Franco Funding Strategies partners with scholars, researchers, and higher education institutions to develop strategic funding pathways that support research advancement and academic success. Through funding strategy, proposal development guidance, and educational consulting, we help PhD students, early-career faculty, and academic programs identify competitive opportunities, strengthen grant readiness, and confidently navigate the complexities of the funding landscape.
Hi, I’m Cori Franco.
Cori Franco is a funding strategist who helps Ph.D. scholars develop competitive funding strategies and partners with higher education institutions to strengthen funding readiness, doctoral persistence, and research capacity. She is the Founder of Franco Funding Strategies LLC, where she provides educational consulting and strategic funding guidance to scholars, researchers, and doctoral programs seeking to expand access to funding opportunities.
As an Adjunct Professor of Grant Writing, Cori teaches graduate students how to identify aligned funding opportunities, develop competitive proposals, and navigate the grant-seeking process with confidence. Her work bridges the gap between individual scholar support and institutional strategy by helping Ph.D. scholars build sustainable funding pathways while partnering with higher education institutions—particularly tuition-dependent doctoral programs—to create stronger systems of funding support and scholar success.
With five years of experience as a writing educator and funding advocate, Cori has supported graduate students, doctoral scholars, and nonprofit professionals in identifying scholarships, fellowships, research funding, and grant opportunities aligned with their academic and professional goals. Through her work with more than 150 doctoral students, she has developed a deep understanding of the challenges scholars face when navigating complex funding landscapes and the importance of strategic guidance, resources, and mentorship in achieving funding success.
Cori holds a Grant Writing and Administration Certificate from California State University, Dominguez Hills and has personally secured multiple competitive scholarships throughout her academic journey. As a Ph.D. researcher in Transformative Studies at the California Institute of Integral Studies, her research examines how access to funding knowledge, resources, and support influences doctoral scholars’ motivation, persistence, and ability to advance their research goals.
Through teaching, consulting, and research, Cori is committed to transforming how scholars and institutions approach funding. She believes that funding access is not only about securing resources—it is about creating equitable pathways for scholars to complete their research, advance their careers, and contribute meaningful change within their communities and beyond.
Empowering Scholars. Funding Change.
My Approach
What began as a commitment to advancing equity in academic funding has grown into a consulting practice grounded in clarity, care, and intentional strategy. I believe funding success is not just about finding opportunities or submitting applications—it is about developing the knowledge, confidence, and systems needed to pursue funding with purpose.
My approach goes beyond the process. I take time to understand your goals, research, institutional context, and capacity to create funding strategies that are realistic, aligned, and sustainable. Whether supporting doctoral scholars, researchers, or higher education programs, I focus on building the skills, strategies, and confidence needed to navigate funding pathways and expand access to opportunities.
What PhD Scholars Say
Reflections from PhD scholars navigating funding with clarity and confidence through working with Cori.
Support
“Coriiii! It was wonderful engaging with you this semester. You helped me cross off a goal on my bucket list—applying for grants. Thank you for this gift of knowledge and support!”
Excellent
“I was initially apprehensive because I didn’t know all the steps or how to approach the process. But Cori did an EXCELLENT job breaking the process into manageable pieces and guiding us every step of the way.”
Fantastic
“Cori built a fantastic program and did an excellent job teaching it.”
Motivating
"I want to let you know I was offered the $165 scholarship to attend the September Wild Wonder Nature Journaling Conference!!! Thank you so much for an amazing, motivating class!!!!"
Wonderful
“This is a wonderful course, not only for grant writing but also to build clarity on the goals for one's work. It helps to reflect on the PhD work itself in having to articulate and communicate it effectively.”
Best
“Cori did a wonderful job in laying out the information and helping the students find a grant that fits them best.”
Thoughtful
“I really appreciated her support and how thoughtful she was in guiding me through everything, it honestly made a huge difference. Cori is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to resources for financial aid!”
Future
“I walked away feeling like my ability to fund my future study and academic ventures are in my hands.”
Value
“My biggest takeaway was recognizing the value of community support and 1:1 coaching (encouragement) in this process - there was SO MUCH VALUE in having a "people" space for this work, beyond a how-to manual.”
Empowering
“Working with Cori was one of the most empowering experiences of my doctoral journey. Beyond her exceptional expertise in grant writing and funding strategy, she has a remarkable ability to help scholars recognize the value of their own voice. I left every meeting feeling more confident, more focused, and more myself—a gift that has shaped not only my applications but my identity as a researcher.
From Research Goals to Funded Impact.
Here, research meets funding strategy. We support scholars, researchers, and institutions in transforming ideas into competitive funding opportunities through strategic guidance, intentional planning, and equitable access to resources. Together, we build pathways that turn research goals into meaningful impact.
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We are a funding strategy and educational consulting practice committed to helping scholars, researchers, and academic programs navigate funding opportunities with clarity and confidence. Rooted in equity, strategic thinking, and meaningful collaboration, we believe strong funding outcomes begin with intentional planning, aligned opportunities, and sustainable support. Everything we do is grounded in empowering scholars and institutions to develop sustainable funding pathways that advance research, student success, and community impact.
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From overwhelmed and underfunded → to strategic, supported, and funding-ready.
Navigate complex funding landscapes with clarity and confidence
Build competitive funding strategies aligned with your research goals and funding priorities
Strengthen grant readiness for scholars, researchers, and academic programs
Create sustainable funding pathways that advance research, student success, and institutional impact
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✔ PhD scholars seeking funding strategies, fellowship opportunities, and research support
✔ Early-career faculty and researchers pursuing grants, fellowships, and externally funded projects
✔ Higher education institutions and doctoral programs seeking to strengthen funding readiness, student persistence, and research capacity
Ready to take the next step?
Whether you're a PhD scholar looking to develop a funding strategy or a graduate program interested in partnering with Franco Funding Strategies, let's start with a conversation.
[Book Your Complimentary Discovery Call]
A 15-minute conversation to discuss your research goals, funding challenges, and whether Franco Funding Strategies is the right support for your next step
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Let’s Explore How We Can Support Your Funding Goals
Franco Funding Strategies partners with doctoral scholars, academic programs, and institutions to identify funding opportunities, strengthen proposals, and develop strategic approaches to sustainable research funding. Tell us about your goals and needs, and we’ll connect with you about the right next step.