Grant Writer’s Blog

What Is a Theory of Change? A Practical Guide for Nonprofit Grant Writers

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theory of change nonprofit grant writing guide

What Is a Theory of Change?   A Theory of Change (ToC) is a strategic framework that helps organizations articulate how their work leads to meaningful outcomes. As defined by Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, it is a “systematic assessment of what needs to happen in order for a desired outcome to occur.” It connects an organization’s activities to its larger vision, explaining both the “how”…

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“You Can’t Say That”

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you can't say that

You have probably heard what we have heard. We have seen lists of words leaked from certain federal organizations disallowing the use of certain words in certain documents, within certain organizations, and in certain circumstances or banned words. We are grant writers, and we have read that using these words in certain grant applications will not allow us to support the people we serve.   …

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Balancing Innovation & Integrity: AI in Grant Writing

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AI in grant Writing

Our team at DH Leonard Consulting is always trying to think of new ways to “Don’t Let Grants Stress You Out,” whether you are a grant-writing client, a grant-training participant, or a broader member of our community. As you can imagine, AI and its impact on grant writing, our tools, and our general approach to our work have been a hot topic over the past…

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Grant Objectives vs. Outcomes: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters

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grant objectives vs outcomes explained for nonprofit grant writers

Grant writers need to master the difference between objectives and outcomes — because grant applications almost always require both, and confusing the two can weaken your proposal.   Do not despair. Our writing team is here to help you navigate this, including what to do when a grantmaker uses the language in a confusing way.   Lead Writer Beth Archer, GPC, observes that “sometimes the…

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Navigating the Uncertainty and Stress of Federal Grants 2025

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Federal Grants

With all the uncertainty surrounding federal funding and the government right now, we know how challenging it can feel to stay focused on your mission. The shifting landscape makes it harder than ever to plan ahead, and the pressure to secure funding is heavier than ever. With 2025 well underway, staying up to date on federal grant opportunities, best practices, and evolving regulations is more…

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Grants for Schools: 3 Strategies to Secure Funding

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Grants for Schools

Note from Diane: With all the uncertainty surrounding federal funding and the government right now, we know how challenging it can feel to stay focused on your mission. The shifting landscape makes it harder than ever to plan ahead, and the pressure to secure funding is heavier than ever. That is why we are so happy to have this guest post for you from CommunityPass….

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Grant Writing Tips for Nonprofits: What You Need to Know

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Tips

Note from Diane: It is important to remember your best practices in times of change. Those best practices are the foundation of a successful and sustainable grant-seeking strategy. Thrilled to have a guest post to share with our community that reminds us of exactly that.   The state of nonprofit grants is in flux in 2025, as a U.S. government funding freeze threw a curveball…

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Exploring Grant-Related Words, Installment #1

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Exploring Grant-Related Words, Installment #1

As grant writers, we strategize how to use powerful words. That skill is our superpower. We weave evocative, compelling narratives in an effort to move our audiences to action. Naturally, we find words and wording fascinating.   Recently, we learned that the word “priority” did not always have a plural form. What? Wow! Think about that fact for a moment and how it would change…

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Grant Professionals are Superheroes

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Grant Professionals are Superheroes

If I know one thing deep in my gut as a grant professional and business owner, it is that change is inevitable.    It might sound cheesy (my teenagers love to call out my cheesy moments, so I’m preempting them by calling it myself), but the way you, as well as your grant team and larger organization teams, adjust to changes that impact your plans,…

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Top Read Blogs of 2024

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Top 6 blogs of 2024

A fresh year has our team collecting and reflecting on 2024 data, which leads us to want to share the top 6 blogs that YOU, our incredible reader, have chosen as our top-read blogs of 2024.    Our team loves sharing our knowledge when it comes to the 5 R’s of grant writing, and we can’t wait for another year of resources to share with…

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