Blackbaud

DECEMBER 12, 2024

Save budget talks for the evaluation phase. Consider your budget, research specific software providers , and decide if changing tools is the right decision for your organization. Stay within budget : What are the true costs of changing CRMs? Dream big and dream together as a team. Read contracts carefully to avoid surprises.

CRM

GrantNews

DECEMBER 11, 2024

Private foundations Community foundations Corporations State Government Local Government Federal Government Pro Tip: If your organization is small (budget under $1 million), new (in existence for less than five years), or has never received a grant larger than $45,000, smaller foundations will be your best funding sources.

Grant

Allied Grant Writers

DECEMBER 29, 2024

Introduction to Grant Budgets Understanding the financial aspects of grant applications, particularly budgeting, is essential for both small businesses and non-profits. A well-structured budget can significantly impact the chances of securing funding.

Budget

Planned Giving

FEBRUARY 24, 2025

This quick guide outlines approximate numbers for budgeting planned giving efforts across organizations of various sizes, offering actionable benchmarks to help secure financial sustainability. Targeting higher education primarily, the strategies here also apply to nonprofits with operating budgets between $1 million and $60 million.

Budget

Blackbaud

APRIL 7, 2025

Like your K12 private school budget. A well-crafted budget is essential for aligning financial resources with the strategic goals of your private school, and with the right processes and tools, it doesnt have to be stressful. Your school may have multiple budgets, each with a different purpose.

Budget

Allied Grant Writers

DECEMBER 23, 2024

Planning and Strategy (5-10 Hours) Defining project objectives, budgets, and deliverables. Budget Justification: 3-5 hours. Supporting Documents: 2-5 hours. Submission (2-5 Hours) Preparing submission documents. Outlining the proposal structure. Writing the Proposal (20-40 Hours) Executive Summary: 2-3 hours.

Grant Writing

Allied Grant Writers

DECEMBER 26, 2024

Artists should document their qualifications and compare them with the criteria outlined in the grant descriptions to ensure alignment. Provide a Budget : Include a detailed budget that outlines how grant money will be used. Detailed Budget Shows understanding of costs and financial planning.

Grant

Blackbaud

FEBRUARY 13, 2025

Lack of an Audit Trail Spreadsheets are easily editable, and without proper documentation, it can be difficult to maintain an audit trail. Organizations need a system that provides a clear and documented history of changes to ensure transparency and accountability.

Grant

Think and Ink Grants

NOVEMBER 30, 2024

Budgeting and Financial Justifications An accurate and detailed budget serves as a financial blueprint for your proposal. Having a sound budget isn't just about numbers; it’s also about building trust. A well-structured budget reflects your planning and operational capabilities. Let's chat Get.Grants.Better.®

Grant Writing

Blackbaud

JUNE 12, 2025

Important activities: Gather necessary documents, develop narratives, build budgets, and secure internal approvals. Bonus Tip: Capture all completed applications and accompanying documentation in both your fundraising and accounting systems as attachments.

Grant

Candid

JUNE 5, 2025

Building a nonprofit budget can be intimidating, not only for new projects or organizations but for all nonprofits when the fundraising outlook is uncertain. Yet, a challenging environment makes developing a strong, credible budget even more important. Here’s how to get started: The basics of building a nonprofit budget.

Budget

Allied Grant Writers

DECEMBER 25, 2024

Preparing Required Documents : Each grant may have specific requirements. Common documents include: Project proposals Budget plans Letters of recommendation Filling Out the Application Form : Applications generally require the submission of detailed information about the project or purpose of the grant.

Grant Writing

Allied Grant Writers

DECEMBER 25, 2024

Familiarity with the grant process, as outlined in resources like grant writing examples and budgeting for grants , can also enhance the overall application quality. This preparation involves gathering the required documents, developing a comprehensive grant proposal, and budgeting for the funds requested.

Grant Writing

Blackbaud

JANUARY 31, 2025

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memorandum to all executive departments and agencies requiring that Federal agencies identify and review Federal financial assistance programs and temporarily pause funding for these programs. Ensure this is documented internally so that your entire team is communicating the same message.

Funding

Allied Grant Writers

DECEMBER 25, 2024

Two essential components of a compelling proposal are writing clear and concise objectives and effective budget planning and justification. Budget Planning and Justification A well-prepared budget is vital to any grant proposal. The budget should reflect all necessary expenses to ensure successful project execution.

Grant Writing

DH Leonard Consulting & Grant Writing Services

DECEMBER 6, 2024

Effective grant management goes beyond tracking funds in your CRM its also about budgeting effectively, prioritizing programs that need financial support, and delivering timely reports to grantmakers. Many grantmakers request a proposed budget along with grant applications to show youre thinking about these goals from the start.

Finance

Grant Professionals Association

JULY 30, 2025

Documentation of Implementation, Progress, and Results. Anyone who has participated in an audit of any kind understands the critical importance of accurate and easily accessible documentation. Similarly, financial reports serve as clear documentation of spending as well as changes to the original budget.

Grant

Candid

JANUARY 8, 2025

In a generation very well-documented to be suffering with anxiety, Half the Story is at the leading edge of the digital well-being movement for teens. There are great organizations already doing the work of cultivating and promoting leadership among girls around the world, such as GirlUp and Shes the First.

Pass-Through

Grant Professionals Association

JULY 29, 2025

Does it clearly explain why each budget item is necessary? Document your answers to these questions, as these will become your internal notes for defending your proposal if auditors have some later as well. Make sure finance, program staff, and leadership all understand the proposal and budget inside and out.

