We remove the burden of grant writing for inclusive communities and nonprofits, securing funding to do more good.
Grants. Minus the grind.
From finding the right grant opportunities to crafting a winning application, we handle the heavy lifting so your team can stay focused on what matters most: your mission.
STEP 1: GRANT RESEARCH
We do the deep dive so you don’t have to.
We scan hundreds of grant opportunities and dig into the details (eligibility, 990s, past awards) to uncover grants that truly fit your mission. From there, we create your custom shortlist of high-probability funders with the strongest potential for success and the best return on your investment.
STEP 2: PROJECT PLANNING
Turning good ideas into fundable ones. Together, we refine your goals, budget, and timeline through a funder’s lens. Then we distill it all into a 1-page prospectus, your blueprint for every future grant application. This living document keeps your team aligned, reduces confusion, and helps funders immediately see why your project deserves support.
STEP 3: GRANT WRITING
Now for the fun part. (Yes, really.) Because we’ve already done the heavy lifting, writing and managing your grant becomes a smooth, collaborative process. We craft narratives that resonate, manage submissions from start to finish, and keep your team focused on impact, not chasing deadlines or burning the midnight oil.
Interested in learning more? Let’s chat.
Natalie is an outstanding grant writer and develops an excellent roadmap to highlight the support available to your organization.
- Kurt Norris, then Board President, Central Illinois Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Natalie Menke is an exceptional grant writer — organized, meticulous, and a true wordsmith. Her attention to detail ensures every proposal is clear, compelling, and aligned with funder priorities. Working with her brings confidence that nothing will be overlooked and every word will count.
- Abby Brighton, Development Director, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois
Natalie is a true professional. She is organized, concise and focused. She did a great job understanding our organization and telling our story. I would highly recommend her for any grant applications.
- Patti Gratton, Executive Director, Community Workshop & Training Center
We are so fortunate to have connected with Natalie. Her research and presentation helped us focus on opportunities with the greatest potential for time invested. Truly a professional!
- Richard Taylor, Board President, Elmwood Community Foundation
At Shortlist Studio, we help community-centered nonprofits secure the funding that fuels their missions, so they can keep doing the work the world needs most.
About
After more than a decade climbing the corporate ladder, founder Natalie Menke discovered her passion for grant writing while securing funding to support her neurodivergent son. That experience sparked a realization: her years of proposal-writing expertise would be better applied to fueling missions that truly matter.
Within two years, Natalie helped nonprofits secure more than $500,000 in grant funding, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Natalie is a Certified Grant Writer through the Global Grant Writers Collective and an active member of its 5% Mastermind, a network responsible for over $600 million in awarded grants worldwide. Through this community, she collaborates with expert writers, funding strategists, and social-impact entrepreneurs while staying ahead of emerging trends (looking at you, AI).
Contact Natalie to learn more.
Let’s get you on that funder’s shortlist!
