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📢 2 grant opportunities! 💡 1. Community Support Mini Grants  This program offers grants ranging from $500-$10,000 to nonprofit organizations, community groups, and micro businesses in Denver's most vulnerable neighborhoods. The focus is on small, community-driven projects that strengthen community ties, create a more connected neighborhood, and address local needs. 2. Nonprofit Technical Assistance Grants  These grants, ranging from $500- $20,000, are available to nonprofit organizations serving historically marginalized communities. In 2024, 10 to 30 grantees will be selected to receive funding, empowering them to provide support and services to Denver's residents.

SUPPORTING ENGINEERS DURING TOUGH TIMES 🔧 Our Communications Officer Michael Hargreaves explains how your support has funded life-changing financial grants for engineers and their families struggling in the cost of living crisis 💷 Our financial grants aim to ensure our community members can enjoy a socially inclusive lifestyle, by helping them achieve an income of 75% of the Minimum Income Standard. This is defined as the level at which people can get by day to day, but struggle to cope with unexpected costs. Get the full picture of how engineers like you made a difference in 2022-23 by reading our Impact Report: https://lnkd.in/eSzCWWNF Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) / Matchtech / MJ Quinn / Neptune Energy / Alan Watts / Andy Rogers CEng FIET / Dolores Byrne / Gareth Price / Joe Dunn / John Gleeson / Virginia Hodge / Wolf Byttner #ImpactReport #OurImpact #Engineering #Engineers #Engineer #EngineeringCharity #STEM #Technologists #Charity #Donate

Our team is off and running after a restful holiday break! We kicked off the new year with a brand new training session, designed to support nonprofits as they develop proposals for United Way of the Ozarks’ Innovation Fund. The fund is designed to help nonprofit agencies fund new, innovative solutions to community issues. These nonprofit leaders left Innovate for Impact: Empowering Nonprofits to Transform Communities with ⭐ An understanding common barriers to innovation in the nonprofit sector ⭐ Four steps to fostering innovation inside a nonprofit agency ⭐ Sample brainstorming exercises to get ideas flowing ⭐ A framework for evaluating new programs and delivery models ⭐ Recommendations for crafting a compelling grant proposal We can’t wait to see what big ideas these agencies bring to United Way for consideration!

This article hurts my heart – not just because this is a local-to-me organization where good people are losing their jobs and families are losing resources, but because of what it says about the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. A few reflections: ⭐ Leadership, leadership, leadership. We need good, strategic, team players running nonprofit organizations. This article and other published accounts of BDT’s closure underscore the need for leaders who work well together, communicate effectively internally and externally, and think systemically. ⭐ This gem jumped out to me: “In some cases, success made other funders less eager to give, said Martenson: ‘They’re like, ‘Why would you ask us for $300,000 when you just got $20 million from MacKenzie Scott?’” I’ve seen this mentality play out. The nonprofit sector is uniquely good at distancing itself from success. In other spaces, success brings investment, confidence, and fandom – in the nonprofit sector it brings obstacles, reluctance, and skepticism. ⭐ The importance of strategic planning. It’d be surprising to learn that an organization of this size and stature didn’t have a strategic plan – regardless, the importance of operating with intention, communicating that intention internally, and prioritizing a) what you’re passionate about, b) what you can be the best in the world at, and c) makes financial sense is illustrated in this story (credit: Hedgehog Concept from Jim Collins’ Good to Great). Haphazard growth and innovation can’t replace a sustainability strategy. ⭐ Nonprofit compensation. It’s a bit of a throwaway comment in the article, but the subtle dig that the “enlarged tech team salaries…exceeded those of other employees” doesn’t sit well with me. If the sector wants good people – particularly with skills positioning them to make boatloads of money in the corporate sector – it needs to pay people competitively. ⭐ Funders should be partners. I appreciate this frame in the article. We need funders that create psychological safety, offer space for risk and failure, and welcome learning. Too many nonprofits are running on fumes; funder expectations – along with toxic positivity and a scarcity mindset – leave nonprofits afraid to engage in honest conversations about their operations. BDT’s closure can provide a useful case study for nonprofits and funders. For funders reading this – the antidote to more cases like this isn’t tighter controls, it’s more open communication and steadfast support. #philanthropy #nonprofits #data #strategicplanning

👋 Did you miss our recent webinar examining the data behind #funding #strategy for large US #nonprofits? Watch the event on demand now! We welcome any feedback or thoughts you have.

Federal funding opportunities present a high barrier to entry for most community-based organizations. This is particularly true for those that are BIPOC-led, BIPOC-staffed, and/or smaller, and/or lower-resourced. I've seen the supplier diversity issues that ensue in the private sector play out in terms of federal awards to nonprofits---in terms of who gets them and who does not. From awareness (of the opportunities), to application, to compliance, to budget (to be able deliver on a reimbursable govt contract), these opportunities are not readily accessible to most CBOs. When I led a community-based nonprofit CDFI, National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders supported us in accessing large-scale grants from agencies including U.S. Department of the Treasury and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These grants were game changers for our organization and our balance sheet. With generous funding from Truist, NALCAB will similarly now scale to support 20 organizations intensively to pursue federal funding opportunities across a range of agencies. Congratulations to the winners of this competitive grant and accompanying TA! #CrackingTheCode

Why Toast to the Town? As we gear up for our second annual gala, "Toast to the Town," hosted by the CLG Foundation, it's essential to reflect on the "why". The CLG Foundation was established with a clear purpose: to support and uplift disadvantaged youth in our community by fostering entrepreneurship. With programs designed to provide motivation and education, we're committed to giving every child, regardless of their background, the opportunity to thrive and succeed. But why a gala, you might wonder? Simply put, events like "Toast to the Town" serve as more than just fundraising opportunities. They're a celebration of community, of unity, and of our shared commitment to making a difference. By coming together, we not only raise vital funds for our cause but also amplify our impact and reach. So, as we prepare to raise our glasses once again at this year's gala, let's remember why we're here: to ignite passion, to inspire change, and to ensure that every child has the opportunity to pursue their dreams. Cheers to entrepreneurship. Cheers to community. Cheers to making a difference. 🥂

In the world of philanthropy, every gift represents a new beginning, a commitment to positive change and growth. This culture of generosity ignites transformative cycles, impacting individual lives and reshaping entire communities. Through these acts of generosity, we harness the power of new beginnings, turning challenges into opportunities and dreams into realities. Learn more about how FFTC helps individuals, families, nonprofits and corporations: https://ow.ly/mW1u50QpCVV

In a world brimming with challenges and opportunities, community fundraising emerges as a beacon of hope, a catalyst for change, and a testament to the power of collective action. At Prime Tech Enterprise, we recognize the pivotal role that community fundraising plays in driving positive transformations, fostering camaraderie, and building stronger, more resilient communities. In this comprehensive guide, we delve deep into the myriad benefits of community fundraising, exploring how it empowers individuals, galvanized communities, and propels meaningful change. https://bit.ly/4bZg4e7

The new episode of a guide for CEE founders from our Marcin Borowiecki is here. Check it out!