Hello! And welcome to The Impact!
This week, we’re preparing to say ‘goodbye’ to 2025 and ring in the new year. We’ll help you kick off 2026 with smart fundraising moves, tech tips that make giving easier, and expert advice to help you unlock new revenue streams.
Whether you’re chasing your next big grant or just trying to stay ahead of shifting donor trends, you’ll find fresh ideas and real resources to make it happen all in one scroll.
Pitfalls and Pointers
⚠️ Pitfall: Counting on the Same Donors to Give the Same Way
It’s no secret: individual giving is shifting. Even though total dollars are holding steady, those dollars are increasingly coming from fewer, wealthier households. That leaves many nonprofits vulnerable, especially those that rely on broad, grassroots support.
Economic strain means even your most loyal donors might not be able to give in the same way they once did. But that doesn’t mean they don’t want to contribute. It just means they need more options—and more flexibility.
💡 Pointer: Embrace Flexible Giving Pathways + Microgiving
What if the key wasn’t bigger gifts, but easier, more accessible ways for people to contribute?
Microgiving lets donors support your mission at a level that feels manageable—even joyful. Instead of a $100 appeal, ask for $10 monthly gifts. Highlight impact in real-world terms (“$10 feeds a family for a day”) and make mobile, low-friction giving part of your outreach strategy.
Here’s how to make it work:
- Offer recurring giving options at checkout and in email campaigns
- Build trust through transparency - show donors how every dollar adds up
- Gamify giving with challenges, donor milestones, or community goals
- Thank donors quickly and creatively - and don’t overlook stewardship for small, repeat givers
The future of fundraising is inclusive, accessible generosity.
🎁 Learn how to set up a successful giving society at your organization!
Tech You Should Know
What:
DAFpay by Chariot is a streamlined payment tool that lets donors give directly through their Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) without ever leaving your website.
Historically, DAF gifts could take weeks to process and came with limited donor data. With DAFpay, contributions can be made instantly, and your team gets the donor info it needs to cultivate relationships and thank supporters promptly.
How Grant Writers Can Use It:
- Unlock new funding by making it easier for donors to give through DAFs
- Speed up receivables - no more waiting weeks for checks to arrive
- Capture key data on DAF donors to personalize future appeals
- Stand out to funders by demonstrating your organization’s tech-forward, donor-friendly giving process
Bonus: The tool integrates easily with your donation flow, helping remove the friction that might otherwise deter DAF donors from following through.
Keep in Mind:
- You’ll need to link your Stripe account to start accepting DAFpay gifts
- Not every donor has a DAF, but those who do often give generously and repeatedly
- Educating your community about DAFs can increase use; consider a short explainer or FAQ
💻 Explore how DAFpay works and how to get started!
Fundraising Inspiration
As we head into 2026, it’s the perfect moment to rethink how your fundraising and finance teams work together. A recent article from Nonprofit Learning Lab, Better Together: How Nonprofit Fundraising and Finance Can Strengthen Impact in 2026, argues that collaboration across these teams is no longer optional. It’s essential.
Here’s why:
- Shared pressure means shared strategy: With shifting tax incentives (thanks to the expiration of the 2017 tax law and new legislative changes) and evolving donor behavior, nonprofits are facing a fundraising environment in flux.
- Finance is your strategic partner, not just your number-keeper: The article calls out finance teams as key allies who can help development folks run smarter campaigns, avoid cash-flow surprises, and time asks strategically when donors are most receptive.
- Showcasing impact: By coordinating fundraising and financial planning, you can more accurately forecast and communicate program impact, giving donors confidence you’re making thoughtful, sustainable choices.
Here’s your action item: Kick off the year with a 30-minute check-in between your development and finance leads. Bring one number you both rely on (like cash on hand or projected revenue) and one pain point. Use it to align on shared goals and set the tone for more strategic collaboration all year long.
