Grant Strategy & Readiness

A Case for Support is a source document that explains who your nonprofit is, what you do, why your work matters, and why someone should support it. You may hear it described as a fundraising document or a master grant application template. That is true, but I think those descriptions undersell what a good Case for Support can do. For a small nonprofit, especially one where the executive director is carrying much of the fundraising work, a Case for Support can become the place

If your nonprofit is new to grants, start with three things: organize the documents funders are likely to request, learn who funds work like yours, and begin with a small number of well-aligned opportunities. You do not need a full-time grant writer or an elaborate grant strategy to take those first steps. But you do need enough clarity and organization to know what you are asking a funder to support. Here’s where I recommend starting. 1. What documents should a nonprofit hav

It’s a beautiful thing when staff and board leadership communicate from a shared understanding of priorities and mission. Healthy board and Executive Director relationships are no accident. Most are fostered through intentional good habits practiced over time. Here are just three for you to consider today. 1. Build shared language around the mission Strong organizations develop clear language around who they are and how their work impacts the problem they show up to solve. Bo

If you’ve ever wondered whether grants could provide a financial boost for the community work you do through your church, you are in good company. Many church leaders hear stories about grant funding and ask the same question: Can churches get grants? The short answer is yes, churches can receive grants. But not every church is ready for the work required to pursue them, and not every ministry is a good fit. So, what makes ministries fundable, and how can your church recogniz

I recently had coffee with a nonprofit leader who hoped to find one funder to cover an entire million-dollar project. Then they wondered whether they should apply for as many grants as possible, as quickly as possible. I understand the hope. When grant funding is new to your organization, it can be hard to know what is realistic, what is worth pursuing, and what needs to be in place first. If this sounds familiar, I want to spare you some unnecessary stress. Grant funding can

For leaders of small and growing nonprofits, fundraising can feel constant, uncomfortable, and unclear. So, we do what we know to do. A quick email. A push before payroll. A campaign when cash gets tight. It keeps things moving, but it’s hard to build sustainability that way. Organizations that last make a deliberate shift. They build a healthy fundraising culture. A sustainable fundraising culture is reflected in the way your organization thinks about money, mission, and res

If I could grab you by the shoulders, look you square in the eye, and speak one truth about funding, it would be this: Grants. Won’t. Fix. Everything. There is no universal percentage of nonprofit revenue that should come from grants. The right mix depends on the organization’s size, grant restrictions, renewal prospects, other revenue sources, and tolerance for funding concentration. I feel nervous when I see grants as more than 20 - 30 percent of a small to midsize organi

By Andra Ingalls, MPA A nonprofit is generally ready to begin pursuing grants when it can clearly explain its programs and outcomes, has its financial and organizational documents in order, has leadership support, and has someone who can manage the application and reporting process. Grant readiness is less about having a perfect organization and more about having enough clarity and capacity to steward funding well. An acquaintance reached out to me recently for advice on gran