About

AMANNA COSULTING

Grant Writing Consultant Serving Baltimore And Beyond

WHO WE SERVE

Over 90% of the nonprofits Amaana Consulting supports serve youth through in-school, out-of-school, and family-related programming. We thrive on helping Baltimore-based nonprofits in advancing social justice and equity work in disinvested communities.

WHY OUR WORK MATTERS

In Maryland, people of color lead 60% of organizations with revenue less than $25,000 but only 13% of organizations over $5 million. The capital we have helped to raise, and the assistance our technical grant writer has provided, are being leveraged to make transformational investments in BIPOC-led nonprofits and social enterprises here in Baltimore and beyond.

WHY AMAANA

  • We are committed to a continual process of listening, reflection, and refinement to best meet the needs of the organizations and entrepreneurs we serve.

  • Our expert grant writing consultant thrives on writing winning proposals so you can focus on your organization’s core mission.

  • We are committed to social responsibility, particularly concerning the contractors and vendors we choose.

  • Our extensive experience in advocacy, organizing, and transportation, as well as our demonstrated success managing complex projects with diverse stakeholders, have helped launch dozens of new programs and scale existing initiatives.

  • Our project and program management background, coupled with the tailored approach of our grant writing consultant and targeted funder relationship cultivation, has procured over $2.3 million (and counting) in restricted and unrestricted grant funding for our clients.

  • We are building upon a year of explosive growth for our grant writing services, strategic planning offerings, and capacity-building workshops.

Meet KIRIN

Founder and Principal Kirin G. Smith began her career as a civil/site engineer focusing on urban, low-impact, and transit-oriented development. After working in the private sector and local government for ten years, Kirin found her passion in project management, program administration, and community-serving mission-based work.

Kirin has extensive experience as a grant writing consultant managing, complex multi-million-dollar contracts, overseeing multidisciplinary project teams, facilitating targeted community outreach, and developing strategic plans for local nonprofit organizations.

Kirin’s Amaana Method©, a proprietary strategic approach to proposal writing developed by the grant manager, has achieved a consistent success rate of over 60%. She thrives on helping grassroots organizations secure the resources needed to sustain their social justice and equity work in disinvested communities.

A mother of three and lifelong swimmer, Kirin enjoys international travel, savory ethnic cuisine, and documentaries. She is a TIAA Nonprofit Leadership Fellowship recipient at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy, a graduate of Howard University, and a self-proclaimed city girl who has called Baltimore home for over 15 years.

 

Founder and Principal Kirin G. Smith began her career as a civil/site engineer focusing on urban, low-impact, and transit-oriented development. After working in the private sector and local government for ten years, Kirin found her passion in project management, program administration, and community-serving mission-based work.

Kirin has extensive experience as a grant writing consultant managing, complex multi-million-dollar contracts, overseeing multidisciplinary project teams, facilitating targeted community outreach, and developing strategic plans for local nonprofit organizations.

 

In addition to being a small business owner, Kirin’s lived experience as a single mother, renter, and longtime Baltimore resident informs both her perspective as a social justice advocate and her approach to engagement. Her travels abroad to Brazil and the United Kingdom have illuminated that the challenges minority, working class, and underserved communities face are universal.

Kirin’s Amaana Method©, a proprietary strategic approach to proposal writing developed by the grant manager, has achieved a consistent success rate of over 60%. She thrives on helping grassroots organizations secure the resources needed to sustain their social justice and equity work in disinvested communities.

A mother of three and lifelong swimmer, Kirin enjoys international travel, savory ethnic cuisine, and documentaries. She is a TIAA Nonprofit Leadership Fellowship recipient at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy, a graduate of Howard University, and a self-proclaimed city girl who has called Baltimore home for over 15 years.

In addition to being a small business owner, Kirin’s lived experience as a single mother, renter, and longtime Baltimore resident informs both her perspective as a social justice advocate and her approach to engagement. Her travels abroad to Brazil and the United Kingdom have illuminated that the challenges minority, working class, and underserved communities face are universal.

Our Philosophy

Organizational development is a continual process.

The most effective strategic plans are periodically and routinely assessed and refined as tasks are advanced and changing circumstances required. We’ll take the time to reassess what your organization needs on a quarterly basis.

No two organizations are alike.

Our grant writing manager considers your organization’s unique mission, status, and anticipated needs. Since no two businesses or nonprofits are alike, our services prioritize your unique objectives, status, and needs.

You will only get out of the strategic planning process what you put into it.

As a grant writing consultant, our role is to facilitate, guide, advise, and provide support. The strategic plan you develop should emerge from and be aligned with your mission, vision, theory of change, priorities, stakeholders, and objectives.

Grant writing is more art than science.

The most effective proposals are tailored to each funding opportunity and funder. Our technical grant writer will create personalized proposals that reflect your organization’s values, mission, and goals.

Equal Opportunity &
Code of Ethics

Amaana Consulting ensures Equal Employment Opportunity for all persons and ensures that Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises have the maximum opportunity to participate in the performance of our contracts for supplies and services. We do not discriminate in any manner because of race, age, creed, color, national origin, or gender. We comply with all Federal, State, and local laws and Executive Orders and Regulations relating to Equal Employment Opportunity and Minority Business Enterprises, where applicable.

Our work is underpinned by a Code of Ethics that is rooted in transparency, accountability, and social responsibility. A conflict of interest may exist when the interests or concerns of an entity or party may be perceived as competing with the interests or concerns of our firm. We routinely evaluate prospective clients and projects for potential conflicts of interest and take appropriate action which may include but is not limited to disclosure, recusal, or withdrawal from participation. Our staff is under a continuing obligation to disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest as soon as it is known or reasonably should be known. 

Have Questions!

Watch this video from our FAQ series on Barriers to Capital for Small + Minority-Led Nonprofits 

Testimonials