Helping nonprofits enhance their missions by crafting compelling and creative cases for support

I started my business in 2018, the spring after my daughter Tala was born. Just as Tala is named after the goddess of the morning and evening star in Tagalog mythology, my personal mission is to help nonprofits reach for the stars. I offer nearly 15 years of experience in developing compelling government, foundation and corporate grant proposals as well as other fundraising communications, annual reports, marketing materials and beyond.

With an educational background in social services and counseling, I have helped organizations across the Chicago area secure mission, programs and capital support with a focus on the arts, primary and mental health care, human services, community organizing, violence prevention, economic development, education (early childhood through high school), youth development, museum services, public health, disease-specific care, public policy and advocacy, and more.

Over the course of my career, I have raised over $20 million in private and public funds – and that number is growing every day! My experiences have helped me refine a sense for the feasibility and impact of projects – all in the service of keeping community-based organizations alive and thriving. I’ve taken on multiple roles with increasing responsibility over time, and in grant writing and grants management positions have contributed to over two-fold organizational revenue growth.

I am a card-carrying Grant Professionals Association member and I have experience serving on city and state-level grants review panels. I also currently serve as a capacity-building coach for grassroots organizations participating in the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority’s Institute 2 Innovate (i2i) Program.

For more info about my background and experience, please email me at cdaney@talacommunications.com.

Clair Daney, MA

Originally from the Washington, D.C. area, I moved to Chicago in 2004 after earning my bachelor’s degree in art therapy and human service administration at Springfield College in Massachusetts. I graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2006 with a master’s degree in art therapy. After having worked for nearly two years as a case worker and counselor for adults with chronic mental illness and Chicago Public Schools students, I changed course and started my career as a grant writer at a federally qualified health center outside of Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. Almost 15 years later, I’ve worked behind the scenes in diverse communities. I’ve also provided volunteer art therapy services in a number of Chicago-area organizations and hospitals. In my spare time, I like to draw and paint.