Instrumentl’s Post

When each funder has different application deadlines, it’s important to know which is the priority.   Creating a ‘funding calendar’ with the key dates for each fund you’d like to apply for can help manage the workload of creating your applications.   Community Think Ltd has produced a great 10-minute webinar to help you get started with your own funding calendar, which you can watch by clicking the link below! https://lnkd.in/gqj8RAbg   You can find more suggestions like this in the ‘Helpful tips’ section of the Funding Guide, a resource we created to provide information on funders, what they are looking for, the types of funding available, and how to identify which funders are most likely to support your type of organisation or project.   Click the link to access the Funding Guide: https://lnkd.in/gS3TgVRx

How do you think you could connect with funders? Funders should be partners equally invested in your success. They want to walk this journey with you and learn from your on-the-ground expertise. They offer guidance and resources beyond just writing checks, so share your program ideas and seek feedback before submitting proposals. Ask questions, reach out for advice when needed, and understand why if declined. Engage funders with your impact stories and connect with them as people who have a heart to serve. Start building relationships with funders even when there are no immediate funding opportunities. This proactive approach makes it easier to reach out when opportunities arise, turning connections into fruitful partnerships.

Where does your funding come from?

🚨 Debunking grant myths starts TOMORROW! 🚨 With FindGrant, finding funding is easier than ever. Stay tuned as we bust common misconceptions and help you unlock opportunities. 💡🗝️ #FindGrant #GrantMyths

Your nonprofit’s work is life-changing… 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁? 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲. I checked out a nonprofit's website recently. Read the same paragraph four times. And still had NO idea what they actually do. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗵𝘂𝗴𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺. And one I see ALL the time! Too many nonprofits fill their messaging with jargon and academic buzzwords. Long, complicated sentences. Unclear, fuzzy concepts. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗜𝗟𝗬 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼… They won’t connect with your mission. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲: Simplifying your message is hard. It takes skill to turn complex ideas into simple, clear, language. The kind that a 6th grader can understand. So how do you do it? 𝟭. 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 ❌ "We empower communities." ✅ "We provide 500 meals every week." 𝟮. 𝗗𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗼𝗻 ❌ “We enhance capacity building for service beneficiaries.” ✅ "We help families find jobs and housing." 𝟯. 𝗣𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 ❌ “We create opportunities to drive economic growth,” ✅ “We train hundreds of local entrepreneurs to launch small businesses.” When your message is CLEAR... 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝘁, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘁. What do you think—does it take skill to be simple?

The one thing that's holding you back from winning grants isn't what you think. It's not your track record. It's not even your competition. It's your ability to demonstrate CREDIBILITY. Here's the truth: Funders don't just fund great ideas. They fund credible teams. How to build credibility in your proposals: 1. Document everything: Keep detailed records of your impact, no matter how small. 2. Build partnerships: Strong collaborations show you're not working in isolation. 3. Get specific with numbers: Instead of "we helped many people," say "we trained 247 youth in 6 months." 4. Include third-party validation: Media coverage, awards, or external evaluations. 5. Show sustainability: Prove you'll survive after their funding ends. Remember: Credibility isn't built overnight, but these steps will dramatically improve your chances. Start implementing these today. Your next grant application will be 10X stronger. Found this post insightful? Share to help others win more funding.

Competition for grant funding is fierce—applications take time, and rejections can be tough. So how can community transport organisations improve their chances of success? Michelle Clarke, Transport Strategy Lead, shares five essential tips to help your application stand out—from engaging funders to showcasing impact. Find the link to the post in the comments 👇 (Can't see it? Filter comments by most recent) #FundingTips #CommunityTransport #GrantFunding

I've spoken to 10+ founders this week about how they find grant funding, and this is what I learned: ✅ People are wasting up to 10 hours a week searching for grants ✅ Most find them accidentally through their networks ✅ Newsletters are helpful but never share enough information on eligibility ✅ Free databases are mostly unhelpful because they aren't kept updated My biggest learning was that over half the founders I spoke to don't even consider grants because they've never found a good method for finding them and assessing their eligibility. As an ecosystem, we are failing founders by not helping them access one of the best sources of funding at an early stage. Big thanks to all the founders who helped us this week and gave me 30 minutes of your valuable time. What do you think? How do you find grants? Ps Take a sneaky look at our new database launching July 8th 👀

Ron Swanson was all about simplicity and cutting through the red tape. When it comes to strategic planning, that means breaking down silos to build plans that focus on real community impact. At CP2 Consulting, we help local governments and nonprofits better connect internally and externally to implement measurable, actionable strategies. . . . . #GovernmentLeadership #ImpactfulStrategies #StrategicPlanning

What's clarity worth? So far, in my work, about 15 million dollars. In the past ten years, I have contributed to helping my clients and colleagues access over 15 million dollars in funding. There's another $20 million+ pending - waiting to hear back. 🤞🏻 Most of this money has come through government grants, some through responses to RFPs, other amounts through private grants. I've worked in university settings, with non-profits, and with private businesses. Very different projects, very different types of proposals. The red thread through all of this is CLARITY. 🪡 Getting clear on the WHY so we can easily map out the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, and HOW. Getting clear on the intersection between the opportunity and the offer. Finding those magical overlaps in the challenge and solution space Big messy ideas, mapping out the start of dreamy projects, supporting clients through pivots and shifts, wading through change: these are the spaces I thrive. As a result, my clients have done pretty well too. 💸 💸 If you're interested in learning more about how we might work together, book a Discovery Call (link in the comments)