Don't Let Grants Stress You Out
Welcome to Day 17 of the 30-Day Grant Readiness Challenge! You have the perfect governing board—now you want them to step onto the “fundraising bus.” Nonprofit board engagement is one of the most powerful ways to secure new grants, but many board members don’t know where to start. Today’s challenge is to pick one engagement tactic and try it with one board member. …
Welcome to Day 16 of the 30-Day Grant Readiness Challenge! We often think of grant prospect research as a deep dive into tax forms and IRS 990s. But in today’s digital world, a funder’s social media presence can be just as valuable as their financial filings. Today’s challenge is to use social media for one of two purposes: Research a potential funder or…
Welcome to Day 15 of the 30-Day Grant Readiness Challenge! You’ve identified a potential funder through your research, but you have a problem: they don’t have a website. Their 990 shows they give to similar programs, but you’re missing the details. Today’s challenge is to bridge that information gap by calling the funder directly. Investing vs. Donating: Why This Isn’t a Pitch Calling…
Welcome to Day 14 of the 30-Day Grant Readiness Challenge! Establishing a fulfilling relationship with your funder is a major step toward long-term success. At its core, this is about trust-based philanthropy. Funder trust is built on accountability, transparency, and—most importantly—consistent communication that goes beyond the required report. Today’s challenge is to pick up the phone and share a specific success story with a…
Welcome to Day 13 of the 30-Day Grant Readiness Challenge! We often talk about the importance of the proposal, but what happens after the award? Grantmaker stewardship is one of the most overlooked aspects of grant readiness. Although a standard thank-you letter is required, a customized thank you is what builds a long-term partnership. Today’s challenge is to pick one current funder and…
Welcome to Day 12 of the 30-Day Grant Readiness Challenge! You’ve officially completed the second week of the challenge! From mastering your grant tools to developing a strategy for “unsolicited proposals not accepted” funders, you have done some heavy lifting. Today Is a Rest Day: Time to Relax, Reflect, and Recharge. Why Rest Is Key to Grant Success Grant readiness isn’t just…
Welcome to Day 11 of the 30-Day Grant Readiness Challenge! Yesterday, we discussed how to handle tricky “unsolicited proposals not accepted” funders. Today, we focus on the internal side of things: How do you share your research results with your grant team effectively? If you send a 50-page pdf to your Executive Director and ask, “Should we apply?” you will likely be met…
Welcome to Day 10 of the 30-Day Grant Readiness Challenge! Say that you are doing grant research and find a foundation that is a perfect match for your mission. But when you check the guidelines, you see the dreaded phrase: “Unsolicited proposals not accepted.” Does this mean that you should give up? Not necessarily. Today, we help you develop a clear strategy for handling…
Welcome to Day 9 of the 30-Day Grant Readiness Challenge! Doing the work of grant prospect research is only half the battle. If your research results are sitting in a spreadsheet that no one looks at, your organization isn’t truly ready to grow. Today, we are auditing your research workflow. How often are you finding new opportunities, and how often are you communicating those…
Welcome to Day 8 of the 30-Day Grant Readiness Challenge! Finding the right funding isn’t about luck—it’s about having the right grant research tools in your arsenal. If you find yourself “chasing the money” or stumbling upon deadlines at the last minute, your research toolbox might need an upgrade. Today, we are auditing your tools to ensure you have a proactive grant prospecting strategy. …