Case Study: Turning Thought Leadership Into Transformational Funding
Client:
A national philanthropic organization with $40M+ in annual revenue and 60+ employees, dedicated to providing grants and support to small and mid-sized nonprofit organizations.
The Problem:
Although the organization was successfully raising funds, they struggled to secure larger, transformative grants above $20M. Meanwhile, rising expenses demanded bigger investments to scale the number of nonprofits they could support.
The Solution:
Marques identified that their greatest untapped asset wasn’t new—it was the wealth of thought leadership they’d built over decades. He guided them to package their proprietary data, frameworks, tools, and proven impact model into a compelling value proposition for funders who wanted not just to give, but to learn.
The Plan & Actions:
Working alongside the client’s team, Marques gathered all their data assets and developed a “learning journey” proposal. This transparent tour gave the funder a behind-the-scenes look at how the organization raised capital, selected grantees, designed and executed events, and scaled impact through their unique framework and strategies.
The Result:
The funder initially committed $5M for a one-year learning partnership—and when they saw the value, they followed up with an additional $50M multi-year investment. This became the largest gift in the client’s history.
The Impact:
In the short term, the client immediately expanded the scale and speed of their grantmaking, fueling more nonprofits and amplifying their reach. Long term, they not only gained the resources to grow sustainably but also unlocked access to the funder’s influential international network—positioning them as a leading voice and model in the philanthropic sector.
Case Study: Transforming a Struggling Program into a Scalable Success
Client:
A community college in the Midwest with over $72M in annual revenue, serving 16,000 students through career certificates, associate degrees, and adult education programs.
The Problem:
One of the college’s grant-funded programs—aimed at supporting low-income students—was facing persistently low enrollment and completion rates. Student barriers, limited support, and weak performance metrics prevented the college from justifying growth or securing additional funding. Fewer students were being served, and the program’s long-term sustainability was at risk.
The Solution:
Marques offered a bold, multifaceted strategy: completely rebrand the program, design paid work experiences to increase job placement, overhaul the onboarding process, and create a scalable academic support structure to improve student retention and transition.
The Plan & Actions:
Marques led the rebranding of the program—changing its name and repositioning it with new messaging. He introduced new paid work experiences that boosted job placement rates by 60%, created an academic success curriculum tailored for first-year students, and mobilized the onboarding process to reduce intake time from two weeks to just three days.
He also:
- Achieved 110% of enrollment targets
- Established new K–12 partnerships that grew the prospective student pipeline by over 7x
- Secured additional funding from the Department of Commerce to expand program services
- Obtained funding for full-time staff to support growing operations
The Result:
The program saw enrollment increase by over 60%, new staff positions were added, and additional grants were secured. The program was recognized by the college for its outstanding growth and became a model for how to turn around underperforming initiatives.
The Impact:
In the short term, more students were able to access support, and the program gained critical funding and staffing. Long term, the program’s infrastructure, visibility, and external partnerships positioned it for continued success—helping the college serve more students, build a stronger pipeline, and demonstrate clear return on investment to funders.
Case Study: Turning a $1M Dream into a $1.5M Reality for a Growing Restaurant Chain
Client:
A brunch-focused restaurant chain located in the heart of a major city’s arts district, generating $5M in annual revenue and known for curating creative community events and experiences.
The Problem:
The business was ready to expand—but lacked the capital to acquire and renovate a new building. They needed $1M in funding to fuel the next phase of their growth, and traditional financing routes weren’t aligned with their timeline or needs.
The Solution:
Marques proposed a strategic pivot: pursue a competitive city-funded grant by crafting a proposal that wasn’t just about business expansion—but about cultural impact, economic development, and community engagement.
The Plan & Actions:
Marques led the entire grant development process. He wrote a persuasive, high-impact proposal that positioned the restaurant as a city asset—tying their growth to local economic revitalization. He gathered the required documents, developed a clear and compelling budget, and secured strong letters of support from key partners.
The Result:
The restaurant was awarded the full $1M grant—plus an unexpected $500K in additional funding. With the extra capital, they enhanced the building renovation and elevated the design and customer experience beyond their original plan.
The Impact:
In the short term, the funding allowed the restaurant to break ground on their expansion immediately. Long term, it launched them into citywide visibility, resulting in media features, new partnerships, and a lasting presence as a cultural and economic fixture in their community.
Case Study: Helping a Family Regain Equity, Stability, and Peace
Client:
A local resident whose family was financially strained—facing a mortgage that far exceeded the current value of their home. With kids’ expenses piling up, a career transition underway, and both parents picking up extra work, the pressure was mounting fast.
The Problem:
The family was underwater on their mortgage. They owed more than their home was worth, monthly expenses were climbing, and the debt was becoming emotionally and financially unsustainable. Traditional financial tools weren’t an option, and the family feared losing control of their future.
The Solution:
Marques offered direct grant assistance consulting—guiding them through available housing-related grants that could help shift their situation. Instead of recommending another loan, he showed them how to tell their story in a way that funders would understand and support.
The Plan & Actions:
Marques walked them through:
- Local and state-level grant programs they were eligible for
- Step-by-step application instructions
- Coaching on how to frame their story with honesty, clarity, and strategic detail
- How to align their request with what grantmakers were actually looking to fund
The Result:
They were awarded a $60,000 grant. The funding restored equity in their home, reduced their mortgage burden, and created significant monthly savings.
The Impact:
In the short term, the emotional weight of financial uncertainty was lifted. Long term, the restored equity opened doors—giving the family flexibility to fund their kids’ college fund and stabilize their financial future. What once felt like a ticking clock became a new beginning.
Case Study: Strengthening Workforce Systems Through Strategic Tech Implementation
Client:
A collective of workforce development boards across various U.S. regions, working to pilot new career training technology aimed at helping low-income job seekers earn credentials and advance their careers.
The Problem:
Despite the promise of the tech solution, boards were struggling to enroll and retain participants. Job seekers lacked time or support to complete training, experienced difficulty navigating the technology, and hit roadblocks due to poor communication with the tech provider. These challenges were preventing successful implementation and undermining outcomes.
The Solution:
Marques led a strategic assessment grounded in listening. He conducted interviews with workforce board staff to identify operational pain points, captured trends, and used those insights to craft a strategic plan that would realign communication, support processes, and participant success strategies.
The Plan & Actions:
Marques executed a clear and collaborative plan:
- Conducted interviews across multiple boards to surface common issues
- Synthesized findings into a targeted diagnostic report with actionable insights
- Delivered staff trainings to strengthen implementation and platform use
- Facilitated feedback loops between the boards and tech provider
- Recommended onboarding adjustments and barrier-reduction strategies for participants
- Helped the boards reimagine internal systems to better support user success
The Result:
The boards experienced significantly improved communication with the tech provider, formed new strategic partnerships, and restructured internal workflows to improve participant support and completion rates. Many boards were able to confidently pilot new programs that had previously stalled.
The Impact:
In the short term, frontline staff felt more equipped to manage the tech, onboard users, and troubleshoot challenges. Long term, these improvements helped the boards:
- Secure future funding by showcasing program growth
- Build strong community and cross-sector partnerships
- Establish a scalable model for future innovation
- Boost credibility with funders and employers
- Expand their ability to test and launch new workforce solutions
