Why membership Pricing FAQ
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Starling Membership

Guided funding, delivered — every month, not just at proposal time.

Templates, a curated grants database, and direct access to a grant strategist — built for organizations that want more than a search engine.

Federal opportunities refreshed every day, alongside foundation, corporate and state agency funders from across the country — each one with a note on who it suits and what to check before you spend a week on the application.

A database tells you what exists. We tell you what fits.

Generic grant databases return everything that matches your keywords. Membership adds the judgment call.

A typical grants database
  • Raw, unfiltered opportunity listings
  • Keyword search only
  • No guidance on whether you're a fit
  • No human to ask a question
  • Self-serve, self-taught
Starling Membership
  • Curated listings with Fit Notes on each one
  • Deadline tracking built around your program areas
  • Templates matched to what you're applying for
  • Office hours and strategy calls with a real strategist
  • Built by a working grant writer, not a data vendor
Membership tiers

Choose your level of support

Every tier includes the template library and grants database — access and support grow as you move up.

Tier 1
Perch
Get grant-ready and stay there.
$39/ month

  • Full template library
  • Grants database — preview access (2 opportunities)
  • Monthly funding opportunity digest
  • Private member community
  • New templates added monthly
Start with Perch
Tier 3
Flock
For organizations who want a trusted partner on call.
$299/ month

  • Everything in Flight, plus:
  • Quarterly 1:1 strategy call
  • Priority draft review (2 hrs/month)
  • Direct access channel
  • Federal proposal & compliance templates
Start with Flock

Month-to-month. Cancel anytime. No long-term contract.

Frequently asked questions

Is this instead of hiring Starling for a retainer? +

No — membership is designed to complement fee-for-service work. Many members start here and graduate into a retainer engagement once they have a specific proposal underway.

Can I cancel anytime? +

Yes. Memberships are month-to-month with no long-term contract.

Does membership pricing depend on grant outcomes? +

No. In line with the Grant Professionals Association Code of Ethics, all Starling services — including membership — are flat-fee. We never charge based on whether a grant is awarded.

How is this different from a database like GrantWatch or Candid? +

Those tools are excellent at surfacing listings. Membership adds what they don't: Fit Notes written for your specific programs, templates built to match what you're applying for, and a real person to ask when you're not sure a grant is worth pursuing.

Can I switch tiers later? +

Yes — upgrade or downgrade anytime from your account settings. Changes take effect at your next billing date.

Why are the tiers named Perch, Flight, and Flock? +

They echo the three-bird mark in our logo — Perch is where you get grounded, Flight is where you're actively moving, and Flock is full partnership, moving together.