Today we’d like to introduce you to Cindy Vaughn.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My background has always been in technical writing, but I began grant writing as a “stream of income” in 2016 after a job layoff in the energy sector lasted longer than anticipated. My first grant was with a local church that was looking to fund a program in a prison in Brazoria County, so I said yes, To my surprise they were awarded a $10,000.00 grant. That grant turned into referrals to other nonprofits and I guess the rest they say is history. I quickly quickly realized that small and medium nonprofits were struggling to tap into grant funding, so I started doing research and trying to educate myself on the process.
I left permanent employment in 2023 and embarked on a journey to reconnect with the nonprofits I had previously assisted in developing their proposal packages, only to discover their ongoing struggles in securing meaningful grant funding, especially post-COVID. Equipped with two decades of technical writing and editorial expertise, I recognized the nuances of grant cycles and set out to craft a comprehensive framework to help clients understand funding models, frameworks and trends in giving. My mission? Empowering small and medium-sized nonprofits to strategically position themselves for grant success. While eligibility is a prerequisite, Cindy understood that readiness is key. By guiding nonprofits through the necessary steps, she has unlocked pathways to funding and facilitated their journey toward success.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of the primary challenge was helping nonprofits understand the funding landscape. Most nonprofits struggle to survive beyond their first five years, often because of inconsistent or insufficient funding. Many new organizations enter the space expecting grants to be their primary revenue stream, but in reality, only 20–30% of a nonprofit’s funding typically comes from grants. Shifting that mindset—both for myself and for clients—was essential.
Another challenge was navigating the noise from influencers, consultants, and “quick fix” firms that made lofty promises of guaranteed funding. I had to learn how to silence those outside pressures and stay grounded in helping nonprofits build sustainable strategies rooted in their missions. Part of my role became encouraging organizations to stay committed, even when funding didn’t arrive as quickly as they hoped.
Ultimately, the greatest hurdle was balancing honesty with encouragement—helping clients see the realities of grant funding while still inspiring them to push forward with clarity and confidence.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Following my departure from corporate employment in 2023, I reconnected with the nonprofits she had previously assisted in developing their proposal packages, only to discover they had dissolved the organization or there were still ongoing struggles in securing meaningful grant funding, especially post-COVID. I recognized the nuances of grant cycles and set out to craft a comprehensive framework to help cilents understand funding models, frameworks and trends in giving. This is where NPS focuses the work, helping a nonprofit who has been in operation for less than 5 years to get ready to apply for grants. By guiding nonprofits through the necessary steps, we unlock pathways to funding and facilitating their journey toward success.
What makes me proud? Watching nonprofits become successful. Each client allows me to watch something grow from the ground up and be successful.
What I want my readers to know is not about my “brand”? I’m passionate about what I do. There are a lot of grant programs, but also a lot of competition. I am absolutely committed to seeing my clients grow and serve their communities, but I also want to ensure they understand that readiness is a process and takes time. Not every grant will be awarded, and not every funding partner will find the story we tell compelling enough. If at first we do not succeed, we try again. I do not make promises of “fast money anyone can get”. I am not building a brand, in fact within 3 years of finding the funding my clients need, I hope they are fully sustaining and hiring staff to manage grants within the organization.
What do I offer? I offer grant readiness helping a new small or medium nonprofit posture themselves for public and private grant funding. I develop strategies, budgets and proposal narratives that tell the story of the nonprofit. I also conduct webinars to discuss posturing in the nonprofit world. I also develop funding models that make sense. I keep my overhead low so I can keep cost to my clients affordable.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My clients deserve all the credit, because they are the ones doing the hard work—I simply guide and coach them along the way. Honestly, I don’t think I would have made it through the past two years without their persistence and willingness to trust me do what it takes to become grant-ready. Their commitment inspires me as much as I hope my guidance supports them. My clients are doing some great work, not just in Greater Houston, but other areas of Texas and throughout the nation.
On a personal level, I’m incredibly lucky to have my husband and my younger sister as my biggest cheerleaders. They’re the ones who remind me to keep going when the late nights stretch long or when doubt starts to creep in. Their belief in me has been the steady heartbeat behind this work, helping me push forward even when things get tough. Since I don’t yet have a formal team, I’ve learned to lean on my community during the busier grant cycles. I tap into local talent — people who bring their own creativity and energy — whether it’s designing Canva trainings and graphics, helping facilitate webinars, or researching new funding opportunities. I’m surrounded by generous, skilled people who are always willing to lend a hand, and that local support network has become one of my greatest strengths.
“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” ~Winston Churchill
Contact Info:
Image Credits
These are my personal pictures.
