Lightning Fast Grant Writing

MAY 12, 2025

Weve all been there. The grant deadline is in five days. Youve got one draft, three department heads who want to review it, a finance team that needs to “double-check just one thing,” and a program lead whos suddenly out of office. Cue the chaos, caffeine, and existential dread. Welcome to the high-stress world of tight review cycles, where rushed edits, overlapping feedback, and unclear responsibilities turn even the best grant writers into frazzled zombies.

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Hands-On Fundraising

MAY 13, 2025

Measure your fundraising to succeed. Nonprofits often follow rules regarding fundraising appeals to maximize their success. For example, industry experts will tell you that personalization is key to stewarding donor relationships. And storytelling is a surefire way to tug at your audiences heartstrings. However, the most reliable source of information about what works for your […] The post 10 Metrics to Track Your Fundraising Campaign Success appeared first on Hands-On Fundraising.

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Metrics Fundraising Nonprofit 157

Tony Martignetti

MAY 11, 2025

Jenn Lejano & Jess Ray: Connect Small Donors To Your Major Donor Event Jenn Lejano and Jess Ray show you how to connect folks who would never come to your expensive event, to your expensive event. Theyll help you broaden event support by engaging donors youre probably leaving on the sidelines, with actionable strategies to … Continue reading Nonprofit Radio for May 5, 2025: Connect Small Donors To Your Major Donor Event & Add Experiential Elements To Your Events → Jenn Lejan

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Clairification

MAY 12, 2025

The results are in, and the news is generally bleak. The 2024 Fundraising Effectiveness Project Report * shows downward trends in numbers of donors (down 4.5%), and retention (down 2.6%). First-time donor retention is at its lowest-ever recorded rate. Less than one in five new donors (acquired in 2023) gave again. New donors accounted for 40% of all givers.

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Federal Grants Nonprofit Grant Grants 144

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This prompt guide for ChatGPT contains 20+ tested ChatGPT prompts, along with tips on how to use this tool the best way. Nonprofits can engage with ChatGPT to brainstorm ideas, refine project plans, and craft compelling narratives for grant proposals.

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Joe Garecht Fundraising

MAY 13, 2025

Ive noticed a trend in fundraising communications recently. They seem to be more formulaic than ever before. Many of the fundraising letters and newsletters I receive are interchangeable just take the few sentences about Organization Xs mission and insert Organization Y, and theyre essentially the same letter. Some of this is undoubtedly good: more non-profits are learning what works and what doesnt and proceeding accordingly.

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Fundraising LOI Proposal AI 130

The Fundraiser Coach

MAY 11, 2025

Welcome to my B.R.I.D.G.E. blog series, a six-part guide for building stronger, more sustainable donor relationships. Each post explores one part of the B.R.I.D.G.E. Framework , my connection-based approach to major gift fundraising. Many fundraisers think that once a donor gives, the heavy lifting is done. But the truth is, great fundraisers keep the conversation going—with care.

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IT Proposal Fundraising Nonprofit 130

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

MAY 12, 2025

Growing into one of the most powerful institutions in global health, the foundation drew acclaim and criticism. By Thalia Beaty, Associated Press Seth Wenig, AP photo Bill Gates, Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett speak to the media during a press conference in 2006 in New York. Growing into one of the most powerful institutions in global health, the foundation drew acclaim and criticism.

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Conference IT Media 102

Grant Professionals Association

MAY 14, 2025

Hey, can you tell me what AGN means? I asked during my first week as a professional fundraiser. Though I had years of experience with my organization and its acronyms, fundraiser-speak was brand new to me. LYBUNTS? DAFs? What? As a new fundraiser, I was fortunate to be a member of fundraising organizations that helped me find my feet. Id like to say that learning the principles of grant management, professional development opportunities and fruitful networking sold me on GPA.

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GPC Mentor Grant Readiness Grant Writing 98

Blackbaud

MAY 13, 2025

Navigating the process of preparing for an audit can be a daunting task. The time and resources needed can be significant, especially with respect to internal controls. Not having sufficient control documentation can create a more time-consuming process and lead to your external auditors identifying recommendations or deficiencies. Internal controls are an area of heavy focus during financial statement audits.

