Reaching new heights, together
Our Vision
Since our founding in 2007, we’ve been more than just a business. We are a mission-focused firm that aims to do good, for our clients, their constituents, and our communities, by:
- Raising over $370 million in partnership with our nonprofit clients, so they can fulfill their missions.
- Growing a charitable fund at The Cleveland Foundation so our team members can recommend grants to good causes.
- Strengthening and expanding our partnerships with other firms in The Giving Institute, a network of national consulting groups that embrace ethics, excellence, and leadership in advancing philanthropy.
And we are a values-driven workplace that supports the individual and collective well-being of our team by:
- Offering flexible schedules so our employees can do their best work when they work best, while still being available for meetings with clients and colleagues.
- Embracing fully-unplugged PTO, paid sabbaticals, and an agile remote work culture that supports a healthier work-life balance for our team.
- Investing in each staff member’s continuous growth and professional development.
Our Values
We are committed to activating our core company values in our partnerships with clients and our work within our team:
- Collaboration: We believe in the power of partnership – both within our team and with our clients. By fostering open communication, trust, and shared goals, we create stronger, more impactful outcomes.
- Resilience: Obstacles don’t slow us down – they sharpen our approach. We stay focused, adaptable, and committed, ensuring our work meets the highest professional standards, even in uncertainty.
- Integrity: We lead with honesty, respect, and ethical decision-making. We create space for open dialogue while respecting the perspectives and professionalism required for our work.
- Agility: We adapt to new information and circumstances, finding innovative and smarter ways to achieve success and stay ahead of industry trends. We believe growth comes from continuous learning, feedback, and iteration.
Our Founding Story
In 2007, Lauren Steiner founded Grants Plus to help nonprofits raise the grant funding they need to fulfill their missions and change the world. As her vision began coming true, Lauren knew her individual impact as a grants consultant could be exponentially greater. Year after year, she gathered professionals to join her team—mentoring, challenging, and empowering each of them to make a difference by bringing their grant seeking knowledge and expertise to the nonprofit leaders Grants Plus serves. Today, the impact of Lauren’s vision is felt by many hundreds of nonprofits, and countless communities, who have been strengthened by the funding our team has endeavored to secure.
Since founding Grants Plus, Lauren has been recognized with the Outstanding Fundraising Professional Award by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Cleveland Chapter, and was featured as a Notable Women in Entrepreneurship by Crain’s Cleveland Business. Lauren leads a graduate-level course in philanthropy at the Mandel School of Applied Social Science at Case Western Reserve University.
