In the realm of federal grants and education service grants, timing is everything. The adage "the early bird catches the worm" couldn't be more applicable. Securing funding through grants demands foresight and meticulous planning, often long before the grant cycle officially opens. Here's why initiating the grant writing process well in advance can significantly enhance your chances of success. Grant cycles, more often than not, operate on tight schedules, sometimes lasting no more than six weeks. Crafting a winning proposal within such a narrow window presents considerable challenges. Howe ..read more

As a nonprofit organization, securing funding is crucial to your success. Grants are a great way to obtain the necessary resources to support your mission and make a positive impact in your community. However, finding the right grants can be a daunting task. In this article, we will discuss the steps you can take to find the right grants for your nonprofit organization. Why Grants are Important for Nonprofits Grants are a vital source of funding for nonprofit organizations. They provide financial support for programs, projects, and initiatives that align with the mission and goals of the organ ..read more

Operating as both an art and a science, it takes several years to master the art of grantwriting effectively. As grant professionals, we have dedicated our careers to mastering how to write grants and completing competitive proposals. Nonprofit leaders and Boards of Directors often have limited time and many tasks to complete. They may find it overwhelming to learn and use the same grant writing approach as professional grant writers. Experienced grant writers and grant writing consultants are important. Learning how to find a grant writer or grant consultant may initially be difficult. In th ..read more

Reputations matter. There are so many examples found all around us: You only get one chance to make a good first impression The 30-second pitch - a high-level overview to instantly communicate your organization's value “Who do you know that are subject matter experts in ?” People use these concepts to establish or build reputations and be known as the best in their field. Managing your reputation as a non-profit is similar. Having an excellent reputation in the community involves making a good initial impression and consistently driving results so your organization is known for whatever work ..read more

Congratulations, nonprofit leaders- you have made it to the end of the year! As we celebrate, we are quickly reminded that the new year is around the corner. As the new year approaches, we start to think about new potential funding opportunities and new and existing relationships that need to be built and maintain to make your funding goals a reality. Effectively building networking relationships takes strategy. Building relationships with funders is no different. Here is some insight on three ways to effectively build relationships with funders: "When you want money, ask for advice. When you ..read more

I had the esteemed pleasure of presenting at the Grant Professionals Conference (www.https://grantprofessionals.org/) for the second year in a row (hence the delay in this post). Last year, I presented the session "Logic Model LIVE!". It was so popular that I did an encore presentation for not 1.5 hours but 3 full hours. A three-hour presentation is some serious commitment. It shows how serious (or maybe crazy) I am about logic models. If you've followed me for any length of time, you will have come across a presentation or two about logic models. It's because I believe doing the work of a lo ..read more

If you have not yet had any “ah-ha moments” when it comes to learning how to write grants, you are in for a real treat. Learning the difference between goals, outcomes, and outputs is key to writing competitive proposals. This is the holy grail of grant writing. The problem is that many nonprofit leaders and some grant writers do not have a clear understanding of the difference between goals, outcomes, and outputs. To make it worst, some funders don’t know the difference either. This is especially apparent in how funders pose questions, how you inadvertently don't accurately respond to the qu ..read more

Every nonprofit leader knows the value of deploying general operating funds to help grow and scale their nonprofit organization. General operating funds are mostly unrestricted dollars most commonly used to pay for things programming support generally won't pay for. These expenses include salaries, rent, utilities, fundraising, and other administrative expenses and overhead. Traditionally, funders often like to fund projects in which their dollars can go directly to the end beneficiary. The truth is, programs are supported by general operating support because programs: Are run in buildings t ..read more

Mind Your Manners Relationships are valuable. Always observe the highest standards of politeness and respectful communication when engaging with funders. When I was a grantmaker with Bank of America, I can't recall a time when a potential grantee was impolite, however I can recall a time when communications could have been better. I remember how I felt when I would receive mass communications like being added to a monthly newsletter or distribution list - it wasn't a nice feeling. It just added to the flurry of emails in my inbox. Many went unread. Instead, consider sending a potential funder ..read more

Inflation has rippling effects on nonprofit organizations, donors, and funders alike. With inflation at a 40-year high due to the pandemic, federal stimulus programs, and other factors, nonprofit leaders and board members have to think strategically about how to navigate increases in inflation. If you are unfamiliar with inflation, inflation is a term used to describe a general progressive increase in the prices of goods and services. In everyday nonprofit leader language this means: Your same costs will cost you more today than they did a year ago. This is called a decrease in purchasing pow ..read more