May 1, 2024
The Impact Issue #13: Grant Reporting Made Easy: Tools and Tips Inside
Master grant reporting, personalize proposals with Form 990 insights, and explore Amazon tools for nonprofits. Plus, new grant opportunities and expert tips!
And just like that, April has come to a close.
Take a minute to recap your milestones this month. Did you learn something new? Win any grants? Find the perfect springtime jacket that will keep you warm in the morning without making you overheat in the afternoon?
One can only dream.
Now that you’re back from memory lane, let’s jump into this week’s newsletter.
We’ve got tips on grant reporting, using Form 990s to customize grant applications, and tracking history with funders, plus events, opportunities, and so much more.
Let’s dive in!
Pitfalls and Pointers
Win a grant? Congratulations! We’ll let you celebrate for a minute.
Alright, now it’s time to get down to business.
First on the agenda: Put the money to good use.
Second: Report on how you spent it.
But really, it’s not quite that simple…
⚠️ Pitfall: Treating Your Grant Reporting as Just an Administrative Requirement
Yes, your funder is going to request information about how their funds are being spent.
They’ll likely have specific reporting requirements and timelines you’ll need to follow in order to stay compliant.
But a grant report isn’t just another task you need to check off your list – it’s an opportunity to tell a story and continue to win over your audience.
💡 Pointer: Use Your Grant Reports to Cultivate Relationships with Funders
The most effective grant reports establish trust with stakeholders through transparency.
They also provide solid evidence that your funder’s contributions are well worth it.
But most importantly, they tell a story that reminds funders why they selected your organization in the first place.
📊 Explore our ultimate grant reporting guide, plus free templates to get you started!
Tech You Should Know
Running a nonprofit is a lot like running a business (except for, you know, being not-for-profit). That said, there are still a lot of specific elements unique to this industry, so tools built with for-profit organizations in mind may not always be the best fit.
Luckily, those tools are starting to expand their reach to include our good work, too.
What:
Amazon Business is a sector of Amazon that provides helpful tools and capabilities to companies. They also have unique solutions built specifically for nonprofits.
How Nonprofits Can Use It:
- Donation Driver: Create a wish list of mission-critical items, allowing donors to purchase and send them directly to your organization.
- Spend Visibility: Explore data visualizations that help you track purchases, identify compliance issues, and find future savings.
- Pay by Invoice: Purchase items when your organization needs them, then pay later on 30-day payment terms.
- Simplify Approvals: Set up approval processes in-line with your buying policies, making it easy for team members to approve and purchase with a clear paper trail.
Keep in Mind:
- Business Prime: Some features may only be available with a Business Prime account.
Looking for more ideas to fundraise for your nonprofit?
Expert Perspectives
🏆 Elizabeth Burrows on tailoring your grant applications
You might know by now that customization and personalization are key strategies for successful grant writing. But Elizabeth Burrows, Principal at Burrows Consulting, takes that tip a step further when writing grant proposals.
Here’s her expert advice:
- Check their Form 990: Get specific insights into your funder’s giving history and focus areas using Instrumentl’s Form 990 snapshot tool.
- Identify the Funder’s Passions: Locate the NTEE code breakdown and take note of the causes your funder is most passionate about.
- Tailor Your Application: Using that information, customize your grant proposal to specifically address those issues, better aligning your application with your funder’s goals and areas of interest.
📑 Learn more about effectively analyzing a funder’s Form 990!
Have You Tried This?
📊 Instrumentl Feature: Tracking Your History with Funders
At the root of every successful grant proposal is a relationship with the funder.
But when you’re dealing with dozens of funders over several years, it’s probably not enough to rely on memory alone – or even a simple spreadsheet, for that matter.
We experienced this complex relationship management firsthand. And when we built Instrumentl, we vowed to include capabilities to make it a bit easier for grant professionals to keep track of all the moving pieces.
Here’s how you do it:
- If you’re new to Instrumentl – or just signed up for our free 14-day trial – set up your nonprofit.
- Upload your existing grants to the system, either manually or automatically using our spreadsheet template.
- Update grant statuses, dates, documents, notes, and more as needed, simply by opening each opportunity from the intuitive dashboard.
- Update funder profiles, notes, and contacts that will be seen across all related opportunities.
Bonus: This functionality isn’t just for your own benefit – your notes and status updates can be seen by anyone in your organization with access to do so! That way, everyone can stay on the same page as you continue to cultivate relationships and win new grants.
🕵️♂️ Dig a little deeper into the steps and benefits of tracking funder history!
Networking Nook
The opportunities that were originally shared in this issue of The Impact have since passed. To check out more recent and upcoming live events, go here.
Opportunities Spotlight
🌎 Fred Morgan Kirby Prize for Scaling Social Impact
Who It’s For: All impact enterprises, working anywhere in the world, as long as they have an established presence in the United States.
Next Deadline: Oct 27, 2024 (Predicted)
Grant Amount: US $150,000
The Details:
- This grant awards unrestricted funds to organizations working to scale its impact on social or environmental problems around the world.
- Enterprise must meet the following criteria:
- Is a United States taxpayer and holds a federal taxpayer identification number, or is recognized as an organization exempt from federal income tax
- Has strong evidence of impact over at least 3 years and has a plan for how to use the grant to scale that impact in the next 3 to 5 years
- Has a robust non-discrimination policy
- Has exemplary leadership that aligns with the core values of Fred Morgan Kirby, including integrity, resourcefulness, resilience, meaningful collaboration, and diversity
🇺🇲 Bob Woodruff Foundation Grants
Who It’s For: Organizations working to improve the lives of American service members, veterans, and their families and caregivers
Next Deadline: June 15, 2024
Grant Amount: Unspecified
The Details:
- The Foundation is interested in programs that:
- Improve social determinants of health
- Decrease barriers to accessing physical and mental healthcare
- Increase accessibility to programming that fosters a healthy lifestyle
- Enhance opportunities for veterans to thrive after service
There are thousands of other grant opportunities to explore.
🔍 Find the right ones for your organization now!
In Case You Missed It
📑 Article: Grant Writing: A Reality Check
Early in her nonprofit career, now spanning nearly four decades, Carolyn M. Appleton attended a grant writing workshop that set her on a path towards writing hundreds of grant proposals. In this article, she offers real-world advice and firsthand experiences for others looking to follow in her footsteps.
📼 Video: Google Ad Grants 101 – Grow Your Nonprofit’s Online Presence With $10K/Month In Free Ads
Did you know that registered nonprofits are eligible to receive $10,000 per month in free Google advertising? In this free webinar recording, Simon Choy of ConnectAd, an Ad Grants Certified Professional company, walks you through everything you need to know about the program.
🎙️ Podcast: School Librarians United: Grant Writing
In this episode of School Librarians United, host Amy Hermon sits down with district librarian Keely Nudo to discuss the ins and outs of writing successful grants for libraries.
Grant Writing Doesn’t Have to be Complicated
With Instrumentl, you can discover, research, manage, and track thousands of grant opportunities, all in one easy-to-use platform. That means spending less time stressing about grants and more time winning them.
And the best part?
100% Free Grant Writing Resources Straight to Your Inbox
