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A nonprofit can have an excellent program, experienced leadership, a compelling mission, and measurable impact, yet still struggle to build meaningful foundation revenue. This can be frustrating for executive directors and development teams because the organization appears to have all the ingredients funders should want. The work is strong, the need is clear, and the…

Family foundations can be some of the most valuable funding partners a nonprofit develops. They can also be among the most difficult to understand. Unlike large institutional foundations with formal program departments, detailed websites, published application calendars, and clearly defined grantmaking procedures, family foundations vary enormously in how they operate. Some employ professional staff and…

For many nonprofit leaders, the annual fundraising target begins with a gap. The organization reviews its budget, identifies how much additional revenue it needs, and sets a goal accordingly. If there is a $500,000 shortfall, the development team is expected to find $500,000. If a new program requires $1 million, leadership may decide that foundations…

For many nonprofit organizations, foundation fundraising begins with a spreadsheet. It may contain the names of prospective foundations, application deadlines, website links, estimated grant amounts, and a column showing whether an application has been submitted. That spreadsheet can be useful for administration, but it should not be mistaken for a funding strategy. A strong grant…