AI is ubiquitous. So much so that you might feel overwhelmed by the pressure to use it - or not use it. My advice - try it and see how it might help make your work more efficient or effective. If it doesn't, then don't use it. If it does, then find the way that best integrates into your workflow. These 6 ways that we have found AI to help with our grant development work can get you started.

Grant reporting often becomes an afterthought to planning and writing the application and the celebration that comes when you receive an award. However, good grant reporting starts long before you start to write your application. Learn how to plan for and ultimately create good grant reports.

A well-planned site visit does more than educate a single legislator. It positions your organization as a credible, reliable resource, the kind of organization a member’s office calls when they need perspective on the issues you know best. That relationship, built one visit at a time, produces better policy for the people you serve. The process of scheduling that visit requires patience and persistence, but it follows a clear path. The following 10 tips will help you navigate it.

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One of the best ways I know to improve your chances of grant success is to contact the funder before you submit an application to develop a relationship with them. Learn four reasons why this is true in this week's Fundraising Friday.

Many options exist for paying your grant professional or staff to write applications on your behalf. A commission or percentage of the revenue they raise should not and cannot ethically be one of them. Learn why in this week's video.

Back in 1964, communication theorist Marshall McLuhan famously declared, "the medium is the message," meaning that the way information gets delivered shapes its impact on the recipient just as powerfully as the words themselves. Why does the medium matter? Let’s dive into it!

You may have seen on an application that you can add indirect costs to your budget and request. Learn what that means and why you should take advantage of these opportunities to raise more operating funds for your organization.

These 7 themes serve as good reminders to more seasoned grant professionals and good lessons for more novice grant seekers.

In this uncertain grant environment, these 10 basic steps can help increase your chances of success.

National data suggests that individuals give 80-90% of donations to all types of organizations. If you want to raise more money or diversify your funding streams, you need a strong major gift program.

Have you come across a grant funder who looks perfect for your organization only to read that they "only give to preselected organizations" or do not accept unsolicited applications? Learn what that means and the next steps you can take the next time you run across these types of funders.

Nonprofits across the Quad Cities face an uncertain financial future. Recent shifts in federal grant funding – freezes, reductions, and policy overhauls – have create ripple effects that threaten organizational stability and disrupt critical services for the most vulnerable residents.

A new Federal Grant Impact Report by Wastyn & Associates reveals the extent of these changes. The findings confirm what many nonprofit leaders already feel: financial uncertainty, staff stress, and competition for limited dollars.

The federal grants environment has been – in a word – “interesting” the last two months. But rather than sit back and let change happen to you and your organization, I recommend that you take an active role – starting immediately – to manage the change rather than let it manage you.

By taking a strategic approach – on fundable projects, conducting deep research, and assessing both qualification and logistical fit – you ensure that you pursue the right opportunities rather than just lots of opportunities.

An important and often overlooked part of a successful grant application, this week we explore three ways to ensure that you make the most of your grant budget instead of leaving it as a last-minute afterthought for your application.

One simple tip will help improve your grant success. It doesn’t take much time or even much talent. What is it? Watch and find out!

13 years ago on August 1, 2011, I embarked on an adventure when I left the comfort of my job to focus full-time on my business that allows me to do what I love: helping nonprofit organizations succeed.

A movement has existed for years to include more equitable language in philanthropy, especially in grant applications. This blog explains why.

While nothing will guarantee that your development professional will never leave your organization, these tips should help minimize the chances that they will begin looking for their next opportunity as soon as the ink dries on their contract with you.