If there's one area where nonprofits consistently struggle in their grant proposals, it's outcomes. Not goals — most organizations are good at articulating those. But outcomes: the specific, measurable changes your programs produce in the lives of the people you serve. The good news is that outcome measurement doesn't have to be complicated. Outputs vs. Outcomes: Know the Difference Before anything else, it's worth clarifying a distinction that trips up a lot of grant writers

This is a scenario I encounter regularly: a grant writer — whether staff or freelance — is racing toward a deadline and desperately needs program staff to review a draft, provide outcome data, or answer questions about program design. The program staff are in the middle of delivering services, managing staff, and responding to the communities they serve. The ask feels like one more thing on an already overwhelming list. The result is either a delayed response that creates a d

The problem statement is arguably the most important section of any grant proposal. It's your first real opportunity to show a funder why your work matters, and it sets the stage for everything that follows. When written well, reviewers are already invested in your proposed solution to the challenge.  Below are the core elements of a strong problem statement: 1. Use Data Strategically Every claim in your problem statement should be supported by credible, current data. Use a m

One of the most common mistakes nonprofits make is submitting the same proposal, with minor tweaks, to every funder on their list. In reality, foundation funders, government agencies, and international donors each have their own cultures, priorities, and expectations. Knowing how to speak each funder's language can make the difference between a funded proposal and a rejection. Here's a breakdown of what distinguishes each type of funder and how to tailor your proposal accordi

One of the most valuable things a nonprofit can do is maintain a thoughtful, well-researched grant prospect list. Not a list of every funder that has ever given to your cause — but a focused, prioritized list of funders who are genuinely likely to support your work, in amounts that match your organizational capacity. Step 1: Start with Your Organization's Profile Before you search for funders, get clear on what you're looking for. Document the following: Mission and program a

In recent years, the term “DAF” has become common in philanthropy. It stands for donor-advised fund. Despite the jargon, the structure is relatively straightforward. A donor-advised fund is a charitable giving account established at a public charity into which a donor contributes assets, receives an immediate tax deduction, and then recommends grants to other qualified nonprofits over time. The mechanics are simple: a donor contributes cash, appreciated stock, or other assets

For many foreign-based NGOs, the United States philanthropic market looks enormous, opaque, and difficult to penetrate. It is all three. The U.S. is home to over 100,000 private foundations and thousands of corporate and community foundations, but access is structured by compliance rules, relationship norms, and unspoken expectations. Organizations that approach the sector strategically can secure meaningful, multi-year support. Those that approach it transactionally tend to

When I first started consulting, I met an executive director who sighed every time “evaluation” came up. “We’re too small for that,” she said. “We just do the work.” Six months later, after we set up a few simple ways to track outcomes—attendance, participant satisfaction, a quick follow-up survey—she emailed me after a meeting with a new funder: “They said our clarity on impact made us stand out.” Why Data Is About More Than Numbers At its best, Monitoring & Evaluation isn’t

A few years ago, I worked with two small nonprofits in the same neighborhood – one focused on youth development, the other on workforce readiness. They’d never collaborated before, even though their missions overlapped. Both were scraping together small program grants, each writing proposals that looked similar. Then one day, they decided to apply together. The result? Their joint proposal didn’t just get funded – it landed a multi-year award that neither has previously secur

The recent freeze on USAID funding has sent shockwaves through the humanitarian and development sectors, raising urgent concerns about...

Every year, billions of dollars flow from governments, foundations, and corporate donors into grant-funded programs designed to tackle...

Securing funding for your organization often starts with a compelling Letter of Intent (LOI). Knowing when and how to send an LOI can...