WHO WE ARE
Synergy Works Better is a professional grant writing, fundraising, and technical assistance firm dedicated to helping small businesses, nonprofits, and community-based organizations build strong foundations, access funding, and grow sustainably.
We specialize in working with under-resourced and community-rooted leaders, providing structured support that moves ideas from concept to funded, operational reality.
OUR MISSIONOur mission is to expand access to funding, knowledge, and opportunity by equipping individuals and organizations with the tools, strategies, and support needed to succeed.
OUR APPROACH
We believe that funding should not be limited to those who already have access, connections, or internal capacity.
That’s why our work focuses on:
Building readiness before pursuing funding
Providing hands-on, practical support—not just advice
Strengthening systems that support long-term sustainability
Centering equity, access, and real-world impact
We don’t just help clients apply for funding—we help them become prepared to receive, manage, and grow it.
What Makes Us Different
Many firms focus only on writing grants or offering high-level consulting. At Synergy Works Better, we take a more comprehensive approach.
We:
Build funding-ready organizations and businesses—not just applications
Provide structured technical assistance with clear outcomes
Support the full lifecycle: readiness, funding, and post-award management
Combine strategy, implementation, and accountability
Partner with trusted experts in legal, financial, and compliance areas
Our work is designed to reduce barriers, strengthen capacity, and ensure long-term success—not just short-term wins.
My work is grounded in one core belief:
Access to funding should not depend on who you know—it should be built through strategy, structure, and support.
Meet the Founder
Synergy Works Better was founded by Lakesha York, a nationally recognized grant strategist, capacity-building leader, and visionary behind one of the most effective approaches to funding readiness for under-resourced organizations and entrepreneurs.
Lakesha doesn’t just help organizations find funding—she helps them become ready for it.
With a track record of supporting nonprofits, small businesses, and community-led initiatives across the country, she has helped clients secure millions of dollars in funding, while building the systems, strategies, and infrastructure needed to sustain and grow that impact long after the funding is awarded.
Her expertise spans:
Grant writing and funding strategy
Technical assistance program design and delivery
Organizational development and capacity building
Government, corporate, and foundation funding navigation
What sets Lakesha apart is her ability to bridge the gap between vision and execution. She works closely with leaders to transform ideas into structured, fundable, and scalable initiatives—ensuring they are not only competitive for funding, but prepared to manage and grow it responsibly.
As a Black woman founder deeply rooted in community, Lakesha brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work. She understands the systemic barriers many organizations face and has built Synergy Works Better to directly address those gaps—creating pathways for leaders who are often overlooked but positioned to drive meaningful change.
Through Synergy Works Better, Lakesha continues to lead with purpose—helping organizations and entrepreneurs move from uncertainty to clarity, from ideas to implementation, and from under-resourced to fully equipped.