IT

Allied Grant Writers

DECEMBER 26, 2024

Prepare Required Documents Gather all necessary documents, including financial statements, project proposals, and letters of support. This involves strategic budgeting and financial planning, as well as implementing thorough reporting and accountability measures. Utilize tools and databases for finding relevant opportunities.

Grant

Blackbaud

JULY 18, 2025

They come with strict compliance requirements, detailed reporting obligations, and potential penalties that could result in claw backs if you aren’t careful with your spending and documentation. Here are the key roles for your finance office throughout the government grant lifecycle. Check out our grant compliance checklist.

Government

Grant Writing Made Easy

JUNE 25, 2025

Funders review hundreds of applications, and issues such as unclear objectives, vague budgets, or an ineffective statement of need can easily push your proposal to the bottom of the pile. Error #3: Budget Doesn’t Add Up The Issue Your budget tells funders whether your plan is realistic and whether you can be trusted with their money.

Proposal

CauseVox

DECEMBER 12, 2024

It is sometimes hard to keep track of your correspondence with donors when it isnt scheduled or, at the very least, documented. That being said, there are a number of topics that should be addressed in the first draft of this living document. It isnt meant to be a static document. Remember that this will be a living document.

Calendar

DH Leonard Consulting & Grant Writing Services

JULY 8, 2025

Budgets also need to be realistic. Ensure that your project is a good fit, your budget is believable, and your proposed reach aligns with your requested funds. ” TLDR: Have someone unfamiliar with your project and the proposal documents review your application. Reviewers can spot inconsistencies.

Applicant

Strategic Grants

JUNE 18, 2025

The prospective funder x seeks to support xyz and requires strong justification around budget. Think about the security of your data and do your research as to what tool is right for your organisation’s needs and budgets. As an example: “For this prompt – you are an experienced grant writer applying for funding for x.

AI

Center for Major Gifts

JANUARY 25, 2025

Additionally, the method fosters transparency and accountability since every conversation and decision is documented. From here, create a shortlist of donors worthy of immediate cultivation, documenting each prospects specific interests and any relevant relationship insights to guide your next moves.

Management

Grant Writer Team

APRIL 17, 2025

Collect Supporting Data and Documentation Back up your proposal with relevant data. Build a Realistic Budget Create a clear, itemized budget for the project. Outline Your Project and Its Purpose Begin by clearly outlining the project and its main goals. This helps your grant writer stay focused on what matters most.

Grant

DH Leonard Consulting & Grant Writing Services

NOVEMBER 8, 2024

This inaugural installment of the series, Active Voice vs. Passive Voice, examines this grammatical choice that arises occasionally as we write grant documents. Consider the sentence “The budget was overspent” in contrast with “We overspent the budget.” Each sentence has the necessary parts: they are “not incorrect.”

Grant Writing

GrantNews

JANUARY 9, 2025

Unfeasible Budget: The higher the funding amount, the more stringent the rules. Missing Items: Have all documentation ready and attached before you submit. These are typically things like a budget, a list of board members, and letters of support. The best course of action is to always ensure you meet eligibility requirements.

Applicant

Blackbaud

MARCH 31, 2025

These can include disbursement timelines, budget allocation, and project progress. If a question or issue arises down the road, youll have the documentation to back up your decisions. This also allows team members to provide timely and accurate responses to grantee inquiries, improving overall relationships.

Grant

Allied Grant Writers

JUNE 8, 2025

Each structure offers unique advantages based on an organization’s needs and budget constraints. A nonprofit can make better budget decisions for grant writing services by knowing these payment models. This setup helps everyone – organizations can budget exactly, while writers get rewarded for working efficiently.

Grant

Allied Grant Writers

DECEMBER 25, 2024

Key elements of grant guidelines may include: Eligibility criteria (who can apply) Project scope and objectives Required documents (e.g., Budget Details how funding should be allocated. This section outlines the essential elements of a grant proposal and offers valuable insights into crafting a persuasive document.

Grant Writing

Grant Writing Made Easy

JUNE 23, 2025

Across the nonprofit sector, countless small nonprofits and grassroots organizations do life-changing work with limited staff, tight budgets, and never enough daily hours. Instead, seek out funders who explicitly welcome first-time applicants, smaller budgets , or grassroots initiatives. You’re not alone. Start local. and availability.

Grant Writing

Allied Grant Writers

DECEMBER 25, 2024

Budget A detailed financial plan outlining all expenses and how grant funds will be allocated. For budgeting tips, refer to budgeting for grants. Appendices Additional supporting documents, such as letters of support or organizational charts. For detailed information on budgeting, see our article on budgeting for grants.

Grant Writing

Millionaire Grant Lady

JULY 2, 2025

Realistic, Approved Budgets When you submit your budgets, whether for a program, a capital campaign, or your organization, make sure that your use of funds is clear, explainable, and reasonably allocated. You will also need to gather essential information, including data and financial documentation.

Grant Writing

Center for Major Gifts

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

Why Multi-Year Commitments Matter When donors pledge support for multiple years, nonprofits gain a predictable revenue stream that simplifies budget forecasting and program planning. These documents outline the total pledge amount, payment schedule, and designated purpose of funds.

Proposal

Allied Grant Writers

DECEMBER 25, 2024

Prepare a Proposal Plan: Develop a comprehensive plan detailing the project’s objectives, strategy, and budget. Write the Grant Proposal: Create a well-structured document that outlines the project’s significance, implementation plan, and requested funding.

Grant Writing