Resources

It's official! Your organization received notice that you are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Congratulations! You're ready to impact change in your community and the world. You're probably considering ways to fund your programs, staffing, and resources. Grants are an excellent resource for helping finance your mission — after all, who doesn't like "free" money? Hold on just a sec. There's a critical piece of information you need to be clear about: grants should not be your first line of funding for your nonprofit.

Grant funding deadlines can sneak up like that, and you don't want to be the unfortunate staff or board member putting together a last-minute proposal and budget. Or worse, miss this funding opportunity. And while the mightiest nonprofit professional could develop and submit a proposal in whiplash time, who wants that stress? Instead, just like with other areas of fundraising, it's essential to be strategic about grant seeking.