Services we offer
Strategic Planning & Readiness Services
NW Coastal Tradewinds provides comprehensive Strategic Planning & Readiness Services designed to establish the essential foundation organizations need to become fully “grant ready.”
Our team conducts an in-depth Organizational Assessment, reviewing mission, vision, and strategic goals to ensure alignment with funding opportunities. We evaluate organizational capacity—including programs, staffing, board governance, and data systems—while identifying funding gaps, priorities, and overall readiness through financials, audits, nonprofit status, and reporting structures.
NWCT ensures organizations are strategically positioned for sustainable, competitive grant success.
Our Grant Strategy Development process builds a clear roadmap for sustainable funding. We create customized 12-month or multi-year grant calendars, research and prioritize funders across foundation, corporate, and government sectors, and develop funding strategies tied directly to organizational objectives. We also prepare case statements and core funding rationales that strengthen future proposals.
Through Capacity Building, we help organizations develop the internal systems and tools needed for long-term success. This includes guidance on data collection, budget development, and logic model design, as well as staff and board training on grant processes, roles, and responsibilities. We also assist in establishing efficient internal structures for tracking outcomes, compliance, and reporting.
Our Funder Research & Prospecting services deliver tailored, mission-aligned funder prospect lists using leading research tools such as Foundation Directory Online, Instrumentl, Candid, and Grants.gov. We analyze giving history, funding priorities, and patterns to identify strong matches, and provide a recommendation matrix ranking prospects by fit, likelihood, and deadlines, along with essential contact and submission details.
Proposal Development + Technical & Grant Writing
NW Coastal Tradewinds specializes in comprehensive Proposal Development and Technical & Grant Writing—our core service and the support most clients seek when pursuing competitive funding. Our Grant Proposal Writing services include developing or refining all components of a complete proposal package: executive summaries or letters of intent (LOIs); needs assessments and problem statements; project descriptions with defined goals, objectives, and outcomes; evaluation plans and data collection methods; organizational background and capacity narratives; and detailed budgets with corresponding budget narratives. We also prepare long-term sustainability plans that strengthen funder confidence and demonstrate organizational readiness.
Through Proposal Editing & Rewriting, we transform client drafts into polished, funder-aligned submissions. We edit for clarity, structure, compliance, and persuasiveness while ensuring proposals reflect scoring criteria, funder priorities, and best practices in grant writing.
Our Proposal Packaging & Submission services ensure every application is complete, accurate, and professionally formatted. We manage all formatting and compliance requirements, prepare proposals for online platforms such as Grants.gov, SAM.gov, and foundation-specific portals, and organize required attachments—including budgets, IRS determination letters, financial documents, board rosters, and letters of support. We also assist with portal setup and troubleshooting to streamline the submission process.
NWCT delivers high-quality proposal development that strengthens competitiveness, meets funder expectations, and positions organizations for meaningful funding success. We craft clear, compelling, and strategically aligned proposals tailored to foundation, corporate, and government funders.
Training, Coaching & Consultation
At NW Coastal Tradewinds, we believe in equipping organizations with the skills and confidence to build their own long-term grant writing capacity. Our Training, Coaching & Consultation services go beyond proposal development, offering hands-on guidance that empowers teams to understand, navigate, and manage the full grant process themselves.
We offer a range of Grant Writing Workshops, from introductory sessions for beginners to advanced trainings for experienced staff. These workshops cover essential grant concepts, funder expectations, proposal structure, narrative techniques, and budgeting fundamentals.
For personalized support, we provide one-on-one coaching for staff or volunteers who are developing or expanding their grant writing responsibilities.
To support internal capacity-building, NWCT supplies templates, toolkits, and reusable resources that streamline the creation of common proposal components—such as needs statements, project descriptions, logic models, and budget narratives. Our “done-with-you” sessions guide teams step-by-step through the writing process, helping organizations develop in-house proficiency while producing real, funder-ready proposals.
We also provide board-level training focused on philanthropy, donor cultivation, and grant strategy, ensuring organizational leadership understands its role in fundraising, readiness, and long-term sustainability.
Through customized training and collaborative coaching, NWCT helps organizations develop internal systems, staff skills, and institutional knowledge that support ongoing grant success and reduce future reliance on external writers.
Advanced Small Business Development
NW Coastal Tradewinds supports entrepreneurs and small businesses with comprehensive guidance through Oregon’s complex licensing, compliance, and operational requirements. Because Oregon has no universal statewide business license—and most regulatory needs depend on industry, location, and business structure—we help clients navigate the exact documents, registrations, and filings necessary to operate legally and sustainably.
Our Advanced Small Business Development services begin with identifying core formation documents, such as Articles of Organization, Articles of Incorporation, or Certificates of Formation for LLCs, corporations, and nonprofits. We then guide clients through required state registrations and tax accounts, including Oregon Department of Revenue filings, payroll and transit tax registration, and other state-level compliance needs.
For businesses with employees, we provide direction on mandatory employer documentation, including workers’ compensation coverage, policy and claims procedures, payroll requirements, and required workplace postings under Oregon OSHA, BOLI, and federal guidelines.
We also assist with essential insurance, safety, and compliance records—from general liability and professional liability coverage to cyber insurance, commercial property policies, and industry-specific safety requirements.
Our support includes establishing strong financial, accounting, and tax recordkeeping systems; drafting or reviewing internal governance documents such as bylaws or operating agreements; organizing contracts, vendor files, client agreements, and NDAs; and ensuring proper retention timelines for employment and business records.
For nonprofits and regulated industries, we help secure industry- and activity-specific permits and navigate charitable compliance, food service requirements, construction licensing, and more.
NWCT provides entrepreneurs with the clarity, structure, and compliance support needed to operate confidently and grow sustainably in Oregon’s business landscape.
Interim Management & Leadership
Leadership transitions are critical moments for mission-driven organizations. NW Coastal Tradewinds provides trusted Interim Management & Leadership services designed to guide organizations with integrity, stability, and strategic clarity while long-term leadership solutions are identified.
Our experienced interim leaders step in with compassion and professionalism, ensuring continuity across daily operations, staff support, community relationships, and external partnerships. We help maintain organizational momentum, reinforce internal communication, and uphold the mission during periods of uncertainty or restructuring.
NWCT’s approach centers on strengthening organizational health during transitions. We assess current systems, identify immediate operational needs, reinforce financial and administrative oversight, and ensure compliance remains strong. We support boards and hiring committees by providing candid insight, stabilizing teams, and preparing the organization for a successful handoff to permanent leadership.
Throughout the interim phase, we preserve essential programs, safeguard community trust, and reinforce strategic priorities. Whether an organization is navigating executive turnover, rapid growth, restructuring, or leadership gaps, NWCT provides the steady guidance and experienced management needed to move forward confidently.
With a focus on empathy, professionalism, and mission alignment, our Interim Management & Leadership services ensure that your mission stays strong—even as leadership evolves.
