robinson for writing JRP Project Highlight posts!