Despite our tight budget constraints, Grasstops has dedicated time and energy to ensure that our perspective is heard at the capitol and that we are engaged in the process that shapes the reality of the students and families we serve.  Without Grasstops assistance, we would be disengaged. With Grasstops, we are knowledgeable, involved, and our presence and the needs of our students is known!

Stephanie Ochocki, President Minnesota School
Social Workers Association (MSSWA)

Due to the challenging economic climate, many nonprofits do not have sufficient funds for current programming, let alone funds to hire a lobbyist from an expensive for-profit lobbying or consulting firm.  Consequently, many nonprofits have been forced to disengage from the legislative process due to the financial inability to contract with external policy specialists or hire policy-focused staff in-house.  Some nonprofits have even been forced to remove current policy positions from their rosters.

Grasstops believes that financial constraints should not silence a nonprofit's voice at the State Capitol, and that politics should never be "pay-to-play."

Grasstops addresses this barrier by providing affordable, sliding-fee services within the budgetary scope of each client.  In addition, Grasstops encourages client collaboration to increase affordability, and assists clients in finding external funding sources.  Grasstops also offsets the cost of services provided by fundraising through events and grants.