Do financial statements get you confused? What they are and how to read them? This short primer will give you an overview of the most common financial statements - the profit and loss statement and the balance sheet, useful to new grant professionals, executive directors, board members or anyone who does not feel comfortable with this way to understand their organizations financial position.

Here at Wastyn & Associates, we do our best to stay current with these trends so we can provide you with the most relevant advice for today’s world, grounded in well-established elements of human nature, human motivation, and basic economics.

Today, we share with you 9 trends that you and your organization might consider embracing – or at least monitoring.

Because it costs so much more to recruit new donor than to retain a current donor, how you treat new donors can make a significant difference in your bottom line. These three strategies can help you retain more donors … and raise more money.

2025 has certainly been a stress filled year so far. Nonprofit professionals have born a lot of the brunt of that stress. Try some of these tips that I have found help me reduce my stress in my days and weeks. I hope you can find something that works for you as well.

The last two blog posts talked about why you should use data to prioritize your development work and where you can find that data. This one outlines 6 ways in which you can use that data to work smarter, not harder, and raise more money in the process.

The broader environment in which nonprofits operate has become uncertain at best, downright scary at worse. Many of our donors also exist in this environment. Should you continue to ask for money and, if so, how? (HINT: YES!!)

The first and best place to find data to support your development work sits in your donor database. Once you have examined the data from your database, today's blog post offers 3 strategies to help you dig deeper to find hidden giving potential.

How do you know which donors you should spend time cultivating and soliciting for a major gift? The answer lies in your database; you just need to know what to look for and how to use that information.

These examples demonstrate the importance of taking the time and effort to assure that you have good, up-to-date data upon which to base your fund development plan and decisions as it will save you time – and raise more money – in the long run. 

Do you know the difference between capacity and propensity? Just because a person has money does not mean he or she will give it to your organization. Likewise, just because they love your organization does not mean they will make a major gift.

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.

You may have heard people talk about different types of funds that you can raise. Learn what those are, how they differ and how to secure each type for your organization.

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.

25-30% of all gifts come in during the month of December yet many fundraising professionals simply send a letter and wait for the money to pour in, wondering why they didn't raise more. These five strategies will help you raise more money this holiday season.

November 15 marks National Philanthropy Day. Whether your community has a formal recognition of this day, you can - and should - use this opportunity to celebrate the philanthropists who make your work possible and the staff and donors - that's you - who help them find the joy of giving.

Time is not the friend of development professionals who always have much more to do than hours in the day. Time blocking is one way to stay on top of your tasks to get more done. How do you manage your lengthy to do list without going crazy?

If you treat all your donors the same, you are leaving some or many of them behind. Each generation has different preferences in how they like to support an organization and how you can best reach them. Tailoring your message can help generate more money today and in the future.