Where Mission Meets Strategic Capital
I have sat on all three sides of the philanthropic table — as a grant recipient, a foundation programme officer distributing $90M+, and as an independent strategist. That rare vantage point is what I bring to every organisation I serve.
"A world where every nonprofit achieves its full potential through sustainable funding — that is the work I show up for every day."
— Lateef Bello
I am one of a handful of people who has worked on all three sides of the philanthropic table — and that changes everything about how I advise nonprofits.
Most fundraising consultants have seen philanthropy from one angle — either as someone who needed funding, or as someone who gave it. Very few have done both, and fewer still have spent years as an independent strategist helping organisations bridge that gap.
I am a Master of Philanthropic Studies from the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy — the world's premier institution for philanthropic education. I served as Programme Officer at Elevance Health Foundation, overseeing a $90M+ grant portfolio. Before that, I secured $6M+ from some of the world's most competitive funders: the Ford Foundation, European Union, UNFPA, and the Carter Center.
Today, as Senior Partner of Grithworth LLC and Director of Development at the Indianapolis Muslim Community Association, I apply that full spectrum of experience to help nonprofits — from faith-based organisations to international development NGOs — build the funding strategies and systems they need for lasting impact.
Let's Talk StrategyLeading fundraising, partnerships, and resource mobilisation for a multi-programme community organisation spanning education, social services, and community development. Generated $1M+ in new funding and expanded the donor base by 20% in the first year.
$1M+ New Funding · 20% Donor GrowthOversaw a $90M+ grant portfolio, leading portfolio analytics, real-time dashboard design, and compliance monitoring. Strengthened executive-level visibility across grant lifecycles and improved operational efficiency through process redesign.
$90M+ Portfolio · Real-Time Dashboard SystemsConducted applied research on philanthropic investment trends, donor behaviour, and funding flows. Supported a Carnegie Foundation-funded research initiative through donor mapping and sector analysis. Graduated with a Master's from the world's premier philanthropy institution.
World's #1 Philanthropy School · Carnegie Foundation ResearchManaged 30+ annual grants and contracts. Led financial planning for a $350K fundraising campaign. Built compliance and reporting systems that strengthened funder relationships and positioned the organisation for sustainable growth.
30+ Annual Grants · $350K CampaignLed education and child-protection programmes for vulnerable children in complex environments. Co-designed a government-funded integrated education system and managed multi-partner initiatives that reached 20,000+ beneficiaries.
20,000+ Beneficiaries · Government-Funded Programme DesignCo-created grant proposals securing $6M+ from Ford Foundation, EU Trust Fund, Tony Blair Institute, Carter Center, UNFPA, and the US Government. Supported multi-country programme delivery for peacebuilding, education, and youth empowerment across the Sahel region.
$6M+ From Elite Global Funders · 10,000+ People in Conflict ZonesBuilt across grantmaking institutions, international programmes, and independent practice — expertise that translates across sectors, geographies, and organisation sizes.
From funder research and alignment to narrative structure, budget justification, and submission management. Built on insider knowledge of what programme officers actually read and fund.
Real-time portfolio analytics, spend-rate tracking, compliance monitoring, and executive reporting — applied to portfolios from $350K to $90M+ across multiple funders simultaneously.
Donor cultivation, pipeline management, revenue diversification, and board engagement. Designed to reduce dependency on single funding streams and build sustainable, multi-year funder relationships.
Specialist knowledge at the intersection of Islamic giving models, diaspora philanthropies, and mainstream institutional funding — helping faith-led organisations access funding without compromising identity.
Multi-country programme design, logic model development, M&E framework building, and donor compliance management — validated across UNICEF, EU, and US government-funded programmes.
Staff training, systems design, board development, and process improvement for development functions at nonprofits from startup stage to established multi-programme institutions.
End-to-end proposal writing and strategy for specific foundation, government, or corporate grants. I handle research, narrative, budget, logic model, and submission. You focus on running your programmes.
Starting from $2,500 per proposal
EnquireOngoing senior-level development strategy without the full-time CDO cost. Monthly strategy sessions, pipeline management, funder mapping, proposal reviews, and direct access to two decades of philanthropic insight.
From $2,500/month · minimum 3 months
EnquireWorkshops, cohort programmes, and staff coaching on grant writing, donor communications, compliance culture, programme design, and data-driven impact measurement. For development teams and nonprofit boards.
Cohort from $997 per participant
EnquireAvailable for conferences, symposia, and organisational learning events on topics including: philanthropic strategy, grant writing from the funder's perspective, faith-based philanthropy, and Africa-US funding flows.
Speaking fee available on enquiry
EnquireLateef's deep expertise in grant strategy and compliance strengthened not just our proposals but our overall organisational clarity. Through his support, we designed more impactful programmes and secured critical funding that continues to sustain us.
The training and strategic support Lateef provided on proposal development and donor compliance have had a lasting impact on our capacity. We now approach every grant cycle with far greater confidence and a measurably better outcome.
Working with Lateef was a genuine game-changer. His comprehensive grant writing, monitoring and evaluation support gave us the tools to secure funding and manage our projects with a rigour we had never achieved before.
I work with a limited number of organisations at a time to ensure every client receives the full weight of my experience and attention. If your organisation is serious about transforming its funding strategy, I'd love to begin with a conversation.