April 7, 2026
The Impact Issue #107: Understanding The Message Behind The Message
What you don’t say is just as important as what you do in your applications
Hi there!
We know our words are powerful - but did you know what you don’t say is just as powerful as what you do?
In this week’s issue, we’ll share insights on the funder’s unspoken language, including how vague statements and under-the-wire submissions can actually be a red flag to many funders and inspire doubt.
We’ll also share tech resources, networking opportunities, grants to watch out for, and more.
Welcome to The Impact.
Pitfalls and Pointers
⚠️ Pitfall: Focusing on the Problem, Not the Solution
Many nonprofits do a great job of describing the problem or need in their grant applications. After all, we have a lot of statistics, research, and testimonials we can use to help us tell that story.
But potential funders - especially if they operate in our communities - know the problem. What they want to know is how we are uniquely positioned to address it.
Vague statements about how we will provide comprehensive support won’t inspire confidence or help us stand out. It may actually do the opposite and harm our chances.
💡 Pointer: Be More Solutions-Oriented in Your Narrative
You should give your solution statements just as much, if not more, space as your description of the problem.
That’s your time to highlight why YOU, so you shouldn’t gloss over it.
Here’s how to do that.
- Be specific. Explain what the program looks like in practice, including activities and what outcomes you expect. You want reviewers to easily picture how your program works.
- Don’t forget your staff. Reviewers want to know who is delivering the program and what their expertise is. These qualifications can help you stand out from others with less seasoned staff.
- Tie your solution back to the problem. Logic models are a great way to help you do this. They’re visual roadmaps that connect your resources (inputs) and actions (activities) to your desired results (outcomes). That removes ambiguity and provides clarity for reviewers - which is always a good thing!
You don’t just want to tell potential funders that your program exists. You want to show them how it operates and why it’s effective.
🎒 Take a refresher course on writing strong grant proposals!
Tech You Should Know
What
Hemingway Editor is an online tool that can help strengthen your writing, allowing you to put your best foot forward in your grant applications.
How Grant Writers Can Use It
- Correct errors: Catch pesky typos and grammar issues before they make it into your final product.
- Shorten sentences: Wordy sentences can be confusing. Utilize the “shorten it” feature to trim down sentences, which, as an added bonus, can help you meet word counts.
- Adjust tone: Hemingway Editor can make suggestions to improve your tone, helping your applications come across more confident, formal, persuasive, and more.
Keep in Mind
After the two-week free trial, expect to pay between $100-$150 annually, depending on how much you plan to leverage the tool.
✍️ Learn how to write more like Hemingway with this tool!
Expert Perspectives
🏆 Allison Jones on the Power of Submitting Early
Allison Jones, founder of Spark the Fire Grant Writing Classes, knows it can be tempting to submit grant applications under the wire. However, you may actually be sending an unintentional message to funders by doing so - and not a good one.
Instead, she encourages her students to submit grant applications two weeks in advance.
Here’s her expert advice on why:
- Early proposals get more attention. Allison has submitted proposals early and had the program officer reach out with questions - and offer to let her resubmit. This led to valuable feedback and strengthened her proposal.
- It indicates how your organization operates. It can signal that you're organized, you respect the process, and that you’re committed to quality. That often translates to how you will execute the programming.
- It reduces stress. If you plan to submit early, you have a built-in buffer to account for the unexpected while still meeting the deadline.
🧑 Watch the masterclass to learn how to be more prepared!
Opportunities Spotlight
Glenn W. Bailey Foundation STEM Stars
Who It’s For: Nonprofits focused on STEM education in high school and middle school
Next Deadline: Rolling (letter of inquiry)
Grant Amount: Up to $25,000
The Details:
The Glenn W. Bailey Foundation is committed to enhancing STEM education in the United States. While this grant is invitation-only, interested nonprofits can submit a letter of inquiry outlining their interest. The programming should foster a love for STEM, prepare students for college and careers in STEM, and promote problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
Journey for Good Grant
Who It’s For: Nonprofits focused on breaking the poverty cycle
Next Deadline: May 15, 2026
Grant Amount: $10,000 (median grant amount)
The Details:
The Journey for Good Foundation’s mission is to fight poverty with food, shelter, education, and workforce development opportunities. The foundation is also focused on honoring veterans and providing them with the support they need to support their civilian lives. Grants can be used for general operating expenses, projects and programs, and education and outreach.
🔍 There’s more where that comes from - explore additional grant opportunities now!
Networking Nook
📅 Conference: Tech Forward
September 27-29, 2026 | Kansas City, MO
The Annual Tech Forward Conference brings together technology leaders, decision makers, and nonprofit staff to explore innovative tech solutions. The 2.5-day conference will show how to leverage technology to advance your mission and help drive a greater impact.
To check out more recent and upcoming live events, go here.
In Case You Missed It
📑 Article: Top 6 Grant Management Best Practices for Nonprofits
Enhance your end-to-end grant management processes by following these expert tips. The article will help transform how you secure funding, streamline processes, integrate AI, and more.
📼 Video: Reverse Search for Grants: Find Funders Who Support Similar Nonprofits
Learn how Instrumentl can help you find new funders by reverse searching their giving history. It’s always a good sign if the funder gives to organizations like yours.
🎙️ Podcast: When Nonprofits Should Consider Both Grant Writing & Individual Donor Giving Campaigns
Join Holly Rustick and the Grant Writing and Funding podcast to learn more about how to diversify your revenue through both grant writing and individual giving campaigns. She’s joined by Alex Cohen of ANC Consult to discuss challenges in the nonprofit sector and how to adapt your services to meet them.
Consider the Full Picture
Everything we do - every choice we make - is telling potential funders something about us. It’s up to us to make sure that our words and actions are telling the right story.
Instrumentl can help.
- Optimize applications through AI. Instrurmentl Apply can help transform your strongest applications into new ones, helping save you time. Whether you’re looking to pull from past applications or strengthen your phrasing, Instrumentl has you covered.
- Streamline your workflow. Assign tasks to your team. Plot important dates and deadlines on the grants calendar. Leverage Instrumentl’s collaboration tools to make sure you’re all on the same page so you never miss another deadline.
- Track your outreach. Keep your funder notes in Instrumentl to ensure your team has visibility to the latest and can pick up seamlessly where you left off.
🎉 Sign up today for a free 14-day trial!
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