Practically overnight, we were all forced to reinvent our fundraising and community engagement events. COVID-19 quickly changed the landscape for how we raise critical funds for our organizations, engage our board and committee members, and meet with donors and prospective donors, propelling us into some unknown virtual waters.
While many foundation funders have allowed for more general operating requests due to the current pandemic, funders overall still favor project-based support. I often hear distress from nonprofit leaders unable to raise as much money for salaries and day-to-day operations—the real costs that allow your organizations to run and your programs to flourish. Our clients often ask whether there are ways to incorporate indirect costs (also called overhead or administrative costs) into project budgets for grant applications, and if so, how to do that. Here are two ways to approach it:
Last year, a fledgling nonprofit asked if we would be interested in receiving an RFP to work on a capital campaign. After reviewing their business plan, I responded with the questions below. If you and your board members are contemplating bricks and mortar to fulfill your mission, these questions may be relevant to you, too – especially considering the current funding environment.
On April 14th, Chris Strayer, Executive Vice President of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce hosted a webinar titled “Nonprofit and Community Resources” featuring Leah King, President and CEO, United Way of Tarrant County and Mitch Whitten, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Strategy, Visit Fort Worth. We listened in and gleaned these excellent tips and resources for you.
