As a development director, chances are high that you have a prospect research spreadsheet that’s beautifully color-coded, categorized, and diligently updated. You’ve put in the time to find foundations likely to support your mission, but despite the intense labor of love, you’re no closer to detangling the web of prospect research — or securing meaningful…
Tiara Nicole Riley is a life coach, motivational speaker, author and HR manager. She also serves as a board member for Stillborn And Infant Loss Support (SAILS), a nonprofit dedicated to helping people who have been affected by the loss of a baby. She began working as a life coach, motivational speaker, and published author…
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:…
Dr. Monique Darrisaw-Akil is the Superintendent of Schools at the Uniondale Union Free School District in Long Island, NY. Dr. Akil was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and realized early on that she wanted to dedicate her life to fighting for equity in education. “My life, in some ways, was shaped by de facto…
Are you falling for these common grant writing myths? Learn 3 myths to avoid, and how to approach grant writing to get the funding your nonprofit deserves.
Securing funding has never been more challenging. In the aftermath of the pandemic, donor funds have dwindled, expenses continue to rise, and demands on your organization are relentless. It’s more important than ever to diversify your funding streams and maximize your potential revenue sources. The question is how? Rethink your restricted funding strategy. It’s more…
Destany Story is the Program Director of Women Empowering Nations, a nonprofit organization that supports girls of color across the globe as they follow their paths to executive leadership. “The passion of my work is to connect women,” Destany shares. Growing up in Memphis, Destany attended a charter high school that was staffed by Teach…
Tatiana Washington is the Senior Director of Secondary Partnerships at OneGoal in Chicago, an organization dedicated to creating equitable opportunities so all young people can realize their postsecondary dreams. “You know, when you’re meant to do something, you feel it!” Tatiana says. “Growing up, that was me. I’ve always gravitated towards service.” From a young…
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…
AI tools like ChatGPT for grant writing may seem like a smart solution for your nonprofit, but human expertise still wins out. Learn the key reasons why.
Krystal Ramseur is the Chief Operating Officer of The National Council of Negro Women, a nonprofit organization founded in 1935 that aims to empower Black women and families, especially in the areas of health, education, social justice, and economic development. This role is a dream job for Krystal, who has always valued community-building. “My dad…
Keyla Marte is the founder of Keyla Consulting where she works as a business strategist and project manager for nonprofits focused on helping underserved communities. Keyla was raised by a single mother in an underserved neighborhood and has always been an advocate for communities that tend to be forgotten. “I went to a public school…
Sharon Washington is the founder and CEO of Sharon Washington Consulting, which provides sustainable strategies for institutions to promote equity, inclusion and belonging by cultivating racial literacy and anti-racism. The pathway to this work started when Sharon was just four years old and her family moved from Oakland, California to rural Oregon where Sharon’s family…
Position Title: Operations Associate Time Commitment: 35 hours/week; Full Time Reports To: Managing Director The Operations Associate will be a part of the Operations team. They will help the company complete internal projects that support strategic growth and operations. Additionally, the Operations Associate will be a key member of client-facing teams, have the opportunity to…
For sustainable funding your fundraising strategy has to align with your nonprofit’s mission. Learn the signs of mission creep & how to find the right donors.
Samra Ghermay is the Director of Development and Communications for the Sadie Nash Leadership Project, a nonprofit at the intersection of love and rigor that empowers young women and gender-expansive youth of color as agents for change in their lives and in the world. Growing up in Eritrea, East Africa, Samra watched her mother and…
Eshé Collins is the Senior Director of Programs at Jumpstart, a national early education organization dedicated to providing high-quality education access for all children. She also serves as Chair of the Atlanta Board of Education. From a young age, Eshé noticed the economic and educational disparities in her hometown. “You often hear about a tale…
Mia Dunlap a leadership and development director and coach at a remote nonprofit organization. She also works as a workshop facilitator and keynote speaker with her own company, Adversity Yields Audacity (AYA), an organization she founded in 2012 to empower young adults to use their adversity as a bridge to design the life of their…
Strengthen your nonprofit fundraising strategy & the impact of your mission. Learn why diversified funding is key to increasing your organization’s revenue.
Christina Carter-Grant is the Associate Director of the National Land Bank Network at the Center for Community Progress, the only national organization dedicated to the revitalization of vacant properties. “I grew up in a neighborhood that suffered from heavy disinvestment and deterioration,” Christina says. “I never knew what it was like to really feel safe…
Audrey Williamson is the Senior Manager of Talent Acquisition for KIPP Foundation, a nonprofit organization that recruits and trains outstanding educators for the network of free college-prep KIPP schools across the country. She also serves on the founding board of directors for Atlanta Unbound Academy, a K-8 public charter school dedicated to providing empowering, rigorous…
It’s our birthday! Since 2014, we have been growing, serving our clients and communities, and staying true to our values. During this special time we want to look back to meaningfully reflect on how we got here, celebrate our successes, assess our challenges, and discuss our visions for the future. To learn more about this,…
Jerri Taylor is the Director of Diversity in Career Pathways for Sustainable Forestry Initiative and Project Learning Tree. She leads a variety of mentorship programs to help diversify conservation and forestry careers and develops curricula that encourage BIPOC youth to gain a different perspective on the outdoors. “No matter what your background is or the…
2022 was a banner year for us here at Spark Point Fundraising! In addition to serving our clients, Spark Point doubled down on our commitment to our company values last year. Serving our NONPROFIT SECTOR Clients with INGENUITY We understand and value the nonprofit sector for its ability to change the world in meaningful and…
Our highest priority is delivering value, expanding capacity, and securing funding for our clients every single day. An important way we accomplish this is by staying up-to-date on fundraising trends, accessing landscape trends across our client base, and adapting to the ever-changing challenges. After evaluating the results of the Annual Report and gathering feedback from…
In October 2022, the Spark Point team gathered in Washington DC for our annual company retreat! For a remote company like us, retreats are essential to team bonding, enhancing collaboration, maintaining the relationships that help us do good work, and planning for the future. We started planning on August 10 – everything from the venue…
Stacia N. Frederick is the newly promoted Director of Volunteers and Community Engagement at Calvary Women’s Services, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending homelessness for women in DC. She is also an author and small-business owner of My Roll Dog Designs. “As a kid, I wanted to do good and save the world,” Stacia says….
Brianna Howard is the Lead Prevention Specialist at Everyone Home DC, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the holistic needs of individuals and families at risk of or are experiencing homelessness. “The goal is to keep people out of shelters because we know that going into a shelter can have some long-term consequences that are…
Lanre Williams-Ayedun is the Senior Vice President of International Programs for World Relief, a global Christian nonprofit organization that has supported refugee resettlement, humanitarian assistance and development programming in more than 100 countries. Working in social services was always Lanre’s plan. “My father is a development practitioner as well, so I grew up in this…
Jordyn White is the Senior Director of Leadership Development and Research at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization in the United States. She also co-founded and serves as General Manager of the Washington Prodigy women’s tackle football team. Being connected with community and helping others has always been important to…