Staff from any of DCSC’s active member schools or school networks are eligible to join any group at no cost.
This Community of Practice is for CMO and charter school leaders who want to move beyond “chasing grants” toward building durable, values‑aligned funding models that match their growth plans. Together, we will connect organizational strategy to fundraising, strengthen equity‑centered cases for support, and build practical multi‑year revenue plans tailored to diverse‑by‑design charter networks. Participants will diagnose where their current funding model is fragile or misaligned with strategy, explore a mix of revenue streams (public funds, philanthropy, earned and partner revenue), and leave with a draft sustainability roadmap they can refine with their teams.
Ideal Participant Profile: This CoP is designed for leaders of diverse‑by‑design CMOs and charter schools who:
Dates and Times:
Mike Montoya is the founder and CEO of Stronger Consulting, an education and nonprofit consulting firm he launched in 2016. A more than thirty year veteran of the education and nonprofit sectors, Mike helps mission driven organizations design, strengthen, and sustain the programs, systems, and leadership teams that improve outcomes for young people, families, and communities. His work spans executive search, leadership coaching, strategic planning, fundraising and organizational restructuring, including supporting the consolidation of KIPP Los Angeles and KIPP San Diego into KIPP SoCal Public Schools. A native of Colorado, Mike holds degrees from Colorado College and the University of Chicago and lives in Portland, Oregon, with his husband, Jake, and their horses, Buddy, Manhattan, G-Swift and Brooklyn.
Jonathan Grajeda is a seasoned nonprofit professional with over 15 years of experience and more than a decade in fundraising. He has supported national and global organizations—including UNICEF, KABOOM!, U.S. Soccer Foundation, and Hire Heroes USA—through roles in business development, fundraising strategy, and philanthropic advising. Jonathan has helped secure over $30 million in grant awards and led successful proposals to agencies like the DOE, DOI, OJP, and EPA. His expertise spans major donor cultivation, corporate and foundation giving, and public grants, as well as advising high-net-worth individuals and family offices on philanthropic strategy. He holds a PhD in Inclusive Public Policy, an MBA in Nonprofit Management, and a BA in Liberal Arts. Fluent in Spanish, Jonathan has worked internationally and serves as an advisor to the grant platform Temelio. In his free time, he enjoys soccer, coaching, and family life.