The Impact Issue #105: Diversify Now - Before The Next Funding Shift!

Hi there!

Welcome to The Impact!

If the past year has proven anything, it’s this: funding landscapes don’t stay still.

Federal priorities shift, grant cycles tighten, and donor behavior evolves. Suddenly, the strategies that felt stable last year aren’t working, and organizations that weren’t prepared are left scrambling.

If you want your nonprofit to be solid - no matter how much the landscape is shifting- you need structure. And we can help! In this issue, we’re focusing on:

• How to reduce reliance on a single funding stream
• Why donor-advised funds deserve more strategic attention
• What rising fundraising salaries signal for retention and sustainability
• Tech infrastructure that strengthens grant readiness
• Plus, new funding opportunities to support your growth

Long-term impact isn’t built on one strong grant or one reliable funder. It requires balance.

Let’s get into it!

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Pitfalls and Pointers

It’s no secret that federal funding priorities have been in flux recently. Shifting regulations, delayed allocations, and changing political landscapes have created uncertainty for many nonprofits.

This moment is a clear reminder: funding environments change. The question is whether your revenue model can absorb the shift.

⚠️ Pitfall: Building your budget around a single dominant funding source

When one stream - often federal dollars or foundation grants - carries most of your revenue, any policy or priority change becomes a crisis. Without diversification already in place, adaptation becomes reactive, and reactive fundraising streams, strategy, and staff.

💡 Pointer: Build diversification before you need it

Your revenue structure should be ready for change. Here are some tangible ways that fundraisers can start to widen their base now:

• Qualify 15-20 new private foundation prospects to reduce over-reliance on federal or repeat funders. Prioritize strong mission alignment and giving history before applying.
• Launch (or strengthen) a recurring donor option to create predictable monthly revenue that cushions volatility in grant cycles.
• Create a giving society for donors who give above a certain threshold (e.g., $1,000+ annual) and invite your most consistent supporters to join.
• Add clear planned giving language to your website and donor communications. Legacy commitments cost little to promote but strengthen long-term sustainability.
• Review your revenue mix quarterly. If one source exceeds 40-50% of total revenue, treat that as a vulnerability.

When revenue is layered - grants + individual giving + major gifts + legacy - no single shift destabilizes the whole organization.

👀 See how nonprofits are responding to changes - and why diversification matters now.

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Tech You Should Know

What

Tech Impact + TechSoup Virtual CTO Program - a “virtual chief technology officer” support program built to help small nonprofits get the kind of tech leadership they usually can’t afford. It’s designed for nonprofits with operating budgets under one million dollars and focuses on building long-term technology capacity (not just fixing one-off problems).

How Nonprofit Professionals Can Use It

• Clarify your technology roadmap. Align tools, data systems, cybersecurity practices, and future investments with your organization’s strategic plan - not just short-term fixes.
• Strengthen grant readiness. Many funders now ask about cybersecurity, data privacy, and infrastructure. Having a documented plan makes those sections stronger and easier to write.
• Reduce operational bottlenecks. When tech systems are disorganized, everything slows down - reporting, collaboration, and financial tracking. Strategic oversight reduces friction across departments.
• Support leadership conversations. Boards and executives often know tech matters but lack clarity on what to prioritize. A virtual CTO helps translate needs into actionable steps.

Keep in Mind

Technology decisions shouldn’t be treated as basic IT troubleshooting. The greatest value comes when leadership views technology as critical infrastructure.

💻 Learn more about Tech Impact’s Virtual CTO Program.

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Expert Perspectives

🏆 Mitch Stein on Making Donor-Advised Funds Work for You

As Head of Strategy at Chariot - and widely known as “the DAF guy” - Mitch Stein has a front-row seat to one of the fastest-growing revenue channels in philanthropy: donor-advised funds (DAFs).

With federal funding in flux and diversification top of mind for many, Mitch’s message is clear: DAFs aren’t complicated - but most organizations aren’t using them strategically.

Here’s his expert advice:

• Make DAF giving visible everywhere. Add clear DAF language to your donation page, appeals, and event materials. Many donors already have funds set aside - they just need a reminder to use them. Check out an example from the Wounded Warrior Project.
• Stop chasing DAF institutions. Focus on donors. There’s no master list of DAF holders, and networking with a brokerage firm won’t unlock gifts. Focus on building strong donor relationships instead.
• Track every DAF in your CRM. Even partial information (such as the sponsoring fund's name) is valuable. DAF gifts are strong wealth indicators and signal long-term giving potential.
• Acknowledge DAF gifts quickly and consistently. A missing thank-you is one of the most common reasons recurring DAF gifts are cancelled.

