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Happy December, and welcome to The Impact!
If you’ve ever felt like funders are judging your spreadsheet more than your story, you’re not wrong. In this issue, we’re tackling a big question: how do you show funders your organization can sustain its impact, not just start it?
This week, you’ll find practical ways to communicate financial strength, tools to turn volunteer hours into real dollars, and expert advice on using data to make your grant proposals shine. Plus, two new funding opportunities worth bookmarking and a nonprofit finance and operations conference you don’t want to miss.
Let’s dive in!
Pitfalls and Pointers
⚠️ Pitfall: Overlooking Financial Resilience in Your Grant Strategy
Funders aren’t just asking, “What impact will this have?” They’re also asking, “Can this org sustain it?”
According to Candid, there are over 1.8 million nonprofits in the US, which means foundations and donors are vetting hard. They’re looking for signs of financial health before committing funds, including:
- Cash flow and liquidity
- Program expense ratio
- Compliance history
- Board engagement and governance
But here’s the catch: many small and midsize nonprofits doing vital work don’t always have the staff, systems, or reports to showcase that strength.
💡 Pointer: Build and Communicate Your Financial Backbone
You don’t need a CFO to show funders you’re financially resilient; the best grant professionals are well-versed in the basics of nonprofit financial management.
Try these moves:
- Know your numbers. Even a simple explanation of how your budget supports long-term impact can go a long way. Ask your finance lead for 1-2 metrics to include in proposals.
- Make your budget part of your story. Don’t just attach it; walk funders through how your numbers reflect sustainability, smart spending, and strategic priorities.
- Highlight governance wins. Show off engaged board members or relevant steps you’ve taken to strengthen oversight. It’s a trust-builder.
- Pair programs with capacity-building asks. When possible, ask for funding that supports both your impact and your infrastructure.
This piece from the Silicon Valley Business Journal has more smart insights on what funders want to see.
Tech You Should Know
What:
Double the Donation is best known for matching gift programs, but their volunteer grant tools are equally powerful. This platform helps you identify companies that offer monetary donations in exchange for volunteer hours and makes it easy for supporters to submit the paperwork.
Thousands of companies (think: Microsoft, Salesforce, Verizon) will donate $10-$25+ per hour when their employees volunteer at eligible nonprofits. Most organizations don’t realize they’re leaving this possible funding on the table.
How Grant Writers Can Use It:
- Uncover new corporate funders by identifying which companies your supporters work for.
- Strengthen proposals with supporter employment data that proves community engagement and corporate connections.
- Research high-value programs using their database of corporate volunteer grant criteria, amounts, and eligibility.
- Track revenue from volunteer grants to report impact and show funders you’re maximizing every opportunity.
Keep in Mind:
- Volunteers must take action to trigger the grant - communication and reminders are key.
- Some features (like employer search and automation tools) require a paid plan.
- You’ll need a system for logging hours, even if informally, to get started.
If you don’t have a robust volunteer program, don’t panic. Check out these volunteer recruitment platforms to help you get started.
Ready to turn community support into corporate dollars?
🧰 Explore Double the Donation’s volunteer grant tools!
Expert Perspectives
🏆 Geng Wang on Supercharging Your Grants with Volunteer Metrics
If you treat volunteer metrics like a reporting box to check, you’re missing a huge opportunity! In this Instrumentl webinar, Geng Wang, CEO & Founder of Civic Champs, broke down how to use volunteer data to strengthen your grant applications, attract funders, and tell a deeper story about community impact.
Here’s his expert advice:
- Track what matters. Start with core metrics like volunteer hours and retention, then build toward mission-specific impact (e.g., homes built, meals served).
- Show value. Quantify the dollar value of volunteer time. Funders want to see ROI, not just good intentions.
- Use trends to tell your story. One nonprofit boosted volunteer engagement 30x by tracking engagement after a disaster—and used that data to land grants.
- Highlight sustainability. Don’t just say you have community support; prove it with engagement, satisfaction, and retention data.
So, what does this all mean for you?
Start treating volunteer data like the powerful grant asset it is. The right numbers don’t just back up your story, they help you win more funding.
