Hello, friends!
Welcome to this week’s issue of The Impact—where we connect nonprofit fundraising pros like you with the strategy, tools, and funding insights you need to thrive.
This week, we’re talking about the future of grant writing. You’ll learn:
- How to craft proposals that go beyond short-term wins
- Why funders are prioritizing sustainability and partnerships
- And how to show your impact through visual storytelling
We’re also spotlighting two new grant opportunities (including one that uses psychology to fuel change), plus expert advice on building a 12-month funding strategy.
Let’s get to work!
Pitfalls and Pointers
Grant writing in 2025 isn’t just about compelling narratives; it’s about demonstrating sustainability, collaboration, and measurable impact.
⚠️ Pitfall: Writing Proposals That Focus Only on Short-Term Wins
In today’s funding landscape, showing immediate outputs is no longer enough. Funders want to know what happens after the grant period ends. Without a clear plan for sustainability, even a strong application can raise doubts.
💡 Pointer: Show Funders You’re Thinking Beyond the Grant Period
Long-term impact is the name of the game in 2025. Here’s how to demonstrate you’re ready to go the distance:
- Include a sustainability section: Share how you’ll maintain progress when the funding runs out—whether through future grant opportunities, earned revenue, or community support, a sustainability plan is key.
- Tie into broader initiatives: Align your outcomes with larger frameworks, like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to show relevance beyond your organization.
- Highlight community ownership: Show how your program trains local leaders, involves community stakeholders, or plans for leadership handoff to sustain progress beyond your team.
Want more insights on how to communicate long-term impact in your proposals?
🤓 Get the full scoop on crafting an effective sustainability plan!
Tech You Should Know
What:
Venngage for Nonprofits is an easy-to-use infographic and data visualization tool that helps nonprofits turn complex information into clear, compelling visuals.
How Grant Writers Can Use It:
- Bring Your Data to Life: Transform statistics, outcomes, and impact metrics into visually engaging infographics that funders can easily digest.
- Enhance Reports and Proposals: Use visuals to break up text-heavy documents and highlight key takeaways—especially helpful for attachments like logic models or evaluation plans.
- Create Shareable Assets: Build graphics that can be repurposed for fundraising materials, social media, or annual reports—keeping your messaging aligned across platforms.
Keep in Mind:
- Venngage offers a free nonprofit plan, but access to premium templates and features may require an upgrade.
- Like any design tool, the best results come from knowing what story you’re trying to tell—start with your data, then design to support it.
👉 Explore Venngage’s free nonprofit plan and start visualizing your impact!
Expert Perspectives
🏆 Madison Wilferd on Building a 12-Month Grant Strategy
Madison Wilferd, Grants Coordinator at Burrows Consulting, emphasizes the importance of a proactive approach to grant seeking. In her guide, she outlines how developing a 12-month grant funding strategy can transform a nonprofit's fundraising efforts.
Here’s her expert advice:
- Develop a Comprehensive Funding Calendar: Map out grant opportunities throughout the year, aligning them with your organization’s programmatic needs and timelines. This proactive scheduling ensures timely submissions and reduces last-minute scrambles.
- Implement a ‘Go/No-Go’ Evaluation Framework: Establish criteria to assess the viability of pursuing specific grants, considering factors like alignment with your mission, competitiveness, and resource requirements. This strategic decision-making process helps prioritize efforts and optimize resource allocation.
- Analyze Funder 990 Reports: Dive deep into funders’ 990 reports to understand their giving patterns, average grant sizes, and openness to new grantees. This data-driven approach increases the likelihood of securing funding by targeting the most compatible funders.
By implementing a structured, year-long grant strategy, nonprofits can allocate resources more effectively, reduce last-minute scrambles, and increase their chances of securing funding.
🗓️ Read more of Madison’s advice on crafting a grant funding strategy!
Featured Nonprofit
LA Recovery Connect
$200,000 Raised with Instrumentl
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Mission: To empower individuals recovering from substance use disorders through peer-led support, housing, and workforce development.
