February 11, 2025
The Impact Issue #48: Transform Your Nonprofit Game This Week!
Streamline your nonprofit’s grant strategy! This issue covers when to hire consultants, key proposal-writing tips, AI tools for grant writing, and new funding opportunities. Don’t miss expert insights from Sheleia Phillips on securing capacity-building grants!
Hey there,
Grant writing might feel like juggling flaming swords some days—but we’ve got your back!
From strategic tips on when (and how) to call in outside contractors to new tools to streamline your workflow, we’re packing this edition with actionable insights to make your life easier. And, as always, we’re covering new grants, events, and resources to keep your mission moving forward.
So take five and dig in—you deserve it.
Welcome to The Impact.
You Don’t Want to Miss This
The single most important part of any grant application is this: your why.
More specifically, why your mission matters and why your organization is best positioned to make it happen.
Today, at 12 pm CST, Allison Prieur, Principal and Founder of DARE Impact Consulting, will explore the two essential types of evidence that transform proposals from good to grant-winning. You’ll learn how to discover, evaluate, and weave evidence into your narrative, creating a persuasive and compelling case that resonates with funders. You’ll walk away knowing how to:
- Use two types of evidence to craft grant applications that stand out.
- Showcase the urgency and importance of your program with compelling data and narratives.
- Prove why your solution is uniquely suited to deliver the impact funders are looking for.
Don’t Miss Out!
Pitfalls and Pointers
⚠️ Pitfall: Misaligned Expectations and Unclear Objectives When Working With Outside Consultants
Consultants can lighten your load, but if mismanaged, they can add more chaos than clarity.
You might get frustrated that you don’t get the results you were expecting, or feel like you are just creating more work for yourself in the time that it takes to supervise and oversee their work.
💡 Pointer: Define Your Processes First to Set Yourself Up for Success
Here’s how you can set yourself up for success when working with nonprofit consultants:
- Clearly define deliverables: Before engaging a contractor, outline exactly what you need—whether it’s drafting a grant proposal, researching funders, or designing reports.
- Use contracts to set expectations: Include deadlines, budgets, and communication frequency. Clear agreements = fewer headaches.
- Match expertise to tasks: Hire for specific expertise—e.g., a data analyst for impact reporting or a seasoned writer for critical grants.
- Vet candidates carefully: Ask for references and portfolios to ensure quality work.
Investing a little time upfront will help you enhance your workflow instead of disrupting it.
Not sure if your nonprofit should hire a grant writing consultant?
Tech You Should Know
What:
Nonprofit Web Design Vocabulary 101
Ever feel lost when your web developer starts talking about “responsive design” or “favicons”? This guide from Wired Impact simplifies the jargon so you can communicate confidently about your website’s needs.
How Organizations Can Use It:
Understanding basic web design terms can save time and prevent miscommunication when working with contractors or vendors. A little fluency in the language of web design can go a long way toward ensuring your project stays on track.
Keep in Mind:
Even with clear definitions, technical conversations can get complicated. If something still feels unclear, don’t hesitate to ask for explanations or mock-ups to ensure everyone is aligned.
🔗 Explore the guide here: Web Design Vocabulary 101!
Expert Perspectives
🏆 Sheleia Phillips on Unlocking Long-Term Success for Your Nonprofit Through Capacity Building Grants
Sheleia Phillips, founder of SMP Nonprofit Consulting, is a capacity-building expert helping nonprofits strengthen their infrastructure and achieve sustainable growth.
She sat down and shared with us some actionable advice for organizations seeking capacity-building grants, highlighting the importance of strategy, alignment, and relationships.
Here are her top tips for success:
- 🚩 Start With a Needs Assessment: Sheleia emphasizes the importance of conducting an honest evaluation of your organization’s internal challenges—whether it’s technology, staffing, or leadership gaps. Funders are more likely to invest when you can clearly articulate what’s holding your nonprofit back and how you plan to address it.
- 🚩 Make Funders Part of Your Journey: According to Sheleia, capacity-building grants are often relationship-driven. Build trust by keeping funders informed about your goals and progress, even outside the grant cycle. Inviting them to site visits or sending updates can go a long way.
- 🚩 Demonstrate Long-Term Vision: Funders look for investments that create ripple effects. Sheleia advises nonprofits to outline how grant funding will translate into broader organizational success, such as improving staff retention, scaling programs, or increasing community impact.
- 🚩 Be Strategic About Fit: Not all funders are focused on capacity-building, so Sheleia suggests researching funders whose priorities align with your needs. Customize your application to show how your goals overlap with their mission.
💡 Watch the full webinar for even more insights and tips!
A Gift for You
20+ Free ChatGPT Prompts for Grant Writers
Does AI still feel kind of foreign? Not sure how to use it effectively or appropriately? We have a concrete way to get started.
Streamline your grant writing process with these pre-written AI prompts tailored to nonprofit professionals.
Opportunities Spotlight
🏃FinishLine Youth Foundation Louder Than Words Health and Wellness Grant Program
Who It’s For: Nonprofit organizations in the United States that provide programming or activities that place an importance on personal development, an active and healthy lifestyle, or mental health.
Next Deadline: May 15, 2025
Grant Amount: $10,000
The Details: This grant seeks to fund initiatives that impact diverse communities (51% of beneficiaries must be people of color) across the country. This round of grant funding is explicitly focused on health and wellness initiatives.
🌟 NEO Action Fund
Who It’s For: Organizations worldwide working to advance social justice and advocate for policy reforms.
Next Deadline: Rolling
Grant Amount: Unspecified, varies
The Details: The NEO action fund works on a variety of issues including environmental preservation and climate change, civic participation, and immigrant and human rights. They help organizations to connect with one another, prioritize rapid response to necessities, and provide access to experts to further programming.
🔍 Explore thousands of other grant opportunities now!
Networking
💻 Grant Masterclass: How to Strengthen Your Grant-Readiness Framework
February 18th, 2025 | 12 p.m. CST |Virtual
For over 27 years, Valerie A. Grant has empowered nonprofits to secure millions in grant funding. Now, she’s sharing her tried-and-true approach to setting up organizations for grant success. You’ll learn:
- Three essential steps to get your organization grant-ready
- Five proven strategies for creating a competitive grant approach
- How to identify compatible, high-ROI opportunities with Instrumentl
Don’t miss out!
💻 Virtual Summit: Nonprofit Marketing Summit: Evolve
March 4-6, 2025 | Virtual
You’re invited to the Nonprofit Marketing Summit: Evolve! This 3-day, FREE virtual conference features 80+ sessions to help your nonprofit thrive in a digitally transformed world. Join 30,000+ nonprofit professionals as you explore actionable strategies to inspire your audience, turn supporters into champions, and empower your organization to break through the noise.
Don’t miss out!
To check out more recent and upcoming live events, go here.
In Case You Missed It
📑 Article: Grant Research Checklist for Nonprofits
Check out an overview of how to evaluate potential funders, prioritize opportunities, and find the best matches for your organization based on history and values.
📑 Article: How to Evolve Your Mission to Win More Grants
This guide walks you through some things to consider when thinking about updating your mission statement. How can you make this transition successfully? Why might this be necessary? What impacts could this have in the short and long-term for funding?
Found This Helpful? Check Out All of Our Free Resources
We’ve shared a lot of information today…but there’s a lot more where that came from!
Check out our website for all kinds of other free resources, or make the leap and subscribe today to a 14-day free trial of our grant prospecting and management platform—tailored to fit your organization's needs and streamline your fundraising efforts!
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