His core insight? DAFs represent donor-driven dollars rather than institutional funding. When you treat them like relationship-based giving, not mysterious transactions, they become one of the most stable and resilient revenue streams available.

Want to explore how DAFs and private grants can strengthen your revenue mix?

📽️ Watch Mitch Stein's full workshop here.

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The Latest Numbers

Median fundraising salaries are rising faster than inflation. According to the 2025 AFP Compensation & Benefits Report, the median US fundraising salary increased from $83,000 to $87,672 in 2024 - a 5.6% jump that outpaced the year’s roughly 2.9% inflation rate, even though average pay remained relatively stable year-over-year.

What this suggests for teams right now:

• Mid-level professionals - who make up the bulk of fundraising staff - are seeing real wage growth after years of stagnation.
• Employers are maintaining pay levels in a complex economic environment, even as the broader labor market evolves.
• Progress on pay equity is mixed: the gender median pay gap narrowed but still exists, showing both momentum and room for improvement in compensation practices.

These figures underscore why compensation - alongside workload, talent retention, and internal culture - remains a key strategic focus for fundraisers and nonprofit leaders in 2026.

📖 Read the full report for more sector trends in compensation and benefits.

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Opportunities Spotlight

Provident Bank Foundation Grant Program

Who It’s For: Nonprofits serving communities in New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania

Next Deadline: Applications accepted April 1 - 30, 2026

Grant Amount: $5,000-$25,000

The Details:

• Funds programs that strengthen local communities through improved access to education, health services, workforce development, and family support initiatives
• Prioritizes measurable outcomes and organizations that demonstrate strong financial stewardship and community impact
• Supports both programmatic funding and, in some cases, general operating support aligned with foundation priorities

👉 Apply Here!

Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards

Who It’s For: Nonprofits across the US, Puerto Rico, and Canada focused on education, homelessness, hunger relief, and other community impact initiatives

Next Deadline: May 1, 2026

Grant Amount: $30,000 - $350,000 (based on award tier)

The Details:

• Provides grants to nonprofit organizations making a meaningful difference in their communities, in areas aligned with Chick-fil-A’s impact priorities
• Funding categories include education access, youth development, food insecurity, and support for underserved communities
• Awards range from local grants to larger regional and national impact grants

👉 Apply Here!

Don’t miss out on more good-fit opportunities!

🔍 Explore thousands of other grant opportunities now!

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Networking Nook

💻 Webinar: Monthly Giving: Your Nonprofit Sustainability Plan

April 9, 2026 | 1:00 PM

Monthly donors are one of the most stabilizing sources of revenue an organization can bIn this free Bloomerang webinar, you’ll learn how ot build (or strengthen) a recurring giving program that creates predictable revenue and reduces pressure on one-time campaigns and grant cycles.

Don’t miss it!

✅ Register Now!

📅 Conference: Points of Light Conference 2026

June 22-25, 2026 | Washington, DC

If your team is thinking about long-term sustainability (and how to do more without burning out), this conference is a good fit. It brings together nonprofit leaders and social impact practitioners for sessions on community impact, volunteer engagement, cross-sector partnerships, and organizational resilience - plus plenty of networking with peers facing the same capacity challenges.

Hurry - spots for this conference book up quickly!

✅ Register Now!

To check out more recent and upcoming live events, go here.

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In Case You Missed It

📑 Article: Planning for sustainability in your nonprofit grant proposals

Sustainability isn’t a buzzword - it’s what funders look for when they’re deciding whether your work can last beyond the grant period. This guide breaks down what to include in a sustainability plan (including diversified revenue streams) and how to write it in a way that feels credible, not aspirational.

👉 Get the Full Story!

📼 Video: How Foundations Make Funding Decisions

Ever wonder what happens after you submit a grant proposal? This session from Candid explores how foundations evaluate applications, what funders look for in proposals, and common reasons grants are declined.

👉 Watch the Master Class!

🎙️ Podcast: Revenue Diversification for Nonprofits: The Egg or the Basket?

A practical conversation hosted by The Nonprofit Podcast about the risk of “betting everything” on one revenue source - and how to start expanding into multiple lanes without overwhelming your team.

👉 Listen to the Episode!

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More Strategy, Less Scrambling

Your funding strategy deserves better than spreadsheets and guesswork.

Find more good-fit grants, track deadlines without chaos, and build a pipeline that actually supports your long-term sustainability.

Start your 14-day free trial of Instrumentl today - no credit card required - and see what organized growth feels like.

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