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Policy Policies Ethics Finance 67

Lightning Fast Grant Writing

MAY 12, 2025

Youre deep in a federal proposal, juggling 10 stakeholders, two budgets, and a narrative that still needs serious polishthen your inbox pings: Hey, can I shadow you today? Welcome to the wild world of mentoring junior grant writers. Sure, its rewarding. But lets be honestit can also feel like trying to teach someone to drive while youre still fixing the engine and steering with your knees.

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Training Logic Model Grant Grants 130

Future Fundraising Now

MAY 13, 2025

You are probably losing a lot of donations from people who clicked onto your landing (donation) pages, then left without completing them. Most donations pages could be better, and heres help from the Hubspot Marketing Blog, at 8 Must-Have Tips for Writing Landing Page Copy That Converts : Spend time writing a killer headline. These are the most important words on the page.

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Donation Contract Contracts Funding 71

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

MAY 13, 2025

The true measure of success, she says, will come years after the grant makers shuts down, in how lives will have changed as a result of its work. By Thalia Beaty, Associated Press Christophe Ena, AP Melinda French Gates left the Gates Foundation last year to pursue philanthropy and investment through her own organization, Pivotal Ventures, which she started in 2015.

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GrantNews

MAY 13, 2025

There are grant opportunities every nurse should know about and they are helping to support the unsung heroes of healthcare. Let’s face it, nurses are the backbone of our healthcare system. They are compassionate, skilled professionals who work hard to care for others. As the demands of the profession grow, so does the need for funding to support continuing education, professional development, and innovative care solutions.

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Get Fully Funded

MAY 11, 2025

Economic uncertainty can feel like uncharted territory, especially for small nonprofits that operate on tight budgets and unwavering dedication to their missions. When issues like high prices, Federal deficits and spending, politics, and tariffs plague our daily lives, its hard to know what tomorrow will bring. The good news is that challenging times bring opportunities to plan smarter, strengthen strategies, and deepen your impact.

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Budget Nonprofit Organizational Budget Funding 66

Lightning Fast Grant Writing

MAY 12, 2025

Renewal Anxiety Is RealHeres How to Fight Back Like a Pro You know that sinking feeling: a long-time funder suddenly mentions they’re re-evaluating priorities. Cue the cold sweat. Renewal anxiety is no jokeand for experienced grant writers, it can feel like a thundercloud hanging over every funding cycle. But panic wont pay the bills. Action will.

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Grant Grants Proposal Government 130

Future Fundraising Now

MAY 14, 2025

Whats going on in online fundraising? Heres a view, from the M+R Benchmarks for 2025 (free download; registration required). Its a look at what happened in 2024, as seen by a =healthy range of organizations who are raising funds online. Some highlights: Average online revenue increased by 2% in 2024. This after a 1% drop in 2023. Revenue from monthly giving increased by 5% and accounted for 31% of all online revenue.

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Fundraising Funding Donation Nonprofit 64

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

MAY 13, 2025

Taxes could top hundreds of millions per year at the Gates Foundation and others. By Ben Gose Francis Chung/POLITICO, AP Taxes could top hundreds of millions per year at the Gates Foundation and others.

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CauseVox

MAY 12, 2025

Running a successful fundraising campaign takes clear, consistent communication that actually connects with your audience. Thats where this guide comes in. The Fundraising Campaign Communication Templates resource is your plug-and-play toolkit for what to say, when to say it, and how to say it across email, social media, and SMS. Whether youre prepping for your first campaign or refining your tenth, this guide saves you time, keeps your team aligned, and helps you show up with messaging that mot

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Center for Effective Philanthropy

MAY 13, 2025

Individualism. Competition. Risk aversion. Short-termism. Scarcity. Presumed expertise. Many of the norms by which philanthropy operates perpetuate the very narratives our sector seeks to change. In this series on the […] The post If You Know You Know: What If Philanthropy is Mistaking Wealth for Expertise? appeared first on The Center for Effective Philanthropy.

