Rubber City Development Consulting

Akron Rooted, International Reach

We help organizations turn big ideas into real, sustainable funding—without the burnout, guesswork, or endless chasing.

Whether you need a stronger grant strategy, a fundraising system that actually works, or leadership to steady the ship while you grow, RCDC steps in where it matters most. Our team cares deeply about the work you’re doing, and we are just as serious about making sure it’s funded, supported, and built to last.

$30 Million Raised Since 2020

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Grant Writing

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Fundraising

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Strategic Planning

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Fractional Leadership

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Grant Writing ✳︎ Fundraising ✳︎ Strategic Planning ✳︎ Fractional Leadership ✳︎

Our Services

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  • If you want to write your own grants but want to do it right.

    What’s included:

    • 2 visioning sessions to lock in your messaging and positioning

    • 1 budget session to get your numbers clear and usable

    • A plug-and-play grant boilerplate you can reuse across applications

    • A 12-month grant pipeline aligned with your work

    • A usable, proposal-ready budget (new or refined)

    You handle the writing. I make sure everything behind it actually works.

    Investment: $2,500

  • This is for organizations that want a steady partner in their fundraising, not just one-off support.

    Together, we’ll:

    • Maintain and manage a strong, aligned grant pipeline

    • Develop and submit 2+ proposals or letters of interest each month (or one larger federal/state application)

    • Strengthen and refine your budget as your work grows

    • Meet regularly with your team to stay aligned and responsive

    • Create the materials you need to tell your story clearly (logic models, statements of need, and more)

    • Build a library of language and tools to make future applications easier

    • Adapt and expand support as your needs evolve

    Consistent, thoughtful support so your funding strategy grows with you.

    Investment: Monthly retainers starting at $1,000 per month (depending on how many grants are written)

  • You don’t need to rush into a full-time hire to get serious about fundraising.

    With Nicole’s fractional leadership, you get experienced, high-level development strategy immediately (without the overhead). No long hiring process, no benefits package, no guesswork about whether someone can actually deliver.

    What you get:

    • Senior-level fundraising strategy and leadership

    • A clear, prioritized development plan

    • Active management of your grant pipeline and submissions

    • Budget alignment and revenue planning

    • Systems that make your fundraising repeatable and sustainable

    • Guidance for staff and board to strengthen internal capacity

    This is a faster, more cost-effective way to build a real development function; without compromising on expertise.

    Investment: $3,000+ per month

  • When you’re in the day-to-day of your work, it’s hard to step back and see the full picture. Strategic planning creates that space; with structure, clarity, and intention.

    Together, we’ll:

    • Define what matters most for your organization’s next phase

    • Identify opportunities for growth and alignment

    • Set clear, achievable goals

    • Ensure your strategy reflects your capacity and resources

    • Create a plan your team understands and can actually use

    Thoughtful, practical planning; so your next steps feel clear and grounded.

    Investment: $2,000+

Work With Us

Case Studies

  • A white double arrow pointing left and right on a background that transitions from purple to orange, with a repeating pattern of the word "EMPOWER".

    In our time together, Empowered has grown a lot! They have invested $40,000 in services and they have just surpassed $2 million in funds raised! That's a 4,600% return on investment!

    I have had the privilege of working with Nicole in her role as our fractional vice president of development since 2024. It has been amazing to see our budget grow thanks to Nicole’s work. She handles everything from submitting grants to writing reports and we are so excited to see what the future holds for our partnership. -Xeyah Martin III, Executive Director

  • A logo for Majestic Equine Connections Inc. featuring a silhouette of a girl and a horse with flowing mane, on a dark red background, with text indicating it's related to innovative horse therapy.

    In our time together, we have revitalized their fundraising strategies and kicked off with writing grants for the first time ever--giving them the strongest start for sustainable development possible.

    Client quote coming soon!

  • Logo of Bandwidth Chicago featuring a stylized Wi-Fi symbol combined with a speaker icon, with the text "BANDWIDTH CHICAGO" below.

    In our time together, BandWith has spent $32,000 on services and has received $523,104 in grant funding. That is a 1,500% return on investment!

    Client quote coming soon!