A recent study by Pitchbook revealed a sobering reality about venture capital: in 2022, all-women teams received just 1.9 percent of the $283.3 billion in available funding, while women of color received only 0.39 percent.
For Tiffany Stewart, founder of BirthWrite Consulting Group, those numbers highlight a gap that is not about potential but about systems, access, and preparation. Through her consulting firm, Stewart is changing that narrative. Her clients, many of them women and BIPOC-led organizations, have collectively secured more than $5 million in grants and contracts by learning how to become truly funder-ready.
What makes Stewart’s approach so impactful is her ability to help leaders focus on what others often overlook. She guides them in building internal infrastructure, clarifying their strategy, and crafting stories that funders cannot ignore. From public school districts to social impact startups, her work transforms execution into equity.
“There are three things that I see time and time again that separate those who consistently get funded from those who don’t,” Stewart says. “First, it’s about understanding the different kinds of investment that exist and which one aligns with your mission. Most people immediately think of grants, but investment can take many forms such as a grant, a sponsorship, or a contract, and each carries its own implications and levels of sustainability.”
She explains that readiness is not a one-time event but an ongoing posture. “There’s work before, during, and after the investment,” she says. “Too often, people focus solely on the goal of getting funded, but the real work begins after the check clears. Sustainability requires stewardship.”
For Stewart, relationships are at the heart of funding success. “Funders invest in people and missions they trust,” she says. “When organizations build genuine relationships and invite funders into their journey rather than just their proposal, they create trust, and trust moves money.”
Although access remains a challenge, Stewart believes infrastructure and storytelling are two areas organizations can control. “Access to funding for certain populations is indeed limited,” she says. “But infrastructure ensures you can deliver on what you promise, and storytelling ensures people believe in what you do. You can’t control every barrier, but you can control your readiness, your systems, and how effectively you tell your story.”
The numbers make it clear that systemic change is still needed. “We need a shift in power and perspective,” Stewart says. “We need more women of color in leadership, decision-making, research, and evaluation. The lack of investment tells the truth no matter what statements or pledges are made. Real equity is measured by where the dollars, decisions, and opportunities flow.”
Her consulting work reaches far beyond traditional grant writing. Stewart tailors her approach to each organization’s rhythm and goals. “For school districts, readiness might look like aligning programs with state and federal outcomes,” she says. “For social impact startups, it’s often about building credibility and refining the mission. Clarity and direction are always the goal. Clarity around who you serve and why it matters, and direction in how you measure and communicate that impact.”
Stewart’s mission also extends into policy, a space she believes is essential for lasting change. “Policy is about representation,” she says. “Black women must be in those rooms as elected officials, lobbyists, connectors, witnesses, activists, and changemakers. When we’re in those spaces, priorities shift. Policy becomes personal. It stops being about statistics and starts being about stories.”
Through BirthWrite Consulting Group, Tiffany Stewart is building more than funding opportunities. She’s helping organizations move from surviving to sustainable, proving that with the right systems, strategy, and story, equity is not just an idea, it is achievable.
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