🖥️ Watch the full webinar here!
Grant Myths: Busted
Myth: Grants Will Cover All Your Operating Costs
It’s a common misconception: get enough grants, and you’ll have all the funds you need to run your nonprofit. But the truth? Most grants are restricted, meaning they can only be used for specific programs, timelines, or deliverables.
So while some funders allow you to budget for overhead, many don’t—and treating grants like a replacement for general operating support can leave you scrambling.
The truth: Grants are powerful, but they’re just one slice of a healthy funding pie. To keep your organization sustainable, pair grantseeking with individual giving, sponsorships, fee-for-service income, and more. Bonus points if you can secure unrestricted grants that you give more flexibility.
👉 Check out this article for more grant myths you’ll want to avoid believing!
Opportunities Spotlight
🌟 Looking Out Foundation Grants
Who It’s For: US-based 501(c)(3) organizations working in the areas of social justice, equality, the environment, arts & culture, or public health.
Next Deadline: January 15, 2026
Grant Amount: $5,000 - $25,000
The Details:
- Focuses on grassroots organizations with limited access to traditional funding
- Preference is given to nonprofits demonstrating community impact and alignment with the foundation’s values
- Funds can support project-based or general operating needs
🎹 D’Addario Foundation Community Music Grants
Who It’s For: US-based nonprofits providing community-based music education, especially to underserved youth
Next Deadline: LOI due March 31, 2026
Grant Amount: Up to $2,500
The Details:
- Focuses on programs offering ongoing music instruction (not one-off events or performances)
- Priority given to organizations that demonstrate strong outcomes and long-term commitment to youth development through music
- Supports program costs, instruments, teacher support, and related expenses
🔍 Explore thousands of other grant opportunities now!
Networking Nook
💻 Webinar: Asking Styles: A Revolutionary Concept in Fundraising
February 11, 2026 | 3PM EST
This free 45-minute live session, hosted by CharityHowTo, introduces the “Asking Styles” concept—a fresh way to craft fundraising asks based on your personality and donor-type alignment. You’ll learn how to match your style, board or staff strengths, and donor traits to improve comfort, confidence, and gift outcomes.
Don’t Miss Out
📅 Conference: Innovate 2026 | Nonprofit Conference by JMT Consulting
May 4-6, 2026 | Capital Hilton, Washington D.C.
Tailored for nonprofit finance and operations professionals, this three-day conference dives into best practices around budgeting, reporting, compliance, and technology trends. Expect expert sessions, peer networking, and CPE credit opportunities.
Super Early Bird Rates Are Available until 12/31/25!
To check out more recent and upcoming live events, go here.
In Case You Missed It
📑 Article: Planning for a Stronger Fundraising Year in 2026
Fundraising leaders—this one’s worth bookmarking. As nonprofits gear up for end-of-year giving and begin planning for 2026, Mike Esposito Fundraising published a thoughtful guide that breaks down where to focus your energy before January hits. You’ll learn practical steps that your team can take to make a real difference once the new year starts moving fast.
📑 Article: Why Consistency in Communication Is Key to Donor Retention
Sporadic outreach can quietly erode your donor relationships. In this new post, nonprofit strategist Ann Green shares why steady, thoughtful communication builds trust and loyalty—and how to stay connected even when your team is stretched thin. You’ll learn how to create a realistic messaging cadence, repurpose existing content, and keep donors engaged year-round.
📼 Video: Funding Faith-Based Organizations: Turning Your Mission Into a Grant Asset
You may think your organization’s religious identity is a barrier to funding, but it can actually be one of your biggest strengths. In this Instrumentl masterclass, grant expert Danette Fettig Halloran shares how to find funders that support faith-based work, use “Mission Mapping” to align with funder priorities, and frame proposals around community impact beyond faith.
Work Smarter This Season
Year-end crunch shouldn’t mean late nights and messy spreadsheets! Instrumentl pulls prospecting, deadlines, and reporting into one clean workflow so you can stay focused on winning, not wrangling. Think of it as the teammate who always knows what’s due next (and has the receipts).
