Funding is never just about money. It is about what you are building, who it is for, and what it will take to get there without contorting yourself into something unrecognizable.
Trestle sits in that in-between space with you. We help you sort the noise from the signal, build a plan that matches your reality, and stay alongside you as you move.
For teams who need an embedded funding brain, but not a full-time hire. We become part of your internal team for a defined period - attending meetings, coaching staff, and quietly running pieces in the background so you are not carrying it alone.
For when you do not need a whole strategy - you just need to get one specific thing over the line. Tight scope, shared working doc, weekly check-ins, and tangible outputs at the end.
For founders and leaders who mostly need a steady, experienced sounding board. Regular calls, async feedback, and on-call eyes on the decisions that shape your funding.
Queer and community-centered organizations trying to get off the grant hamster wheel. Small to mid-sized orgs with at least a basic funding history who are ready to be more intentional.
Queer, trans, Black, brown, and otherwise underestimated founders. Early-stage companies with real traction who are raising a first or next meaningful round.
Queer and marginalized creators juggling grants, investors, donors, and fiscal sponsors. Teams with a project past the idea stage who need a funding plan that matches both the work and the impact around it.
A small queer-led nonprofit came in with a patchwork of grants, a tired board, and a sense that they were always one "no" away from crisis. Over six months of fractional support, we clarified their funding priorities, reset their grant pipeline around real relationships, and designed a realistic plan for growing individual giving.
A trans founder had bootstrapped a product with strong community uptake but kept hearing "too niche" from traditional investors. In a focused sprint, we reframed their narrative, reworked the deck, and mapped a target list of values-aligned angels and funds. Ongoing advisory helped them navigate the raise without losing what made the company different.
An independent filmmaker had a nearly finished doc, a long list of "maybe" funders, and no clear plan. A short sprint built a funding roadmap combining grants, community support, and a fiscal sponsor. We stayed on as advisor through final fundraising and launch.
We start with a 25-minute conversation. You do not need a polished deck or the right language - if all you have is a half-formed idea and a sense that something needs to change, that is enough.
Start the conversation →