Grant research. It’s one of those tasks that nonprofit professionals know they should be doing more regularly, but day-to-day responsibilities, unexpected rush projects, and the never-ending stream of “more urgent” tasks often push it to the backburner. Grant funding can be a critical source of income that many nonprofits can’t afford to ignore. And beyondContinue reading “6 Ways to Prioritize Grant Research (Without Burning Out)”
Tag Archives: grants
A Caterpillar, a Wizard, and a Scarf: What Makes a Story Stick
Nonprofits rarely struggle with having enough to say. Between program descriptions, outcome data, testimonials, and community needs assessments, there is no shortage of information. If anything, the challenge is the opposite: how do you decide what matters most—and how do you say it in a way that sticks? The answer has a lot to doContinue reading “A Caterpillar, a Wizard, and a Scarf: What Makes a Story Stick”
A New Chapter: Introducing Whole Story Solutions
This spring marks five years of building a business I couldn’t have fully imagined when I started—and the beginning of a new chapter. When I filed those initial papers back in 2021, I had a clear sense of the kind of work I wanted to do, but not a full picture of what it would become. I wanted to support nonprofitContinue reading “A New Chapter: Introducing Whole Story Solutions “
What a Financial Statement Says About Your Nonprofit’s Story
If you work at a nonprofit, chances are that financial statements will cross your desk in board packets, grant applications, and annual reports—even if finance isn’t officially part of your job. And yet, you may find yourself quietly wondering: Am I supposed to understand this? At Three Notch’d, we believe that nonprofit financial statements areContinue reading “What a Financial Statement Says About Your Nonprofit’s Story”
Five Grant Funding Trends Nonprofits Should Watch in 2026
Now that 2026 is underway, the contours of the grants landscape are becoming clearer. Here are five grant funding trends we’re watching closely this year. 1. Public funding uncertainty continues to influence foundation strategy. Ongoing volatility in federal and state funding remains a defining backdrop for philanthropic decision-making in 2026. Budget negotiations, shifting political priorities, and changes to public programs all ripple outward, especially forContinue reading “Five Grant Funding Trends Nonprofits Should Watch in 2026”
Want to Win Over Funders? Start Before You Walk in the Room
Landing a meeting with a prospective funder is exciting—and often nerve-wracking. Whether you’re sitting down with a foundation program officer, a corporate giving manager, or an individual donor, the preparation you do beforehand can make or break your chances of securing support. These days, nonprofits are facing a more competitive funding landscape, with more requests coming to fundersContinue reading “Want to Win Over Funders? Start Before You Walk in the Room “
Less Paperwork, More Partnership: Understanding Trust-Based Philanthropy
Have you noticed funders talking differently about their grants lately? Terms like “unrestricted giving,” “holistic support,” and “eliminating administrative burdens” are popping up in grant guidelines. What does it all mean? As a nonprofit professional, you know that the current funding landscape is uncertain, the way you describe your work is crucial, and connecting withContinue reading “Less Paperwork, More Partnership: Understanding Trust-Based Philanthropy”
The Funding Season Has Changed—Is Your Grant Language Ready?
Over the past several months, Three Notch’d has been talking a lot with our clients about language—specifically, how the political landscape might affect their grant applications and organizational communications. It’s a conversation happening in nonprofit boardrooms across the country, often in hushed tones and with genuine uncertainty about how to proceed. “Should we change howContinue reading “The Funding Season Has Changed—Is Your Grant Language Ready?”
5 Ways to Foster Warm Contacts with Funders
The best grant proposal is the one that a funder knows is coming. Sure, it’s tempting to shoot off as many applications as possible into cyberspace. However, “cold” proposals have much lower rates of success than those that begin with conversations with foundation staff. There are a few reasons for this. For starters, foundations receiveContinue reading “5 Ways to Foster Warm Contacts with Funders”
How to Navigate a “No” from a Grant Funder
Nobody likes getting rejected. But the reality is, especially in changing economic times, you may be hearing “no” more than you’re hearing “yes” on grant applications. The most important thing is to not take it personally. Your proposal could have been rejected for a number of reasons, none of which reflects on you as aContinue reading “How to Navigate a “No” from a Grant Funder”