GrantStation: History and Growth
Our Mission | Our History | Our Staff
Origins
Born 1999 in Fairbanks, Alaska, U.S.A.
Creators
- Cynthia M. Adams
- 10 Investors
And three dedicated staff:
- Julie Kaufman
- Toni Kaufman
- Steven Schellong
Timeline
1996
- Launched our first searchable database of grantmakers (Big Data), which was developed specifically for Alaskan grantseekers and offered by the Alaska Funding Exchange.
- Work was done out of a 16 x 20-foot cabin in the woods about 12 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska, with no running water.
- Our electricity was provided by a plug-in on a power pole about 300 feet up the hillside from our cabin.
1999
- Incorporated the business as GrantStation.com, Inc., brought in ten investors, and started two years of research and development.
- Re-designed the database, began work on a new website, added federal and state funding information, and developed a set of tutorials to help individuals write grant proposals.
2000
- Launched the GrantStation website to serve grantseekers from throughout the United States.
- Hired additional staff and reluctantly moved the office "from the woods" into town.
2001
- GrantStation has nearly 450 full Members.
- Introduced the GrantStation Insider.
- By year-end, there are 4,000 readers and 30 Co-Brand Partners.
2002
- Circulation of the GrantStation Insider reaches 20,000.
2005
- Introduced a searchable database of grantmakers based throughout the world. Known as 'the international section'.
- Launched the Technical Assistance Program (GS-TAP), which combines complete access to all of GrantStation's grant research resources with customized online trainings for members of the partner organization.
- Circulation of the GrantStation Insider tops 100,000.
2006
- Contracted with USAID to develop the GrantStation International Insider.
- Circulation of the International Insider was approximately 4,000 by year-end.
2007
- Introduced the Membership Value Program (MVP), allowing organizations to purchase blocks of Memberships at a reasonable volume rate, thereby integrating GrantStation Membership into their membership benefits package.
- Membership hits 10,000.
2008
- Launched our online trainings (webinars) in June.
- Provide over 75 webinars and have approximately 2,000 participants.
2009
- GrantStation has 20,000 full Members.
- Introduced a new design and layout for the GrantStation website.
- Circulation of the GrantStation Insider is 225,000, representing 185 Co-Brand Partners.
- Begin celebration of our 10 year anniversary!

