Nonprofit Adviser

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These days, nonprofits have to be ahead of the game to win grant funding. As one fundraiser told my colleague David Wheeler: Projects are expected to be innovative and evidence-based at the same time. To help fundraisers parse grant makers’ seemingly conflicting expectations, David turned to the experts.

Consultants, nonprofit executives, and those who teach fundraising advise nonprofits to start with the basics. For example, an organization’s 990 forms, website, and strategic plan should all be in top shape before it starts drafting a grant proposal. Foundations consistently look for well-defined, well-thought-out, well-articulated strategic plans, says Bill Stanczykiewicz, senior assistant dean for external relations at the Lilly School of Philanthropy and director of its professional-development arm, the Fundraising School. They seek a meaningful connection between that plan and your grant proposal.

You should be prepared to show a variety of revenue streams, David reports. Foundations don’t want to be perceived, Stanczykiewicz says, “as the one big, easy magic wand for nonprofits to solve all of their financial needs.”

Another tip: Mackenzie Parker, director of foundation partnerships for GRID, a nonprofit headquartered in Oakland, Calif., that helps underserved homeowners get access to renewable energy, advises keeping a library of impact data and having answers to common questions you can refer to when writing proposals.

When it comes to making your proposal stand out from the pack, experts say a compelling executive summary makes all the difference. Don’t get lost in the weeds; zoom out to the big picture, David reports. Blend statistics and data with anecdotes and human stories. Tell program officers something they don’t already know. Be mindful of the language you use: Does it align in an appealing way with the funder’s language?

For more expert advice — including a full-proof structure and tips on how to spread the work of grant writing among your team — read David’s full story.

Have a great week,
Emily Haynes
Senior Editor, Nonprofit Intelligence

When identifying donors with the most potential to give, create a model using your own data. Start by asking yourself who your most connected donors are and how you have engaged them. If you can’t do a survey, use whatever data you have on hand. For instance, if certain donors have shared lots of personal information with you, such as their physical mailing address, number of children, and job title, that shows they’re more engaged than those who have only provided an email. Develop a scoring system based on the value of supporters’ actions to your organization. Group supporters according to their scores, and label them based on their level of engagement. You’ll next need to gauge your donors’ giving capacity by analyzing alumni data and external sources, such as tax filings, home values, and other assets, to assign wealth scores. For more tips, read How to Identify Donors With The Greatest Potential to Give.

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Environment: The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and partners will award approximately $2.5 million in grants nationwide to local partnerships focused on improving water quality, watersheds, and the species and habitats they support. Supported projects must restore or create wetlands, coastal, or riparian areas and integrate outreach, education, and training to advance local watershed and conservation goals. Nonprofit organizations, state government agencies, local and municipal governments, tribal governments and organizations, and educational institutions are eligible to apply. Projects must involve five or more partners. Grants range from $30,000 to $60,000, with an average size of $45,000; the application deadline is January 30, 2025.

Education: The Longview Foundation provides one-year grants focused on increasing global dimensions within K-12 education in the U.S. Internationalizing Teacher Preparation grants support efforts to expand pre-service teachers’ global knowledge and skills. Innovations in International Education grants support strategic, field-building activities that help address gaps in global knowledge or capacity, with a particular interest in bringing international knowledge and skills into virtual learning experiences, bringing international knowledge and skills to career pathways and to career and technical education, including international children’s literature in literacy building initiatives, and using artificial intelligence to bring the world into the classroom. Grants typically range from $15,000 to $25,000; the next deadline for letters of inquiry is January 16, 2025.