The Impact Issue #49: Boost Your Grant Wins and Increase Giving

Hey there!

From actionable stewardship tips to fresh grant opportunities, this week’s newsletter is designed to help your nonprofit secure more funding and build stronger relationships with donors!

Grab your cup of coffee and settle in for this week’s edition of The Impact!

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Pitfalls and Pointers

Planned giving. It’s a long-term strategy that could be the difference between a financially secure future for your nonprofit or scrambling to meet your yearly fundraising goals.

When building a planned giving program, your approach matters. Let’s break down how a simple shift in strategy can transform your nonprofit’s future.

⚠️ Pitfall: Only Targeting Wealthy Donors

Planned giving often gets associated with wealthy individuals leaving large endowments. But focusing solely on high-net-worth donors is a missed opportunity.

By assuming that planned giving is out of reach for most supporters, you’re overlooking the potential of loyal donors who might want to contribute to your cause—even in smaller ways.

💡 Pointer: Include Everyone in Your Legacy Planning

Planned giving isn’t about wealth; it’s about a commitment to your mission. 

Encourage donors of all backgrounds to consider leaving a legacy gift by ensuring your nonprofit has a dedicated planned giving page on your website. This page should: 

• Explain what planned giving is,
• Highlight its impact,
• And answer common questions to help potential donors explore options.

Want to dive deeper into planned giving strategies?

👉 Check out our guide on legacy giving for actionable tips and insights!

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Tech You Should Know

What:

Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT is a cloud-based fundraising and donor management solution that integrates seamlessly with Instrumentl.  Together, they create a dynamic duo for nonprofits looking to manage donor data and uncover new funding opportunities.

How Nonprofits Can Use It: 

• Planned Giving Insights: Retirees are often interested in planned giving opportunities, like bequests and charitable trusts. With Blackbaud’s tools, you can track these donors, segment them based on their giving preferences, and create targeted outreach campaigns.
• Data Sync for Grant Tracking: Instrumentl’s integration allows your team to pull key grant and donor insights from Blackbaud into Instrumentl, helping you track application statuses and funding trends without switching platforms.
• Improved Stewardship: Use Blackbaud’s donor profiles to identify major giving potential among your retired donor base. Then, pair this with Instrumentl’s funding research to align those donors with projects they care about.

Keep in Mind:

• Ease of Integration: The setup process between Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT and Instrumentl is straightforward and does not require extensive technical skills. Phew!
• Data Privacy: Both platforms prioritize security, so you can focus on growing your donor base and planned giving programs with confidence.

Ready to maximize your impact by combining the power of fundraising and grant tracking?

➡️ Discover more about this dynamic duo here!

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Expert Perspectives

🏆 Shavonn Richardson: Former Grantmaker Insights to Elevate Your Proposals

With years of experience evaluating grant proposals, former grantmaker Shavonn Richardson knows exactly what it takes to make an application stand out. Her expert perspective offers a behind-the-scenes look at what funders truly value in a proposal—and how to avoid some common pitfalls. 

Here’s her expert advice: 

• Be Clear and Concise: Proposals need to communicate their purpose quickly. Avoid jargon and present your project’s goals and impact in simple, direct terms.
• Customize Your Approach: Tailor each application to the specific funder’s priorities. Demonstrating alignment with their mission shows your commitment to collaboration.
• Tell a Story: Numbers and data are essential, but funders connect with compelling narratives. Highlight the lives your work has touched to bring your proposal to life.
• Polish Every Detail: Spelling mistakes and formatting issues can detract from your message. A thoroughly proofread proposal conveys professionalism and care.

👫 Gain more insights to level up your proposals!

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The Latest Numbers

What role does retirement play in shaping charitable giving? A recent study by Fidelity Charitable explored how retirees approach giving—and the insights could help your nonprofit better connect with this important donor demographic.

But who has time to pour over lengthy reports and extract actionable takeaways?

We do! And we’ve got you covered.

Here’s what you should know about how retirees approach giving:

• Retirees are more generous than their working counterparts, donating 42% more annually on average.
• 60% of retirees say giving back is an essential part of their retirement goals.
• They’re not just giving their money—they’re giving their time, too. Retirees are twice as likely to volunteer compared to those still in the workforce.
• The top motivators? A sense of purpose, a desire to stay socially connected, and a commitment to supporting causes they deeply care about. 

⭐ Ready to tap into the giving power of retirees? Check out the full study!

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Opportunities Spotlight

🏘️ Walmart Foundation Spark Good Local Grant Program

Who It’s For: Nonprofits focused on community-building, hunger relief, public safety, and education.

Next Application Period: Opens March 1, 2025 

Grant Amount: $250 - $5,000

The Details:

• Supports local nonprofits in areas served by Walmart stores.
• Emphasizes projects that serve the local community. 

👉 Learn More Here!

🏙️ HumanitiesDC General Operating Support Grant

Who It’s For: DC-based nonprofit organizations with a primary focus on humanities programming.

Next Deadline: March 1, 2025

Grant Amount: $10,000 to $50,000

The Details:

• Provides unrestricted funding to nonprofits, allowing them to strengthen operations and expand capacity.
• Prioritizes organizations that serve underrepresented communities in Washington, DC. 

👉 Apply Here!

🔍 Explore thousands of other grant opportunities now!

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Networking Nook

💻 Webinar: Grant Writing Webinar Series

May 19-22, 2025

Grants are just one piece of the puzzle for nonprofit funding plans—but how do you effectively engage donors while also building long-term sustainability? Join Funding for Good for a webinar series that offers actionable tips for engaging with donors and raising more money!

Bonus: Get access to handouts, downloads, and a replay of the session until August 1, 2025!

Space is limited!

✅ Register Now!

📅 Conference: AFP ICON 2025: The Premier International Fundraising Conference

April 27-29, Seattle, Washington

Join 3,000+ nonprofit leaders and fundraisers at the premier fundraising conference! Learn from world-class speakers, attend hands-on workshops, and explore trends shaping the sector.

Highlights Include:

• Networking with top industry professionals.
• Breakout sessions on planned giving, donor engagement, and technology.
• Inspiring keynotes from sector leaders.

Don’t miss this opportunity!

✅ Register Now!

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

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In Case You Missed It

📑 Report: AI & Grant Writing: What You Need to Know

Artificial intelligence is reshaping grant writing. Learn how to integrate AI tools into your workflow, tackle ethical concerns, and prepare for the future of grant writing.

👉 Read the Full Report!

🎙️Podcast: Fundraising Is Funny: When Good Data Goes Bad

In this engaging episode, hosts Lynne Wester and T. Clay Buck explore what happens when nonprofits rely on flawed data to make critical fundraising decisions. Discover actionable tips for avoiding common data pitfalls to ensure your data is rooted in accuracy.

👉 Listen to the Episode!

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Say Goodbye to Grant Overwhelm!

Imagine a world where you spend less time hunting for the right grants and more time turning dreams into reality. With Instrumentl, you can simplify the grants process—from prospecting to post-award management—all in one platform! 

The best part? It’s designed for nonprofit grant professionals just like you!

🌟 Join 3,500+ nonprofits who are already transforming their grant-seeking efforts! 

✅ Start your free trial today!