Cure VCP Disease, Inc., headquartered in Warner Robins, GA, is a patient advocacy organization founded in 2018 to drive the development of a cure for diseases caused by valosin-containing protein (VCP), including muscle disease, bone disease, and neurodegenerative diseases ALS, FTD, Parkinson's, and CMT. We provide global education and awareness of VCP diseases to doctors, researchers, investors, patients, caregivers, and the general public; develop and maintain a global patient registry of VCP disease patients; and collaborate with other global organizations and entities that are promoting a cure for diseases with symptoms similar to VCP disease. Visit www.curevcp.org for more information.

Client Challenges

• No formal grant infrastructure in place
• Difficulty identifying institutional funders aligned with rare genetic disease research
• Need to fund patient support priorities
• Limited internal capacity to manage the full grant cycle from prospecting through submission
• Pressure to building organizational capacity
  

Solutions Highlights

Pathways to Growth delivered a comprehensive institutional grant strategy built from the ground up — designed to match the sophistication of Cure VCP Disease’s scientific mission with the funding infrastructure it deserved.

1. Grant Readiness Assessment

We began with a thorough assessment of Cure VCP Disease’s organizational readiness, funding history, and program priorities — identifying gaps and opportunities that would shape the entire strategy.

2. Institutional Prospect Research

Our team identified a targeted pipeline of institutional funders — foundations, family offices, and scientific grant programs — with demonstrated interest in rare disease, genetics, and patient advocacy. Every prospect was vetted for mission alignment, eligibility, and timing.

3. 12-Month Strategic Grant Calendar

We built a structured, 12-month grant calendar that created a predictable, manageable submission rhythm — eliminating last-minute scrambles and ensuring consistent pipeline activity throughout the year.

4. Full-Service Proposal Development

• Our primary and support grant writers handled every aspect of proposal development — from leadership and scientific interviews through final submission — producing compelling, research-grounded proposals tailored to each funder’s priorities.
  

Results Highlights

• $61,000 in total grant funding raised supporting research expansion and patient programming
• Grants awarded through a targeted, mission-aligned institutional funder pipeline
• Research milestones advanced with funding directly tied to scientific progress goals
• Patient programming expanded increasing support for families affected by VCP-related disease
• Predictable grant pipeline established through a 12-month strategic calendar that eliminated funding gaps
• Organizational capacity strengthened with grant infrastructure now in place to support long-term growth