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Hi there! And welcome to The Impact.
This week, we’re talking about a common (and costly) pitfall: treating fundraising like a one-person job. When development is siloed from programs, communications, and leadership, your whole organization feels it—and not in a good way.
We’re also sharing how to build a more collaborative culture around fundraising, two grants to check out before year-end, new compensation trends, and a side-by-side test of AI grant tools you don’t want to miss.
Ready? Let’s get into it!
Pitfalls and Pointers
⚠️ Pitfall: Treating Fundraising Like a One-Person Job
It happens all the time: fundraising gets tucked neatly into one person’s role or isolated to a single department. But when development is treated like a solo act, the entire organization misses out:
- Program teams stay disconnected from funder relationships.
- Communications miss key moments to tell your story in a compelling way.
- Leadership forgets that fundraising isn’t just a function; it’s a culture.
And when that one person leaves? So does the momentum.
💡 Pointer: Build a Culture of Cross-Team Collaboration
Fundraising works best when it’s a team sport. That means:
- Involving program staff in grant reports and storytelling.
- Aligning communications and development on messaging and strategy.
- Keeping leadership in the loop on funding goals, gaps, and wins.
The LeadersTrust report on diversifying nonprofit revenue puts it this way: “Fundraising is not just the job of the development director. It’s a shared responsibility across the organization.”
Need help making that shift? The LeadersTrust guide on how to manage grants with a lean team is full of tips and insights, including how to break silos and foster collaboration across departments.
📍 Check out the complete guide here.
Tech You Should Know
What:
Issuu is a digital publishing platform that transforms PDFs into sleek, interactive flipbooks. Whether it’s an annual report, a case for support, or a grant impact story, Issuu makes your materials feel more like a magazine and less like a dusty attachment.
Instead of emailing clunky documents, you can embed beautiful, scrollable versions on your website, in your emails, or even share them on social media.
How Grant Writers Can Use It:
- Create interactive annual reports that wow funders and board members.
- Turn grant success stories into digital booklets you can easily share.
- Showcase programs or campaigns with visuals, links, and video embeds.
- Impress reviewers by linking to dynamic content right from your proposals.
Keep in Mind:
- Issuu has a free version, but advanced features like analytics and branding require a paid plan.
- Strong visual formatting goes a long way—this tool elevates your content, but it won’t fix sloppy design.
Ready to turn your static PDFs into something people actually want to read?
💎M ake your content shine with Issuu!
Expert Perspectives
🏆 Meredith Noble & Loretta Skiff on Finding Your Best-Fit Grants
If finding the right grants feels like a never-ending guessing game, you’re not alone. But what if you could simplify your prospecting process, avoid dead-end applications, and focus only on the opportunities that are actually winnable?
That’s exactly what Meredith Noble (Learn Grant Writing) and Loretta Skiff (Planet Grants) unpacked in their Instrumentl webinar.
Here’s their expert advice:
- Use a three-stage funnel. Start with a wide search (Instrumentl makes that easy), filter for realistic fits (look at eligibility, alignment, and past grantees), and only deep-dive once the grant passes those checks.
- Don’t chase every RFP. If you’re already stretching your project/program to match the funder’s requirements, it’s a red flag. Don’t force it!
- Ask questions before applying. Reach out to funders and ask: “How many applicants did you have last year? How many were funded?” It’s a game-changer that can save you a lot of time and effort.
- Use budget filters. Don’t waste time applying for $10k grants if you need $300K. Know your range, and set filters to match.
Bottom line: Prospecting is a skill, and it starts with the discipline to say “no” to grants that aren’t a good fit.
👀 Watch the full webinar here!
The Latest Numbers
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) just released its 2025 Compensation & Benefits Report, offering a clear snapshot of what’s happening with fundraising pay across the US.
Here’s what stood out:
- Median salary for fundraisers rose 5.6% in 2024 - from $83,000 to $87,672 - outpacing inflation (2.9%) and signaling some welcome wage growth.
- Average salary held steady at around $96,449, showing stability at the top even as inflation cooled.
