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Hey there,
Spring has officially sprung, which can only mean one thing: it’s just about time to move your fundraisers outdoors.
But unless you’re serving Michelin Star-level food at the annual picnic, you probably still need a grant or two to keep doing your great work.
That’s why we’re here.
This week, we’re talking about budget narratives, social media, and the power of picking up the phone, plus opportunities, resources, and so much more.
Here’s to a season full of wins!
Pitfalls and Pointers
Most nonprofits start for one reason: to do good. But then all the numbers start getting in the way.
When you’re applying for a grant, funders want to see where their money will be going.
But using financial figures alone to tell the story of your organization isn’t an easy task – and it’s rarely enough to win the grant.
⚠️ Pitfall: Expressing Your Budget in Numbers Only
When you present potential funders with a budget for your project without explanation, they may question the legitimacy of the proposed expenses.
And if they don’t trust you to budget accurately, they might as well throw the rest of your proposal out the window, too.
💡 Pointer: Write a Compelling Budget Narrative
Your budget narrative is an opportunity for you to offer justification for your expenses and tell the story behind the numbers.
Tell them how you arrived at the salary total for personnel or why you need $400 for chairs.
And by providing that transparency right off the bat, you’re building trust and confidence with funders.
That’s how you make a budget exciting. And that’s how you win the grant.
Looking for more tips and templates to help you craft the perfect budget narrative?
✔️ We’ve got you covered ➡️
Tech You Should Know
Unless this is your first day in the 21st century, you’ve likely used – or are at least aware of – social media.
But a successful social media strategy is more than just making a page and posting whenever you feel like it. And for nonprofits especially, the opportunity is huge.
What:
Social media is a way for nonprofit organizations to tell their story, recruit volunteers, and garner support worldwide.
How Grant Writers Can Use It:
- Raising Awareness: Create helpful content to tell stories related to your cause and educate the public on what your organization is trying to achieve.
- Attracting Volunteers: How will the public know how they can help unless you tell them?
- Collecting Donations: Platforms like Facebook and Instagram allow you to start a fundraising campaign and collect monetary donations directly through their site.
- Promoting Events: From fundraisers to volunteer opportunities to partnerships with local businesses, social media is key to getting the word out.
Keep in Mind:
- Consistency is Key: Social media algorithms generally prioritize active accounts. Create a content calendar and schedule posts in advance to keep your profile consistent and relevant.
- You Don’t Need to Be on Every Platform: While the idea of being on TikTok may be tempting, consider whether you have the time, resources, and content to make it worth your while.
📲 Explore even more social media tips for nonprofits!
Expert Perspectives
🏆 Daniel Jenkins on using a conversational approach
Even in the digital age, there’s something to be said about real-time, face-to-face conversation.
And Daniel Jenkins, President of Lutheran Braille Workers, is using it to get in front of funders and build relationships that turn into grants.
Here’s his expert advice:
- Pick Up the Phone: Having a one-on-one conversation with funders can kickstart a long-lasting relationship.
- See If Your Values Align: Have an honest discussion about whether or not your organization aligns with the funder’s goals.
- Ask Questions: Simple questions like “Are we a fit for your foundation?” or “Do you know of another foundation we might be a better fit with?” can open doors you may have never thought possible.
- Discuss Your Impact: This conversation is a great time to share stories about how the funds they can provide will make a real difference in the community.
👉 Discover how else LBW went from a few grant applications a year to two per month!
Have You Tried This?
Instrumentl Feature: 990 Snapshot Tool
Applying for grants can sometimes feel like just taking a shot in the dark.
How likely is this funder to actually give to your cause? Are you in the right location? Is your budget in-line with what they typically give?
Technically, there is a way to find out – but it involves digging through extensive (and confusing) 990 tax forms.
Or you can let Instrumentl do all the heavy lifting for you.
It’s simple:
- Find a good fit opportunity in Instrumentl’s massive database
- Look for the 990 Snapshot section
- Navigate to the Funder tab for the full 990 report
- See if the summarized information we’ve pulled seems like a good match for your organization
Bonus: We use simple charts and graphs to better tell the story behind the numbers, so you can spend less time making sense of the data and more time writing a proposal to win it.
📊 Get the latest tips on what to look for in Form 990s!
Networking Nook
The opportunities that were originally shared in this issue of The Impact have since passed. To check out more recent and upcoming live events, go here.
Opportunities Spotlight
🎨 Artistic Production Grants
Who It’s For: Artists looking to create new artistic commissions to be exhibited outside museum or gallery walls, in public spaces, or in nontraditional environments
Next Deadline: May 16, 2024 (Letter of Inquiry)
Grant Amount: US $25,000 - US $100,000
The Details:
- Full proposal is by invitation only after a letter of inquiry has been submitted
- Grants are awarded to projects that best exemplify the VIA Art Fund’s three core values:
- Artistic Production
- Thought Leadership
- Public Engagement
🌏 Menasha Corporation Foundation Grant
Who It’s For: Organizations that enhance the lives of individuals and build strong communities in places where Menasha Corporation has its operations
Next Deadline: May 1, 2024
Grant Amount: Unspecified amount
The Details:
- Grants are awarded to organizations that address areas of need in the following categories:
- Safe and healthy citizens
- Community betterment
- An educated society
- Environmental sustainability
- The Foundation typically supports:
- Educational endeavors
- Health & welfare programs
- Cultural organizations
- Environmental concerns
- Civic projects
Neither of these catch your eye?
🔍 Explore thousands of other grant opportunities!
In Case You Missed It
📑 Article: How To Ensure Grant Compliance After You Win Funding
The hard work doesn’t stop after you land the award. In fact, it’s just beginning! In this article, we hear from grant writing experts on how to stay compliant after you’ve won a grant without losing your mind.
📼 Video: How to Filter Down from 100+ Grant Opportunities to the Top Pursuits
In this webinar replay, Learn Grant Writing covers how to focus on the right grant opportunities for your organization using the Grant Writing Unicorn Method (and Instrumentl, of course).
🎙️ Podcast: Should Grant Professionals Get Paid to Speak?
In this episode of Grant Writing & Funding, we hear from Mandy Pearce, Founder of Funding for Good, about when grant professionals should start charging for speaking arrangements, the problems with doing presentations for free, and how to maximize the opportunities you have.
Grant Management Just Got Easier
A lot of work goes into getting a grant application to the finish line – we know because we’ve been there. That’s why we created Instrumentl, an easy-to-use platform for grant research, management, tracking, and more.
