Dr. Nicole E. Francis Cotton brings 24+ years of grant expertise and a documented 80%+ success rate to help nonprofits, social enterprises, and community organisations worldwide build sustainable funding strategies — rooted in the Caribbean, with a reach that extends to Africa, the United States, and beyond.
VLF has secured over half a million dollars in grants for its own programmes — and now puts that same expertise to work for partner organisations across the Caribbean, Africa, the United States, and other territories worldwide.
What We Offer
From first enquiry to funded programme — VLF provides end-to-end grant support for nonprofits, social enterprises, churches, and individuals — Caribbean-rooted, globally open.
Compelling, funder-ready proposals written to the specific requirements of each grant opportunity — foundation, government, and corporate funders. We research, write, and refine until it is submission-ready.
A customised roadmap identifying the right funders for your mission, timeline, and capacity — so you pursue the grants most likely to succeed rather than applying broadly and hoping.
Deep research into local, regional, and international funders aligned with your programme areas — whether you are based in the Caribbean, Africa, the US, or elsewhere. We identify eligibility criteria, deadlines, and alignment before you invest a single hour of writing time.
Once funded, reporting requirements must be met precisely. We help organisations stay compliant, document outcomes, and maintain funder relationships that lead to renewals.
Train your team to manage and sustain grant funding independently. Workshops and one-on-one coaching in grant readiness, narrative development, and budget preparation.
Identify and cultivate relationships with corporate social responsibility programmes and private foundations — turning one-time grants into long-term funding partnerships.
How We Work
We learn your organisation, mission, programmes, and goals — building the foundation for every proposal we write together.
We identify the right funding opportunities aligned with your work, capacity, and timeline — Caribbean, African, American, and international.
We craft a compelling narrative, complete all required sections, and align your budget to funder expectations.
We manage submission, track deadlines, and follow up with funders to maximise your chances of success.
We support you through grant reporting and position your organisation for renewal and expanded funding cycles.
Our Network & Impact
Ready to Fund Your Mission?
Start with a conversation. Tell us about your organisation, your programmes, and your goals — and we'll show you what's possible.