Every nonprofit and purpose-driven business needs both marketing and fundraising—but they are not the same. Confusing them can drain your energy, dilute your message, and ultimately cost you relationships and revenue. Understanding how they work—and how they work...
Stewardship Is More Than Gratitude—It’s Empowerment. Every update is a chance to equip your team with what they need to make things happen. You don’t always know who has access to what doors—or what relationships they’re willing to leverage.
Too many nonprofits find themselves trapped in a fundraising cycle that pivots on a few big events—galas, auctions, holiday appeals—while neglecting the full potential of recurring giving, storytelling, and strategic donor engagement. Let’s unpack the reasons behind this hesitancy:
Nonprofits often ask me to help them find grants. Yet too often, the essentials are missing — program information, budgets, or organizational documents. Without these, even the best-written proposal won’t survive review. And in today’s landscape, that matters: thousands apply, but only 1 in 10 proposals is funded nationally.
Being “grant-ready” is what separates wishful thinking from real funding success.
If you’ve ever been moved by a commercial, remembered a nonprofit’s story years after a gala, or bought a product because the brand’s story resonated with you—you’ve already experienced the power of storytelling marketing.
But what exactly is it, and why does it work so well?
Too often, events become a substitute for strategy. They drain time, energy, and focus away from the year-round relationship-building that leads to meaningful giving. It’s no wonder donor retention has dipped below 20% in recent years. We’ve been sprinting from one hustle to the next, without the space to steward.
Your brand messaging is the foundation of how people experience your organization or business.
It’s more than a tagline or logo—it’s the consistent, compelling way you communicate who you are, what you do, and why it matters. Without it, your audience may feel unsure, disconnected, or overlook your value altogether.
You’ve spent six months planning the gala. You picked the linens, proofed the programs, and confirmed the caterer. It’s going to be beautiful. But deep down, you’re asking: Was it worth it?
If you’ve ever wondered whether your event-heavy calendar is actually advancing your mission, this post is for you.
A Case for Support is more than a funding pitch. It’s your organization’s narrative backbone—the “why it matters” behind the work you do. It offers funders, board members, and community champions a clear window into your heart, your impact, and your plans for the future.