Momentum: Q&A with Sandy Tran
Presented by Moments Media, TA98’s Digital Storytelling Division
By Araceli Ramirez
Sandy Tran is the head of development and a fundraising consultant with The Alliance 98 (TA98). A Posse Scholar from Chicago’s Jefferson Park neighborhood, she studied conflict studies at DePauw University and joined Teach for America after graduation, teaching middle school English in Hawai‘i, where she first explored grant writing and community development.
She returned home to Chicago, and in 2017, began fundraising at Noble Schools while also supporting TA98’s early development and long-term vision. Recognizing a growing need for fundraising support within her network, she launched Bold & Write LLC in 2019, a consulting firm that helps grassroots organizations and small businesses build strategic funding systems. Her work centers on connecting communities to the resources they need to grow and thrive
We sat down with Tran to reflect on her evolving role at TA98 and the broader world of fundraising and grant writing.
Q: What inspired you to get into the world of fundraising and grant writing?
A: My first job out of college was through Teach for America. I was a middle school English teacher on the Big Island of Hawaii. Teach for America brings folks from across the country to areas of need. I felt that to be a good teacher, I needed to understand my community and build an authentic relationship with them. In Hawai’i, there’s a concept called kuleana — the responsibility and privilege each person has to their community.
In Kaʻū is where I wrote my first grant. It got rejected, but that didn’t deter me from looking for resources. I worked at Kaʻū High and Pāhala Elementary, in a beautiful rural community. We needed more support, whether that meant applying for grants, partnering with foundations, or sharing ideas for what we could do with funding. Long story short, we received a $10,000 grant that brought in culturally relevant professional development for youth workers.
In my final year of teaching, I wanted my students to know they have agency in solving community issues. We created a Shark Tank-style project where they pitched ideas, organized a school carnival, and raised over $1,000. The proceeds went to a nonprofit that my students believed made a true impact in the community.
All of that showed me that fundraising was part of the bigger work to achieve justice. It’s a way to amplify the amazing things already happening in the community. That experience made me want to dive deeper into this field because there’s still so much to learn when it comes to fundraising.
Q: You mentioned being around when The Alliance 98 was still just an idea — what made you stay and grow with it?
A: There were a couple of reasons that made me want to be a part of TA98. David was my entryway into the type of community work that I find to be authentic and meaningful. He had a very clear vision for what he wanted to do in Little Village and how he wanted to impact young adults.
I gravitate toward visionaries, like David, because I’m someone who can take an idea and figure out how to turn it into a program or initiative; that’s my skill set. One of the first things he wanted to do was go back to his high school and provide young men with career readiness workshops and professional attire for job interviews. We took that one day event, raised funding, and transformed it into TA98’s flagship program, Suited for a Cause, which has now served hundreds of young adults in Chicago.
Overall, it is my kuleana to bring the fundraising knowledge and skills I’ve gained into communities that need it the most.
Q: What does your grant writing process usually involve, and what kinds of projects have you worked on?
A: I have experience securing government, corporate, and foundation grants for a wide range of clients. This includes working with individual artists, like a filmmaker seeking funding to document the Chicago Latino experience, as well as writing grants for murals, community farms, education initiatives, and post-secondary success programs. Beyond individual projects, I’ve also supported schools in applying for grants to fund baseball field renovations and music & art programs, and we've successfully secured several of those as well.
In general, grant applications require detailed and concise narratives. They usually ask for information about the proposed project, how much funding we are requesting, the outcomes we are aiming to achieve, and how community voices are being included. We are also asked to share past work and accomplishments. Some funders now offer alternatives to written responses, such as audio or video recordings, to increase access. I started shifts like this happening around 2020, when equity became a bigger focus in philanthropy following George Floyd’s murder, the community protests, and the overall reckoning of our nation.
All of that really shifted the field. Philanthropic institutions began reevaluating how they funded communities that had been historically overlooked. As a result, we saw some changes and felt the impact of them, including fewer restrictions and more inclusive application processes. For example, organizations are often required to submit audited financials with their proposals, along with other requirements, which can be barriers for those without the budgets to meet them.
Q: What’s something you wish more people understood about the fundraising and grant writing work behind TA98’s programs?
A: I’ll boil it down to two things. First, funding takes time to secure. Nonprofit leaders are under pressure to bring in money urgently. I feel that urgency too, but we have to remember that building relationships with funders takes time. Just because we submit an application and get declined doesn’t mean it’s a permanent no. We have to do our due diligence, keep sharing our work more broadly, and continue networking. For funders to truly understand what we do, they might need to hear about it two or three more times before we even start conversations about support. This kind of work takes time.
The second piece is about abundance. In a world filled with fear and scarcity, it’s easy to feel like we’re all in competition. But I always remind folks that the money is out there. We just need to be strategic and methodical in how we pursue it. Funding can come in many avenues. When one door closes, we have to keep going. For every rejection, there will also be some yeses. We cannot be deterred, but instead, must keep thinking abundantly. We have to stay the course and focus on finding the right alignment and supporters.
Q: Any final thoughts you’d like to leave us with?
A: I believe that when it comes to community work and social justice, everyone has a unique gift to contribute. It’s about truly identifying your skills and expertise, and then aligning them with a greater cause. I just happened to fall into fundraising. There are days where I love it, and there are days where it’s really tough. But I’ve stuck with the course, and honestly, it has been so rewarding to be able to win funding for incredible ideas, organizations, and community-rooted leaders.
For anyone wondering how they can contribute to justice work, start by honing in on your unique brilliance. Listen closely to what the community needs, and find meaningful ways to align your skills with those needs. I say this because I truly feel I’ve found my passion work. I get to wake up every day and do something that’s not only deeply important to me, but also to the communities I serve.
For those thinking about getting involved in social justice work, know that your contributions matter. We need dedicated individuals who are ready to show up, stay present, and drive real change as a collective.