Hi there!
A nonprofit’s digital presence extends far beyond its website and social media profiles. Do you know what yours says about you?
That’s okay if you don’t!
In this week’s edition, we’ll share tips to help you take control of your organization’s online presence, including tech resources for digital transformation and suggestions to improve your digital footprint. We’ll also share networking and educational opportunities, articles, grants, and so much more.
This week is going to be a good one, so settle in.
Welcome to The Impact.
Pitfalls and Pointers
⚠️ Pitfall: Having Incomplete or Outdated Information Publicly Available
When changes happen, many nonprofits will remember to update their websites and social media pages. However, they often miss other important databases and resources that potential funders use in their research.
If your nonprofit’s information is incorrect or outdated, you may accidentally be sabotaging your grant success without even knowing it.
💡 Pointer: Complete Regular Audits of Your Public Profiles
Things can change quickly in the nonprofit space, and it can be hard to keep everything updated. By scheduling regular audits, you can make updates part of your routine.
Here are some tips:
- Determine the cadence. Consider how often things change at your organization. For fast-paced nonprofits with high turnover, you may need to conduct them quarterly, while slower, more established organizations may only need to conduct them biannually or annually. Schedule them to hold yourself accountable. You’ll thank yourself later.
- Make a list of all the online profiles you would like to review. This can include your website, social media pages, Guidestar profile, Charity Navigator page, and so on. These are the pages most funders will turn to first to learn more about your organization, so you want to make sure they are accurate. Pro tip: Analyze your website traffic to see if there are places you are getting referrals from to ensure your information is accurate there too.
- Review your online profiles and make sure that your information is correct. Edit or submit updates to outdated information as applicable. Some websites will even allow you to submit additional documentation to help add a layer of trust and transparency. For example, Guidestar provides a Seal of Transparency, which is a green flag for many funders.
Want even more tips for digital transformation?
💻 Check out The Secret Formula to Online Success for Nonprofit Organizations!
Tech You Should Know
What:
The TechSoup Digital Assessment Tool is a free resource that can help you take stock of your digital resources and identify opportunities for improvement.
How Grant Writers Can Use It:
- Understand gaps in resources. The tool can help you understand what technology you have, identify any gaps and overlaps, and create a path forward to help you effectively utilize technology in your workflow.
- Enhance understanding using data. Leverage available data to connect with your sector, inform your funding decisions, and identify opportunities for better solutions.
- Build capacity. Uncover opportunities for automation and streamlined processes that could save you hours of work and build capacity within your organization.
Keep in Mind:
The tool is only an assessment. It may make recommendations for investments, tools, and other resources that may be beyond your budget.
📚 Explore the Digital Assessment Tool and begin your digital transformation!
Expert Perspectives
🏆 Yuriy Boyechko on Taking Control of Your Nonprofit’s Online Presence
As part of the Forbes Nonprofit Council, Yuriy Beyechko, founder and CEO of Hope for Ukraine, shared tips to help nonprofits transform their online presence. From leveraging SEO, Google Ad Grants, and social media, he shared tips to help put you in the driver’s seat when it comes to your nonprofit’s digital footprint.
Here’s his expert advice:
- Understand your keywords. Use long-tail phrases throughout your website to help improve your SEO. You’re likely not going to pop up as a result if someone searches “donate”, but you may rank when someone looks at “how to volunteer at a food pantry.” If you’re not sure where to start, use Google Keyword Planner to understand keywords related to you and your services.
- Focus on conversions, not clicks. Click-through rates are great at capturing initial interest, but what really matters is conversions. If you want people to sign up for your newsletter, are they following through? Are they donating? Visitors may be able to make it to your website, but if it’s too hard to follow through on the desired action, they’ll move on.
- Leverage your content across platforms. A single blog post could generate thought content on LinkedIn, multiple reels on Instagram, and a Facebook post to help build community. Don’t be afraid to cross-post. It will help capture new engagement.
🔮 Master your online presence with Yuriy one click at a time!
🎁 A Gift for You 🎁
We’re all looking to reach more donors. However, it can be challenging to know how to do that.
Thankfully, we’ve put together a free Nonprofit Marketing Plan Template to help.
This easy-to-use template will help you refine your strategy, identify tactics, measure performance, and track your progress toward meeting your goals. You’ll be well on your way to expanding your reach and brand awareness in no time.
Opportunities Spotlight
🏥 Jay L. Smith Family Foundation Grants
Who It’s For: Nonprofits that support the advancement of healthcare and serve the disadvantaged
Next Deadline: Pre-proposal - Dec. 31, 2025
Grant Amount: $6,000 (median grant amount)
The Details:
- The Jay L. Smith Family Foundation is committed to enhancing the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities. Current focus areas include:
- Alzheimer’s Research
- Strengthening Families
- Elderly Care
- Suicide Prevention
- Cancer Research
- Spiritual Wellbeing
- While they fund projects in all areas, they are partial to funding research for a cure to Alzheimer’s.
🌟 Her Village Grants
Who It’s For: Nonprofits that support female entrepreneurs through education, mentorship, financing, and/or other mission-aligned programming.
Next Deadline: March 1, 2026
Grant Amount: Up to $30,000
The Details:
- As part of the Her Village Grant Program, the Boundless Future Foundation strives to empower, embrace, and elevate female entrepreneurship. They fund programs that are committed to creating positive change in the community, including a focus on poverty & hunger, sustainability & the environment, and strong communities.
🔍 Explore so many more grant opportunities on Instrumentl!
Networking Nook
📅 Conference: 2026 National Grants Management Association’s Annual Grant Training
March 22-25, 2026 | Washington, D.C.
The Annual Grant Training is a three-day, in-person event that helps grant professionals explore how to effectively manage federal grants. During the conference, you’ll hear from keynote speakers, attend breakout sessions, and enjoy networking opportunities as you learn from industry experts and your peers about how to navigate the changing federal grants landscape.
Hurry!
To check out more recent and upcoming live events, go here.
In Case You Missed It
📑 Article: 4 Social Media Fundraising Examples for Successful Campaigns
Do you know what social media success actually looks like? After reading this article, you will! Explore four successful campaigns to get inspiration on how you can leverage them at your organization to raise more money and drive engagement.
📼 Video: How to Master the Art of Nonprofit Grant Storytelling: North Valley Community Foundation
North Valley Community Foundation’s Alexa Benson-Valavanis shares how she has used storytelling to win more grants. Learn tips on how to craft your grant application, leverage grant reporting, and build an inspiring grant narrative, all of which will work together to help you land more funding.
🎙️Podcast: Is Marketing and Branding Important for Your Nonprofit?
Grant professional Holly Rustick interviews Marivi V. Bryant, founder of Home Agency, to discuss the critical role of marketing and storytelling for nonprofits. They share how effective branding and a strong online presence can help enhance your credibility and help attract funding.
Refine Your Online Footprint
A grant application is incomplete without a solid online presence. Here are some ways Instrumentl can help:
- Check your profile. Many nonprofits have a profile in our database. It’s pulled from 990 insights, so make sure that your information is parsing correctly. If it’s not, your forms may not be filled out correctly.
- Schedule regular updates. Add your online audits to your calendar and assign tasks to make sure they get done. Instrumentl will even send reminders to help keep your team on track.
- Store important documents. Keep a running list of all the updates that need to be made in Instrumentl so there’s a centralized location. That way, when it’s time to make your changes, you know exactly what you need to do.
