About Us

Development and Growth Strategies LLC is a two-person grant writing team focused on supporting non-profit organizations.  While we specialize in community health, we've assisted a variety of organizations as they develop programs and expand services. We've written state and federal grants, including The Bureau of Primary Health Care, the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy and the United States Department of Agriculture. We have helped secure over $25 million for our clients, many of whom operate Federally Qualified Health Centers in rural areas and are working to establish health networks and address health information technology needs.

Picture of Phyllis Platt

Phyllis Platt, PhD, MSW

Phyllis has nearly twenty-five years of experience working with non-profits and community based organizations. She earned a Masters in Social Work from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY and a PhD from the University of Kentucky. Phyllis has taught at the University of Kentucky and Spalding University, where she also served as Chair of the School of Social Work.

Phyllis has expertise in school based health, rural health, integrated care, non-profit leadership, and organizational capacity building. Her primary interest is in helping address community needs though partnerships and collaboration.

Picture of Lindsay Nelson

Lindsay Nelson, MSW

Lindsay brings her passion for social justice to her work by developing strategies and programs that are focused on improving disparities and increasing access to opportunities. Through this equity lens, Lindsay has advocated for policies that expand access to health insurance, developed an expansive outreach and enrollment program, and provided training to a statewide workforce.

Lindsay earned a Bachelors in Psychology from Gettysburg College and a Masters in Social Work from Spalding University.

Services

Grant Writing

  • Letters of Inquiry
  • Foundation and Government Grants

Community Needs Assessment

  • Comprehensive needs assessment for hospitals, FQHCs, and other non-profits

Grant Project Management

  • Coordinate grant activities and reporting

Grant Evaluation

  • Planning and Implementation
  • External evaluator

Grant Review

  • Edit and offer suggestions for improvements to better meet scoring criteria

Grant Search

  • Research and report on prospective funders

Our fees are adjusted based on the scope of the project and the timeframe for completion. We offer a variety of fee structures including hourly, retainer agreements, and flat project fees. Please contact us for an estimate for your project.

Testimonials

"As a small non-profit, DGS has been instrumental in the success of our organization. I have worked in the healthcare arena for many years, but I am new to the “grant world.” The DGS staff has always been prompt with responses to questions and have a wealth of knowledge that they generously share. They are a great group to work with!"

Shannon Adams, Executive Director KRHIT

"My experience with Development and Growth Strategies has been very beneficial to my program and our students. Development and Growth Strategies consultants are knowledgeable about the entire grant writing process, and helped me write a grant that met funder requirements, met all deadlines, and was connected to the latest in practice and evaluation techniques."

Kevin Borders, Chair Spalding University School of Social Work

"Working with DGS Grants alleviates the stress of submitting a grant application. I provide programmatic information and DGS Grants assists with the research and technical writing, allowing me to focus on my skill areas."

Andrew Bledsoe, Executive Director KyRHIO

Contact

No matter where you are in your project, from just an idea to near completion, we are happy to work with you! For a free consultation appointment, please email with a brief summary of your project and what you would like assistance with. We will contact you to schedule a consultation and develop an estimate based on your needs.