L.A. Recovery Connect started as a small, peer-run organization committed to helping people in recovery rebuild their lives. But as demand for their services grew, their ability to find and manage grant opportunities was holding them back.
“We needed help identifying the right grants and organizing everything—it was overwhelming,” shared their team.
That all changed when they adopted Instrumentl. With better tools to track deadlines, uncover funder fits, and streamline workflows, L.A. Recovery Connect secured major grants, including California’s EPOC (Expanding Peer Organization Capacity) award. That funding allowed them to bring on a development director and scale their operations to meet the growing need.
👉 See how L.A. Recovery Connect is scaling smart with Instrumentl!
Opportunities Spotlight
🌟 American Psychological Foundation: Direct Action Visionary Grants
Who It’s For: Nonprofit organizations with projects using psychology to address social issues
Next Deadline: July 31, 2025
Grant Amount: Up to $20,000
The Details:
The American Psychological Foundation offers Direct Action Visionary Grants to support innovative projects that use psychological science to address social problems. These grants aim to fund initiatives that have the potential for significant impact in areas such as education, health, and community well-being. Applicants should demonstrate how their project will apply psychological principles to effect positive change.
💪 Wawa Foundation Financial Grants
Who It’s For: Nonprofit organizations focused on health, hunger relief, or everyday heroes in Wawa’s service area
Next Deadline: Rolling deadline (applications accepted year-round)
Grant Amount: Varies by project scope
The Details:
The Wawa Foundation supports nonprofits working in key focus areas: health, hunger relief, and support for everyday heroes (firefighters, police, veterans, etc.). Organizations must demonstrate a direct impact in communities within Wawa’s service region. Funding can support programs, events, and general operations. While there’s no hard deadline, applicants are encouraged to apply well ahead of their project start date.
🔍 Explore thousands of other grant opportunities now!
Networking Nook
💻 Webinar: Grants 101: Understanding the Basics of Grant Funding
Friday, July 11, 2025 | 12:00 PM PST
This 60-minute webinar, hosted by Grant Consulting Services, offers a foundational overview of grant funding. Ideal for nonprofit leaders and new grant writers, the session covers essential topics such as identifying funding sources, understanding grant application components, and developing realistic expectations for grant success. Participants will gain valuable insights into the grant landscape and learn how to align funding opportunities with their organization's mission.
Don’t miss out!
📅 Conference: Raise: The Event Fundraising Conference
September 8-9, 2025 | San Antonio, TX
Join over 700 nonprofit professionals at Raise, the premier event fundraising conference hosted by OneCause. This two-day event features more than 40 sessions covering fundraising strategy, donor engagement, event planning, storytelling, and leadership. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from industry experts, participate in interactive workshops, and network with peers to enhance their fundraising efforts.
Hurry - early bird registration ends soon!
To check out more recent and upcoming live events, go here.
In Case You Missed It
📑 Article: Grant Writing Best Practices: The Ultimate List of 2025 Tips
This comprehensive guide from Instrumentl compiles essential tips to enhance your grant proposals. Learn how to understand funder guidelines, communicate effectively, and craft compelling narratives to increase your chances of securing funding
📼 Video: Creativity & Corporate Partnerships: 90-Minute Webinar
In this webinar, nonprofit coach Mallory Erickson breaks down what corporate partners are really looking for when they work with nonprofits and what it takes to build win-win relationships with corporate funders that create sustainable revenue streams. Don’t miss it!.
🎙️ Podcast: How to Turn Event Attendees into Lifelong Donors with Chad Barger
In this episode of Nonprofit Nation, host Julia Campbella and special guest Chad Barger share actionable strategies to transform event attendees into lifelong donors. They emphasize the importance of personalized follow-ups, timely thank-you messages, and engaging storytelling to build lasting relationships. Give it a listen!
Ready to Win Back Hours in Your Week?
Let’s be real - grant work is too important to be buried in spreadsheets and scattered deadlines. Instrumentl brings prospecting, tracking, and reporting together in one intuitive platform, so you can focus on what really matters - funding your mission.
Here’s the best part: You can sign up for a 14-day free trial today (no credit card required) to see just how much easier grants can be!
