Chelsea Brown is the Founder and Principal Strategist at The Black Mill, a Black woman-owned firm that supports grassroots organizations and minority-led nonprofits, businesses, and individuals in need of strategic nonprofit management. “This is the brainchild of being a little frustrated with philanthropy and the ways that minority-led organizations and grassroots organizations were or were…
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Hi friend! As busy grant submission months approach, it’s the perfect time to set yourself up for success. Researching funders who share your mission, organizing deadlines in a grants calendar, and setting phased goals can make a big difference in streamlining the application process When budgeting, ensure every program expense aligns with grant requirements, including indirect…
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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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Sierra Morris is the Manager of Programming at Live It Learn It, a DC-based nonprofit dedicated to creating experiential learning opportunities for students. “We work with Title I schools, which means that about 90% of the students are having free or reduced lunch,” Sierra says. “We take them to different historical sites, museums, and nature…
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Crafting an effective fundraising strategy is challenging enough without the right organizational tools. That’s why a detailed program budget spreadsheet is essential for any nonprofit. Breaking down program expenses in a spreadsheet clarifies your funding needs for each initiative. With the right budget figures in hand, you can craft a focused campaign to keep your…
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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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Position Title: Fundraising Strategy Apprentice – Paid Time Commitment: 20 hours/week; Part-time or contracted Reports To: Director of Fundraising Strategy Core Work Hours: Spark Point’s core working hours are Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 6 PM ET, with client-facing meetings occurring, primarily, Tuesdays through Thursdays. This position is part-time and a work schedule…
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Whether direct mail or DMs, it’s important to know how to communicate with donors of different generations. The individual giving market is the largest and most flexible segment of philanthropy available to nonprofits, with the Silent Generation (born 1925-1945) and Baby Boomers (1946-1964) making up 70% of giving. That means there are multitudes of ways…
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A Theory of Change (ToC) isn’t just a statement about the approach you will take to achieve your organization’s ultimate goals; it’s a vehicle for driving systemic change as it describes how you’re going to get it done. It’s the fuel for focusing your organization’s programming and an accelerator for an enduring fundraising strategy. As…
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