Grant Writing Starter Pack

Rainbow Routes is a young nonprofit running LGBTQ+ history- and community- focused study abroad/away style programs for college students. We just completed our first program, a 7-day field study for University of Northern Colorado students across San Francisco and Los Angeles, with strong outcomes: full post-trip survey data from all 12 student participants, direct testimonials, and a faculty partner's formal evaluation.

Our funding to date has come from one small grant and informal, personal-network donor asks, not a structured process. We're fiscally sponsored, founder-led, and don't have in-house development staff, so as we plan our next program and look to apply to real grants for the first time, we're starting from zero on templates, positioning, and even knowing which funders to approach.

We're looking for a volunteer with grant-writing or development experience to help us build a baseline grant-writing package: a compelling, funder-ready case for support built from our first program's actual outcomes, a reusable proposal template we can adapt for different funders going forward, a short list of funder leads that would be a good fit for an LGBTQ+ history-focused study abroad program, and any best practices or common mistakes to flag for a first-time grant-seeking organization.

Organization Mission

Rainbow Routes empowers LGBTQ+ students through place-based study-away programs that foster connections to queer histories, communities, and role models worldwide. By creating inclusive experiences, we cultivate belonging, uplift queer joy, and equip students to become global changemakers.