Sono Fundraising Solutions offers grant writing and fundraising services for local and national nonprofit organizations. As the principal grant writer and fundraiser, Issela Sono provides personalized services to ensure your organization's specific needs are catered. Expertise in successful fundraising and proposal writing for up to seven-figure grants for major philanthropic, family and corporate foundations, United Ways, Donor Advised Funds and individual donors.
"Driving sustainable change, one grant at a time"
Grant Prospect Research
A key component to successful fundraising is identifying your right audience. I utilize subscription-based databases to gather data on hundreds of potential grant-makers and identify synergies with your organization's fundraising needs. Upon completion of data assessment, you will receive a report outlining findings and recommendations.
Letter of Inquiry
Numerous foundations and United Way organizations require a letter of inquiry/intent submission prior to issuing an invitation to submit a full proposal. 10% of your payment for this service will be applied to the cost of your full grant proposal.
Grant Proposals
You provide the details, I do the writing. Working in tandem with your pertinent staff, and paying keen attention to the requirements of the RFP, I craft a compelling and competitive proposal.
Annual Appeal Letter
These abbreviated proposals, utilized to support a special or annual fundraising campaign, are highly successful with family foundations and major individual donors.
Proposal Editing and Proofreading
Proposals are reviewed for thoroughness, accuracy and completion of all requirements. An additional review can make a difference in the outcome of your funding request.
Grant Reports
Interim and final reports play a major role in your organization’s ability to successfully meet the requirements of your awarded grant. I work with your team to complete these highly detailed reports.
About
Issela Sono is the Principal Grant Writer and Fundraiser of Sono Fundraising Solutions. She has served in major nonprofit organizations such as the American Red Cross and Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations at the national, statewide and local levels, excelling in each role — as proven by her rapid increase in responsibility.
As an intern for the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations, Issela developed educational content aimed for nonprofit organization leadership in the areas of management, accountability and best governance practices. Shortly thereafter, she joined the American Red Cross as a graduate assistant, where she spent a year at national headquarters supporting the organization’s nationwide fundraising strategy — while simultaneously completing her MBA. In this role, she directly contributed to nearly $3 Million in funds raised and new revenue identification across the top 10 U.S. markets, as well as grant writing and fundraising efforts across Texas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia and Hawaii.
Upon obtaining her MBA and completing a certificate program in Nonprofit Management from Duke University, Issela joined the American Red Cross of Michigan as the Regional Grants Manager. Having spent nearly three and a half years managing the grants program at the statewide level, she organized, streamlined and grew the program from $500,000 to more than $4 Million raised in funds from major foundations, corporations, United Ways and individual donors. This milestone led to her promotion to Senior Regional Philanthropy Officer, one of only four senior-level officers across a five-state area. She successfully managed a portfolio of 125 major donors, far exceeding her fundraising goal. Furthermore, during her tenure in this role, Issela led a statewide in-depth research project to identify new prospective funders to further grow the organization’s funding stream.
With her educational background and experience, Issela brings academic knowledge and business acumen to the table. She has driven high impact on critical fundraising projects through proven prospect research, grant writing, communication, project management, budgeting and data analysis skills.
Issela enjoys the art of writing since her high school days, when she spent two years as a content writer for her school newspaper. She also enjoys volunteering in various nonprofit organizations from an early age. As a first-generation immigrant and first member of her family to graduate from college, Issela knew that her vocation was to support the community. In grant writing and fundraising, she saw both worlds perfectly merge.
