Funding Strategies That Resonate
We help small and mid-sized nonprofits move beyond one-off grants to funding strategies that last, aligning programs, messaging, and systems so the right support follows.
Our Approach
Clarity. Integrity. Impact.
I started Resonant Strategies to be of service to the organizations doing our communities' hardest work, and to the people they show up for every day.
Funding is rarely the mission, but it's what keeps the mission alive. So I work closely with your team to understand what you do and who you serve, and to build a funding approach that truly fits your organization, not a template.
This is more than writing grants. It's helping you find steady, lasting support in a way that honors your work and the people counting on it. When the funding holds, your programs hold, and the communities you serve feel the difference.
How I Help
Whether you're building a grant program from the ground up or strengthening one that already works, I can support you across the full arc of development.
-
Finding the right funders and telling your story in a way that earns their support.
-
Translating your impact into clear, transparent language that resonates with donors.
-
Planning efforts that raise real money without burning out your team.
-
Putting systems in place so funding is something you can sustain, not scramble for.
Who I Work With
Resonant Strategies partners with nonprofits of every size and across many missions, from grassroots organizations finding their footing to established institutions ready for their next chapter. What my clients share, isn't a budget or a cause, but a commitment to the people they serve and a readiness to build funding that lasts.
However you come to this work, I can help you:
Get clear on your funding priorities
Strengthen the systems behind your development work
Bring your leadership and fundraising into alignment
Build momentum toward what comes next
Wherever you are in that journey, I'll meet you there.
Expertise you can count on.
Mission-driven organizations are often asked to do transformative work with limited and unpredictable resources. Survival mode may be common, but it is not sustainable, especially for the communities depending on you.
For more than two decades, Ashlie Contos has served at nonprofits fields including higher education, housing, food access, healthcare, and community development to secure transformative funding and strengthen internal capacity.
That work has helped organizations:
Secure $1.2M+ in HUD funding through #1 ranked Continuum of Care proposals for Safe Haven Family Shelter in Nashville, TN
Win Bank of America’s competitive national Neighborhood Builders® award for The Store in Nashville, TN
Attract major foundation investments from The Boston Foundation (2022), AMB West Philanthropies (2023), and the Hays and Ingram foundations (2024)
These outcomes were not simply about winning grants. They were about helping organizations clarify their strategy, align their messaging, and build the internal systems required to compete and sustain growth.
When funding strategy strengthens, programs stabilize. When systems improve, communities experience continuity, not disruption.
The same strategic discipline and partnership that supported those organizations can support yours.
A Strategic, Values-Aligned Approach
Whether your organization is preparing for growth, navigating transition, or ready to move beyond reactive fundraising, we meet you where you are.
We help you:
Align mission with funder and donor priorities
Translate impact into clear, credible narratives
Build development systems that support resilience and long-term stability
We do not chase funding for its own sake. We help you pursue the right opportunities, in the right way, at the right time.
Funding Secured From:
What They’re Saying
-
![]()
"When we held meetings, the questions Ashlie and Terri prepared were thorough and thought-provoking. The follow-up emails and tasks were sent quickly with deadlines and clear expectations. It is like having the most prepared, top-notch teammates! I was not expecting them to go beyond strategy and grant writing, but they actively tried to propel change especially at the highest level so that fundraising has a greater importance at our agency. I would work with them in the future, but they are hands down the best consultants I have worked with!"
— TN Voices Development Team
-
![]()
"I had the pleasure of working with Ashlie on grant applications, project plans, and grant reports as part of the institutional giving team. I found Ashlie incredibly organized, collaborative, and has a refreshing writing style. She is rooted in service to the community and has intrinsic motivation to help others personally and professionally."
— Emily Petoskey
-
![]()
I hired, trained, and supervised Ashlie in her role with The Phoenix. Ashlie stood out in the hiring process due to her strong writing and editing skills. Outside of her regularly assigned duties, Ashlie found time to lead programs as a volunteer and organize internal employee resources groups. She was an asset to the organization as an individual contributor, but also as a driver of positive culture.
— Kyle Carter
-
![]()
"Ashlie worked diligently for her clients and was committed to providing the unique guidance that each needed. She also went above and beyond by taking on leadership roles within the organization's structure. Ashlie has excellent written and verbal communication skills, is extremely organized, can work independently, and is able to effectively multi-task to ensure that all projects are completed in a timely manner. She brings a warmth and creativity to her interactions with clients, which makes her an ideal candidate to handle problematic situations appropriately but with compassion.
— Jennifer Dunn-Salisbury
Let's start a conversation.
Tell us where your funding stands, and we'll show you what's possible.