EVENT
ABOUTSPEAKERSTICKETSFAQ
START YOUR PROJECT
EVENT
ABOUTSPEAKERSTICKETSFAQ
START YOUR PROJECT

Unlocking potential.

Nurturing creativity.

Elevating Black Artists and Non-Profit Organizations.

Helping them flourish with funding, development, and strategic planning.

 

START YOUR PROJECT

You are on my site because you have a funding problem...

Am I right? Over my 20 years of experience, people have come to me for one of two reasons: they've received funding in the past but don't know how to get more; or they've never gotten funding and this is their first time.

Which one are you?

It doesn't matter what stage you are in, you have the potential to grow your organization exponentially once you know the Language of Funding which is what I have used to raise over 2 million dollars for black artists in non-profit.

But don't worry, you aren't losing your mind.

Being an artist or a non-profit leader in the black community is being blessed with a burden. It is one of the most rewarding but tiring work that a person can embark on.

I help you shoulder that blessing.

If you have ever felt overwhelmed, frustrated, discouraged, and ready to throw the towel in, you have come to the right place. Your peace of mind is paramount in my consulting process.


What you need is an action plan...

My specialty is helping you tell your story with numbers and that Language of Funding that I spoke about earlier, to attract the correct grant dollars.

An action plan is the way out of your stuck place.

Get clear action items with steps that you can use to grow your organization without feeling that you are wasting precious time and resources.

Ready to Start Your Project?

START YOUR PROJECT

Growing Black Testimonies

Elie Kihonia
CEO Afrika Yeu

Diaspora Touring Company
WACONGO

Deryck Tines
Tines Media & Consulting

"I have had the pleasure of working with Michele on a few projects related to grant writing, strategic planning, and organizational evaluation dating back to 2017. She is one of the most dynamic and vibrant facilitators I've encountered, with a keen eye for both personal and organizational strengths and challenges. Her extensive experience with grant writing and administration, and the times I have seen her hard at work, make her someone I would call on any time to ensure that a project or idea has both feet and wings- for she is as gifted at capturing complex and abstract ideas in a digestible form, as she is at bringing something that exists only on paper, to life.

Taylia Allen

Co-Founder

CocoHaus Creative Solutions

Michele Lee Betts is an amazing artist who I have known for several years.  From my perspective, she has super powers when it comes to grant proposal writing. She is a no-nonsense, educated creative powerhouse who focuses on getting her grant writing goals met.

 

In July 2018 I attended a grant proposal workshop for Advancing Black Art in Pittsburgh (ABAP).  Michele Lee Betts was one of the facilitators.  Prior to coming to this workshop, I had submitted an ABAP 2018 grant proposal for a production of a play I had written. Unfortunately, I received a letter in April that said I didn't get the grant.  This workshop was a great opportunity for me to learn the rights and wrongs of  grant writing. I felt welcomed when I sat at Michele's table discussion with seven other  artists.  Everyone at our table had a room full of questions for Michele.  She answered them all and poured her grant writing wisdom into our cups.  I listened to her words and took notes about accurately connecting your Project Description to your Budget, defining realistic Outcomes/Goals, how to present your best images/videos and the importance of paying yourself.

 

Later that year, I re-wrote and resubmitted my ABAP grant proposal for my play with the advise and directions from Michele Lee Betts.  I received a $15,000.00 ABAP grant  in October 2018 to produce my domestic violence play, “The Sunday God Gave Me”.  Much Love and Respect to you Michele for sharing valuable grant writing assistance with us and for giving me the skills to self-produce my work!

 

 

Kim El

Pittsburgh Playwright

Michele Lee Betts

Little matters more to me than creating safe spaces for Black people to thrive. It's something that brings joy in my heart and purpose in my soul. My work is a love offering to every Black artist, non-profit leader, and community member called to build their ideas into organizations and create bodies of work meant to stir the senses. I love art. I love community. and I love the Black diaspora. That love is evident in my work and my results.

My career as a consultant spans over 20 years. During those 2 decades, I've raised over 2 million dollars; grew non-profit budgets by 10x; and secured six figures for artists. I've had the privilege of working alongside organizations such as the Afro American Institute (AAMI), Reed Dance, and the Black Transformative Arts Network.

I relish in the work that most Black organizations find trouble tolerating---telling a story with numbers and navigating the intricacies of the funding landscape. Let me be your code-switch guide and help you unlock your potential.