- The gender pay gap is shrinking. Women now earn 88 centers for every dollar earned by men - a 13% gap, down from 17% last year.
- More organizations are offering remote or hybrid roles, with flexibility becoming a key driver of satisfaction and retention.
So, what does this mean for you?
- Use this data to advocate for your worth: If you’re negotiating a raise, this report gives you the numbers to back it up.
- Consider pay equity initiatives: If you manage a team, now’s the time to review how your org stacks up on equitable compensation.
- Flexibility is no longer optional: With more folks prioritizing remote or hybrid options, offering flexibility could make or break your next hire.
Want to dig into the full data?
💰 Check out the full AFP salary report now!
Opportunities Spotlight
👠 Dr. Scholl Foundation Grants
Who It’s For: US-based nonprofits working in education, social services, health care, civic & cultural, or the environment
Next Deadline: January 31, 2026 (LOI due); March 1, 2026 (full proposal, invite only)
Grant Amount: $5,000-$25,000
The Details:
- Applications must be submitted through the Foundation’s portal (no mail or email)
- Only one application per organization per grant year
- Funding is for one year only; the Foundation rarely supports endowments, capital campaigns, general operating support, or event sponsorships
- Eligible applicants must have valid 501(c)(3) status and typically at least 3 years of financial activity
🌟 Penn National Gaming Foundation Grants
Who It’s For: US-based 501(c)(3) organizations located in areas where Penn Entertainment has facilities
Next Deadline: January 1, 2026
Grant Amount: Varies
The Details:
- Supports programs that promote community and economic development, including education, human services, cultural affairs, and diversity initiatives.
- Strong preference given to organizations in communities where Penn Entertainment operates (check locations on their website).
- Grants may support both programmatic and capital needs.
- Applicants must demonstrate measurable outcomes and community impact.
- Applications must mail two copies of the grant application, with one set of all required attachments, to be considered for funding.
🔍 Explore thousands of other grant opportunities now!
Networking Nook
💻 Webinar: The 7 Fundamentals of a Monthly Giving Program
January 20, 2026| 1PM ET
If you’re considering starting a monthly giving program—or you have one that is underperforming—this webinar is for you! Hosted by CharityHowTo, this live session will review the basic fundamentals needed to launch a successful monthly giving program, including how to set your ask amounts, recognize monthly donors, and plan for growth.
Hurry!
📅 Conference: Sharpe Charitable Giving SUMMIT
January 12-15, 2026 | Orlando, FL
This four-day, interactive training event equips planned giving officers with key strategies and tactics, from foundational principles to the latest hot-button issues. Whether you’re new to planned giving or looking to refresh your approach, you’ll dive into gift-planning tools, donor-prospect mining, tax law updates, and real-world case studies.
Don’t miss out!
To check out more recent and upcoming live events, go here.
In Case You Missed It
📑 Article: Federal Grants Disruption: How Nonprofits Are Adapting
Instrumentl surveyed over 300 nonprofit professionals to understand how changes to federal funding are affecting organizations across the country. The results? 85% are feeling the impact, and 82% are turning to private and corporate grants as their #1 strategy for adaptation.
📼 Video: ChatGPT vs. Instrumentl: Which Grant Finder Wins?
In this walk-through, Instrumentl’s team sets ChatGPT and their own platform side by side in a live test scenario - comparing prospecting speed, relevance of matches, and how well each tool fits a nonprofit’s grant search needs.
🎙️ Podcast: Beyond Inclusion: Creating Safety, Power, & Space to Thrive in the Sector
In this episode of What the Fundraising podcast, host Mallory Erickson and guest Sarfah Ali, founder & CEO of Sarah Ali Philanthropy, unpack what it means to move beyond diversity checkboxes and toward building truly inclusive, empowering environments where nonprofit leaders and staff can thrive.
Work Smarter - and Win!
You don’t have hours to waste chasing dead-end grants. With Instrumentl, you can discover the right funders, keep every deadline on track, and manage reports all in one place! It’s everything you need to grow funding, minus the chaos. Start your 14-day free trial today—no credit card required, no strings attached.
