May 27, 2025
The Impact Issue #63: Storytelling Wins Grants—Are You Leading With Heart?
Discover how storytelling can elevate your grant applications.
Hey there, changemakers!
Winning grants requires more than solid writing—it requires smart prospecting, bold storytelling, and building real connections with funders.
In this week’s edition of The Impact, we’re diving into:
➡️ Why leading with human stories (not just numbers) makes your proposals unforgettable
➡️ How to find and focus on the right grant opportunities for bigger wins
➡️ A free summit packed with fundraising strategies to fuel your mission forward
Ready to level-up your grant game? Let’s jump in!
Don’t Miss Out!
Ready to fuel your fundraising mission forward? 🚀
Join thousands of nonprofit leaders online at Virtuous’ 2025 Responsive Nonprofit Summit, June 4-5! It’s the #1 virtual event for bold, forward-thinking fundraisers, and best of all, it’s completely free!
Here’s what you can expect:
🧠 30+ fundraising experts sharing actionable strategies
📊 25 high-impact sessions packed with trends, tools, and techniques
🌍 A global virtual experience designed to spark real change
Whether you’re looking to scale personal connections or supercharge your donor growth, you’ll walk away energized and ready to make an even bigger impact this year.
Pitfalls and Pointers
⚠️ Pitfall: Relying Too Heavily on Data Over Storytelling
It’s easy to think that numbers alone will win over funders. But while data is essential, it’s not what captures the heart—or the checkbook. Funders need to feel the impact, not just read about it.
💡 Pointer: Lead With Human Stories, Support With Data
Storytelling is one of the most underrated and overlooked skills in fundraising today. A well-told story makes your mission relatable, emotional, and impossible to ignore. Here’s how to weave stronger stories into your fundraising work:
- Start With a Real Person: Instead of leading with your organization’s achievements, begin with a personal story that shows the impact on an individual or community. Check out this powerful example from World Bicycle Relief.
- Show, Don’t Just Tell: Use vivid, emotional language to paint a picture funders can visualize. Help them feel the transformation their support enables. This campaign from The Girl Effect uses emotional language in a video format to evoke a sense of urgency.
- Connect Story to Strategy: After telling a story, tie it directly to your mission and impact metrics. Reinforce how funder’s support fuels more outcomes like the ones you shared. PAWS Chicago does a phenomenal job of doing this on the Results page of their website; after all of the storytelling, videos, and images, they bring their message home, tying it back to the numbers.
Want to master the art of nonprofit storytelling?
👉 Check out these insights from the Ethical Storytelling Report!
Expert Perspectives
🏆 Jessica Knapp on Moves Management for Grant Writers
When we hear “moves management”, we often think of major gift fundraising—but as Dr. Jessica Knapp, President & State Director at Communities in Schools of Pennsylvania, points out, grant writers can (and should!) use these techniques too. Moves management is all about intentionally guiding funders from first contact to strong, lasting partnerships, and it’s a powerful strategy for building long-term support.
Here’s her expert advice:
- Map Your Moves: Identify key milestones to guide funders—from initial introductions and relationship-building activities to timely updates and meaningful thank-yous.
- Make Every Touchpoint Count: Send personalized updates between grant cycles, not just when you’re asking for funding. Small check-ins can create big loyalty.
- Play the Long Game: Keep a running log of every funder interaction, including emails, feedback, site visits, progress reports, and more. When you can show a pattern of thoughtful engagement and follow-through, you build trust. And that trust is what turns one-time support into multi-year funding.
📖 Read more of Jessica’s advice on using moves management in grants!
Grant Myths: Busted
Myth: More Grant Applications = More $$
When funding is tight, it’s tempting to chase every opportunity that pops up. But applying to every grant isn’t just exhausting—it’s actually counterproductive.
Why? Not every grant is a good fit.
Focusing your energy on high-ROI opportunities with strong mission alignment will save your team valuable time and increase your chances of success.
Here’s why smart targeting wins:
- Better Alignment = Better Proposals: When your mission closely matches a funder’s priorities, your proposal naturally feels stronger and more authentic. Before you dive in, use a decision matrix to prioritize opportunities and focus on your best fits.
