Grants Plus

I’ve been tracking how economic shifts—like inflation and market volatility—are affecting nonprofit funding. But this article in the The Chronicle of Philanthropy by Ben Gose hit me harder than expected. Tariffs are driving up costs for goods that nonprofits rely on—food, clothing, lumber. That’s on top of already rising demand for services and donor uncertainty. And here’s the kicker: many nonprofits can’t pass these increases on to “buyers” like a business can. In so many cases, there are no buyers. It’s a squeeze from all sides. So what now? Some thoughts: + Reinforce your case to funders. Costs are changing—so should your proposals. Make the rising cost of doing good part of your narrative. + Lean into relationships. Don’t just report on outcomes—report on realities. Honest funder conversations could lead to more flexible support. + Don’t go it alone. Collaborate with peers to negotiate purchasing power, share infrastructure, or advocate collectively. If your organization is feeling this squeeze, I’d love to hear how you're navigating it—and how we can help each other hold steady.

✴️ Don’t Miss Out! Free Virtual Session on Grant Reporting and Budgeting.   On Thursday, May 8th from 12pm – 1pm CST / 1pm – 2pm EST, The Cary Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies at Auburn University will be hosting a free virtual session led by Grants Plus Senior Advisor of Writing, Kelly Howard, sponsored by Walker Area Community Foundation.   You will learn strategies for effective grant reporting and budgeting. Also covered will be tracking and managing grant expenses and submitting timely and compliant grant reports. You will also gain practical insights for communicating with staff to ensure grant management compliance.   Free – Registration Required: linktr.ee/carycenterau #nonprofits #philanthropy #FundingSuccess #GrantTips

Thank you to the National Council of Nonprofits and other members, along with Democracy Forward, for continuing to advocate for nonprofits and helping to protect the funding required to sustain critical initiatives that benefit our society. Please read below for an important update on funding: #grants #FederalGrants #GovernmentFunding #Nonprofitfunding #nonprofitfundraising

Ensuring all mothers and their children have access to the care and supplies they need is critical for all communities. Kudos to Baby2Baby for the important work they do to support new mothers and their families! #BlackMaternalHealthWeek #BlackMaternalHealth

#TuesdayTip Are you looking for ways to strengthen your grant program? Below are more practical solutions from Grants Plus Founder and CEO, Lauren Steiner, to help nonprofits navigate today's changing funding landscape (2 of 2): 6. Deepen Funder Relationships. Reach out when you're not asking for money. Schedule stewardship calls, share impact updates, and explore shared priorities. 7. Track Key Performance Metrics. Monitor your win rates, renewal rates, number of proposals submitted, and new funder relationships. 8. Stay on Top of Trends. Understand shifts in funding like changes to DEI policies, political impacts, and corporate giving patterns. 9. Align Your DEI Language Thoughtfully. Frame your work around equity, access, and inclusion in ways that reflect your mission. 10. Create Space for Strategic Pause. Schedule regular reviews of your grant program. What's working? What's not? Adjust based on results. For more information: https://lnkd.in/g5hZT5H6 #grants #GrantTips #nonprofitfundraising #fundraising

It’s been years, but I still think about her. I was doing grant writing for a college readiness program in my hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. One day, I sat in on a panel where recent graduates were speaking to high school students from the city—sharing what college was really like, how to navigate it, how to decide if it was even the right path. The students in the room were half listening, half distracted—as you'd expect from any group of high schoolers. The panelists were trying, working hard to reach them. And then, the Q&A began. A girl sitting quietly in the middle of the room raised her hand. Her question stopped me cold. "Do you have to fight in college?" I remember my jaw dropping. Fight? Not for grades or a spot in the dorms. She meant physical fights. That question cracked something open in me. I thought about my own upbringing—where college meant new ideas, not survival. Where I never once worried for my personal safety in a classroom. The panelists didn’t even blink. One of them calmly said, “No, not really.” Like they’d heard it before. I think about her often. What she must have been carrying. What it meant that that was her question. This is why I do the work I do. Because every now and then, a girl like that raises her hand—and maybe hears something that shifts her future. And maybe, in the background, someone like me was helping secure the funding that made that moment possible. 💛

As we recognize National Crime Victims' Rights Week, we are reminded that safety, dignity, and being safeguarded from exploitation are basic human rights. Grants Plus is honored to work with the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking to further their mission to protect the most vulnerable. Thank you to Lauren Steiner for sharing the video below highlighting the Collaborative's important work: #HumanTraffickingAwareness #HumanTrafficking #endhumantrafficking #BeTheChange #nonprofitfundraising #Nonprofitfunding

Thank you to the National Council of Nonprofits for spearheading this important initiative to share stories from nonprofits about their impact and value in society. If you are interested in contributing, please see the details below

#TuesdayTip As nonprofits continue to face uncertainty, many are left wondering how to navigate the shifting grant landscape. Grants Plus Founder and CEO, Lauren Steiner, breaks down the latest trends, common pitfalls, and winning strategies to secure funding in 2025 and beyond. (Part 1 of 2): Below are 5 practical actions she recommends for nonprofits to adapt, compete, and thrive in today's changing funding landscape: 1. Refocus Your Strategy - Stop chasing every opportunity. Reassess your grant-seeking strategy to prioritize funders whose missions align with yours. 2. Build a 12-Month Grants Calendar - Create a rolling calendar of deadlines, cultivation milestones, and reporting dates. 3. Invest in Reusable Content - Develop strong boilerplate language for common sections - organization overview, program descriptions, leadership bios, and impact data. 4. Clarify Internal Roles - Define who does what in your grant process-research, writing, approvals, reporting-and use a shared system to keep things moving. 5. Set Realistic Grant Goals - Make sure your revenue projections reflect opportunity, not pressure. Learn more here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/g5hZT5H6 #grants #GrantTips #Grantwriting #FundingSuccess #GrantApplications

If you work in the nonprofit space—or fund it—please read and share: This article by Stephanie Beasley from The Chronicle of Philanthropy lifts up several emergency response funds that are stepping in where the government has stepped back. From the SAFE Initiative at Borealis Philanthropy to Safety Net Grants from The Boston Foundation to GlobalGiving's Safety Net Grants and others, these funds are providing critical support for legal help, security, and keeping core services going. Read more below. #Grantseeking #nonprofit #Philanthropy #nonprofitfundraising