Case Study: Washington School for Girls Fueling Fundraising Momentum Through Strategic Grant Support
The Challenge Before partnering with Spark Point, Washington School for Girls (WSFG) was in a fundraising holding pattern. While long-standing funders remained consistent, growth had plateaued. The school’s development team knew it was time to expand their funding base, but without added capacity or strategic grant infrastructure, they couldn’t get ahead. Adding urgency, WSG had…
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The 2025 fundraising landscape is crowded, competitive, and moving fast. Donors are receiving more appeals than ever, and generic messages or last-minute scrambles are not cutting it anymore. If your annual giving plan still looks like “mid-year appeal, Giving Tuesday, December push,” you are already behind. The game has changed, and your strategy needs to…
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Let’s be honest, burnout isn’t temporary. Let’s be honest, burnout isn’t temporary. If you’re a nonprofit leader, chances are that you’ve pushed through exhaustion more than just once, because the mission doesn’t wait, the community needs you, and there’s no such thing as “just one more thing.” But what if rest isn’t a risk, but…
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Fundraising isn’t what it used to be. With new legislative developments and economic changes shaking things up, nonprofits are facing tough challenges. And add on to that, funders are shifting their priorities or donors are changing the ways they’re giving. This means many organizations are scrambling to keep up, dealing with layoffs, cutbacks, and a…
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As we celebrate the fourth anniversary of the Black Women Spark Change series, we reflect on an incredible journey that is shining a spotlight on the transformative work of dozens of Black women leaders from across the country. These remarkable women are making waves in multiple sectors, from education and health care to environmental justice…
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Désirée Nzamba is a sustainable development advisor at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vallée-du-Richelieu – Rouville in Quebec, Canada. Désirée has always loved nature. Growing up in Gabon, she fondly remembers visiting natural sights and wildlife parks with her family. She would admire the breathtaking views as they took the train to places like…
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In your pursuit of change, you have a lot of to-dos. Among them may be to apply for a grant (or several). Maybe you’ve never done this before and don’t know where to start. Or you need a refresher and some new ideas to make an impact. No matter where you are in your grant-seeking…
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Jerilyn Johnson is the Chief of Staff of Greenpeace USA, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness of global environmental problems and creating transformational change. Promoting social good was a core value for Jerilyn from a young age. Growing up in rural Texas, Jerilyn spent a lot of time playing outside. “I was raised in nature,”…
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A donor has a range of motivations for giving to a particular cause. If you can identify what type of donor aligns with your mission, you can make your fundraising strategy much more efficient because you know exactly who to target. Enter: The Appeal Spectrum, a concept from author Tom Ralser’s book, ROI for Nonprofits:…
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