- Save Time and Resources: Narrowing your focus frees up time for crafting higher-quality, tailored applications—not cookie-cutter submissions. Learning how to conduct strategic grant prospect research can make this process even faster and more effective.
- Higher Win Rates: You’ll win more grants by applying strategically, not frantically. Evaluate opportunities carefully by reviewing RFPs with a critical eye before committing your time and energy.
🔎 Check out the full article for more grant myths you shouldn’t believe!
Opportunities Spotlight
🏦 Citizens Bank: Champions in Action Program
Who It’s For: Nonprofits focused on community development, education, and social impact
Next Deadline: June 7, 2025
Grant Amount: $35,000 plus marketing, volunteer support, and networking opportunities
The Details:
- Open to eligible nonprofits in select US regions
- Includes funding and valuable visibility through Citizens Bank’s media and public relations channels
- Focuses rotate each grant cycle - upcoming theme is Youth Empowerment
🌟 Michael and Susan Dell Foundation Grants
Who It’s For: Nonprofits supporting children’s health, education, and family economic stability in the US, India, or South Africa
Next Deadline: Rolling
Grant Amount: $50,000+
The Details:
- Focus areas include childhood wellness, college success, and financial security
- Preference is given to innovative, scalable programs that impact underserved communities
Want more?
🔍 Explore thousands of other grant opportunities now!
Networking Nook
💻 Webinar: Serenity for Grant Consultants: How to Stay Sane & on Top of It All
June 3, 2025 | 1:00 PM CT
With the right systems in place, more clients doesn’t have to mean more stress. In this expert-led webinar, grant consultant Holly Alsop will share the systems that have helped her secure $3M in funding across 13 clients—without burning out. Whether you're juggling a handful of nonprofit grant portfolios or running a full-scale consulting practice, this workshop will help you reclaim your time and sanity.
You’ll walk away knowing how to:
- Use 5 proven strategies to streamline your work, set boundaries, and stay grounded
- Leverage tech tools and AI to reduce manual tasks and save time
- Communicate effectively with clients to prevent last-minute chaos
Spots Are Limited!
💻 Webinar: How to Maximize the Fastest Growing Revenue Channels for Your Nonprofit
June 5, 2025 | 12:00 PM CT
As nonprofit revenue streams shift, two big players are breaking away from the pack: private foundation grants and donor-advised fund (DAF) giving.
Join Chariot and Instrumentl for a strategy-packed session that breaks down why DAFs and grants are the fastest-growing (and most resilient) revenue streams right now - and how your team can tap into both to fuel your mission.
You’ll walk away with:
- A breakdown of why private funders and DAFs are set to surge in 2025 and how to be ready
- A funder evaluation framework to zero in on high-alignment prospects
- Tools to organize, prioritize, and build relationships with funders that match your mission
- Smart DAF engagement strategies from the leading DAF platform, Chariot
Don’t miss it!
📅 Conference: Nonprofit Storytelling Conference
November 10-12, 2025 | San Diego, CA
If you want to write more compelling grants, build stronger donor relationships, and master nonprofit storytelling, this is the event! Three jam-packed days full of sessions led by fundraising pros, storytelling experts, and nonprofit leaders.
Key takeaways:
- Learn how to craft irresistible donor stories that inspire action
- Master storytelling techniques to boost fundraising and marketing results
- Discover how to build emotional connections that drive long-term supporter loyalty
Don’t wait!
To check out more recent and upcoming live events, go here.
In Case You Missed It
📑 Article: How to Write Letters of Inquiry for Grant Funding
A strong Letter of Inquiry (LOI) could be your ticket to winning more grants. This Instrumentl guide shows you how to write an LOI that gets funders excited to learn more about your work.
📼 Video: Grant Writing Masterclass: How to Build Winning Proposals
In this free 90-minute masterclass, expert Janise Wiggins shares how to craft stronger, more competitive grant applications—from strategy to execution.
Simplify Your Grant Work
If you’re ready to spend less time searching and more time winning grants, Instrumentl is your all-in-one solution.
✅ Discover thousands of active opportunities
✅ Track deadlines with ease
✅ Manage applications all in one place
Start your free 14-day trial today—no credit card required, just funding opportunities at your fingertips.
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