🫱🏻🫲🏼 Read the full article for more ideas and a checklist to get started!
Opportunities Spotlight
⭐ Wawa Foundation Financial Grants
Who It’s For: Registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits operating within Wawa’s service area (PA, NJ, DE, MD, VA, DC)
Next Deadline: January 31, 2026
Grant Amount: $2,500+
The Details:
- The Wawa Foundation reviews applications for larger grants four times per year: January, April, July, and October.
- Eligible organizations must have programs aligned to Wawa’s focus areas: improving health (hospitals, care initiatives, research), hunger relief (food banks, food distribution, food access), and supporting “everyday heroes,” - which can include crisis response workers, veterans, at-risk youth mentoring, and K-12 education heroes.
- If funds requested are under $2,500, the grant falls under “Local Connection Grants” which have a rolling submission rather than the quarterly big-grant windows.
👏 Joan and Tim Fenton Family Foundation Grant
Who It’s For: US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits
Next Deadline: First business day of the quarter prior to calendar quarter - i.e., March 1, 2026 (for a Q2 award window)
Grant Amount: Grants range broadly - recent awards have varied from $1,000 to $250,000; median grant appears to be around $50,000
The Details:
- The foundation awarded roughly 49 grants in 2023 alone, totaling nearly $3 million in distributions.
- The foundation awards general support grants for organizations working in community development, education, health care, and arts/science/cultural initiatives.
- Geographic reach is national - the foundation has funded organizations in many states across the US.
🔍 Explore thousands of other grant opportunities now!
Networking Nook
💻 Webinar: Virtual Workplace Fundraising + Volunteering Summit 2026
April 15-16, 2026
This free, virtual summit hosted by Double the Donation is all about maximizing corporate giving and volunteer engagement—from matching-gift strategies to volunteer-hour grants and corporate social responsibility (CSR) partnerships. It’s a great chance to learn from experts, get fresh ideas, and connect with other fundraisers who are thinking about workplace giving and volunteer programs.
Hurry!
📅 Conference: Four Pillars of Donor Relations Conference - Chicago 2026
March 24-26, 2026 | Chicago, IL
This immersive, small-cohort conference is designed to give you hands-on training in the foundational principles of modern donor relations: acknowledgement, stewardship, recognition, and engagement. Whether you’re solo or part of a large team, you’ll leave with practical tools, real-world examples, and the confidence to elevate your donor experience strategy in 2026.
Hurry - seats are limited and fill up fast!
To check out more recent and upcoming live events, go here.
In Case You Missed It
📑 Article: Introducing Instrumentl’s Fall 2025 Release
This article walks through the latest updates in Instrumentl’s platform, including a new AI-powered Prospecting Assistant and streamlined grant-workflow tools to help nonprofits stay nimble as public funding becomes more unpredictable and grant competition increases.
📼 Video: Grant Writing Strategies that Actually Win Funds
This how-to video from Further Together Fundraising walks you through common grant-seeking pitfalls (especially for small organizations) and shares practical strategies for making grant applications more competitive. From aligning with funder priorities to structuring proposals efficiently, it’s a solid refresher if you want to sharpen your approach before the next grant cycle.
🎙️ Podcast: Grant Writing: Getting to YES! With DeaRonda Harrison
In this episode, host Holly Rustick sits down with expert grant strategist DeaRonda Harrison to unpack what really moves a proposal from “maybe” to “yes.” Together, they explore how nonprofits can strengthen their case for support by improving fit, clarifying need, and building stronger relationships with funders. It’s a practical, myth-busting conversation that offers actionable insights for any organization looking to boost their success in 2026.
New Year, Smarter Systems
2026 is here, and if your resolution is to stop chasing deadlines and start owning your grant calendar, Instrumentl is your tool.
We combine grant prospecting, tracking, and reporting into one seamless platform that actually thinks like a grant professional.
Make 2026 the year you stop duct-taping your grant process.