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Lightning Fast Grant Writing

MAY 12, 2025

Lets face itbeing an experienced grant writer can feel like youre juggling flaming swords while walking a tightrope… in a windstorm… during tax season. Sure, youve got the expertise. You know how to make funders swoon with a perfectly phrased needs statement and turn complex program logic into pure poetry. But youre also exhausted, constantly chasing core operating support, wrangling impossible deadlines, mentoring green writers, and navigating post-award red tape that never seems to

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GrantNews

MAY 14, 2025

Grant Funding for Housing Solutions is opening doors for individuals and families across the country. These grants offer financial support that brings the dream of homeownership within reach, especially for first-time buyers, veterans, low-income families, and those needing home repairs or renovations. Unlike loans, housing grants don’t have to be repaid.

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Funding Grant Grants Education 59

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

MAY 12, 2025

Three experts explain how to get to know foundation program officers and best position your nonprofit to secure flexible funding. By M.J. Prest Getty Images Three experts explain how to get to know foundation program officers and best position your nonprofit to secure flexible funding.

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Funding Nonprofit 71

The Fundraising Coach

MAY 16, 2025

As a major gifts officer, you face a unique challenge: your boss likely doesn’t understand what you actually do all day. This disconnect creates frustration on both sides and can undermine your effectiveness. Let me break down why this happens and what you can do about it. Nonprofit Leaders Don’t Learn Fundraising Most nonprofit leaders don’t understand fundraising.

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Fundraising Training Education Management 52

Center for Effective Philanthropy

MAY 15, 2025

Individualism. Competition. Risk aversion. Short-termism. Scarcity. Presumed expertise. Many of the norms by which philanthropy operates perpetuate the very narratives our sector seeks to change. In this series on the […] The post Reconsidering Our Relationship to Power: What If Philanthropys Greatest Resource Isnt Financial but Relational Capital?

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Lightning Fast Grant Writing

MAY 12, 2025

You did it. The application is submitted, the grants been awarded, and everyones celebrating. Cue the confetti! But wait whats that creeping over the horizon? Oh, just the real work a.k.a. post-award requirements. You know, the part no one talks about during the happy dance. Reporting deadlines. Budget tracking. Compliance checks. Progress updates. Logic models.

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Award Logic Model Grant Grants 130

GrantNews

MAY 11, 2025

Minority Women-Owned Businesses are leading the charge with bold ideas and brilliant strategies. With the right grants, they can break through barriers and redefine success. These entrepreneurs transform industries, create jobs, and build wealth within their communities. But getting started and staying in business? That comes with enormous challenges.

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Funding Grant Grants Retail 59

The Chronicle of Philanthropy

MAY 16, 2025

The foundations planned closure marks the end of the once-celebrated era of expert-driven giving. By Leslie Lenkowsky Sipa USA via AP In announcing he plans to close the Gates Foundation, Bill Gates defended the grant makers record but noted that the times and the political landscape have changed and that foundation strategies must change as well. The foundations planned closure marks the end of the once-celebrated era of expert-driven giving.

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Grant Grants 74

DoJiggy

MAY 13, 2025

A well-crafted mission statement is the foundation of any nonprofit organization. It serves as a guiding principle, helping stakeholdersboard members, donors, volunteers, and beneficiariesunderstand the organizations purpose, goals, and impact. A compelling mission statement is more than just words; it defines an organizations identity and inspires action.

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Planned Giving

MAY 12, 2025

Originally Published, October 22, 2010. Updated for May, 2025. Your donors arent looking for hype. Theyre deciding if youre worthy of their legacy. In todays fast-moving nonprofit space, its easy to get caught up chasing the next big thingAI tools, crypto donations, viral campaigns. But the organizations that build lasting impact understand a critical truth: timeless fundraising strategies consistently outperform flashy trends.

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Fundraising Burnout Metrics Education 52

Lightning Fast Grant Writing

MAY 12, 2025

Every grant writer knows the feeling: deadlines loom, your program narratives are tight, your outcomes are crystal clearand yet, youre still stuck trying to fund the electricity bill, staff salaries, and that squeaky office chair no one wants to admit they broke. Why? Because core operating supportthe golden goose of grant fundingis maddeningly hard to secure.

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