Legends Grants and Proposal Writing Consultancy’s Post

I’ve learned a lot from writing grants, and it’s taught me more than just how to craft a proposal. I’ve picked up key lessons about preparation and leadership that apply to any big goal - whether you're leading a nonprofit, a team, or working on your own project. 💡 Here’s my checklist for making sure you're is ready to achieve something great: 1️⃣ 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗜𝘁 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿): Whether you’re running a nonprofit, a small business, or a personal project, having a clear mission is everything. What’s your purpose? Why does it matter? People - whether funders or partners - want to connect with your “why.” Make sure your mission is front and center in everything you do. 2️⃣ 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿: This is a big one for nonprofits, but it’s just as important for individuals and small businesses. Being financially transparent and organized builds trust. 📊 Whether it’s managing your nonprofit’s IRS Form 990 or your personal budget, clear financials tell people you’re responsible and capable of managing resources. And let’s be real—peace of mind about money never hurts! 3️⃣ 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴: In grant writing, nonprofits need to prove they’re making a difference, but this applies to everyone! What’s the impact of your work? What value are you bringing to your community, clients, or team? Whether through data or personal stories, proving your impact builds credibility around your mission. 🌍 4️⃣ 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: Dreaming big is great, but you need a plan. What’s your roadmap? For nonprofits, this means detailed program plans and budgets, but for anyone, it’s about setting clear goals, creating actionable steps, and figuring out the resources you need. Plans make dreams achievable. 🗺️ 5️⃣ 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲): Leadership is about inspiring confidence in your vision. Whether you’re leading a nonprofit, a small team, or yourself, strong leadership is key. 💪 And here’s something I love about the nonprofit world: many funders like to see community members in leadership roles. When the people benefiting from your work have a say in the direction, it strengthens trust and impact. In any setting, involving the right people and voices leads to better results. 🙌 ✨ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲-𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁? Let’s share our tips and make sure we’re all ready for success together! 💬👇 #DoMoreGood #FirstLightGrants #Leadership #Impact #PurposeDriven #PersonalGrowth #PlanningForSuccess #NonprofitLeadership #Organization #GrantWriting

High Quality Grant Writing that delivers your funding In 2025 #FundraiseWithAllwell Week 28. This December, #FundraiseWithAllwell is sharing the most important tools that your nonprofit needs to ensure fundraising success in 2025. Make it a date as we have done for the last 28 weeks or 7 months, by 9 a.m. in Lagos or 11 a.m. in Nairobi. We are right in the middle of the peak of the fundraising season. From Giving Tuesday to year-end giving to several donor deadlines between now and early March 2025, there are several opportunities to acquire supporters that invest in your mission 😊 . In 2025, you need a more strategic approach to grant writing that actually secures the funding needed to scale your impact. Over the last 8 years, I have secured more than $10m in funding from a variety of donors for local African nonprofits, American INGOs based at their Washington D.C. headquarters, INGO country offices in West Africa and American monitoring and evaluation firms working in East, Central and Southern Africa ‼️ In 2025, I am offering your nonprofit an exciting opportunity to work with me for 12 months to secure grant funding to power your work 📌. Here is what is in it for you when you take advantage of my grant writing services in 2025. 1️⃣ Source for the right funding opportunities for you. You don't need to throw your hat into the ring for every opportunity you come across 🤦♂️ . Not every funding call is the right fit for you. Using my customized Go/No Go criteria for your nonprofit, I source for and screen open opportunities to determine which ones are the best fit for you. This improves your chances of success and ensures alig 2️⃣ Diversify your grant writing applications. I always advise that a nonprofit avoids relying on just one type of donor as it makes you dependent on them thereby compromising your sustainability. I ensure to diversify my grant funding applications by including less utilised funding sources such as corporations and foundations. This enhances your ability to ensure full recovery of your overhead costs and build your operating reserves 💯 . 3️⃣ Leverage my network to find ‘hidden’ grant writing opportunities. I know that you are constantly searching through open-source and premium databases seeking open funding calls 😆 . However, some of the best funding is rarely advertised. I utilize my extensive global philanthropic networks and understanding of the funding landscape to seek out these unsolicited opportunities and position you to receive the funding. 4️⃣ Deliver high-quality grant writing. I deploy my extensive grant writing experience and strong technical understanding of the donor requirements to provide your best shot at getting funded. Only TWO slots left to work exclusively with me to fundraise for your NGO in 2025. Your mission is counting on it! Book a FREE 30 minute Fundraising Discovery Call here https://lnkd.in/dmSjU5qj.  

Need Help Crafting Winning Proposals?✨ At Eternal Sparks Consulting, we believe that a strong proposal is your bridge to meaningful support. Our goal is to help non-profits create proposals that truly connect with funders and make a lasting impact. 1️⃣ Keep the Purpose Crystal Clear Funders need to know exactly why your project matters and how it aligns with their goals. Every proposal we work on starts with a clear, focused purpose. In fact, 87% of funders are more likely to support proposals with a clear mission that aligns with their priorities. Keeping it focused helps funders feel confident in your project. 2️⃣ Prove Your Impact with Real Data Funders want to see tangible results. Proposals that include measurable outcomes have a 30% higher success rate because they show funders the real difference their support can make. We make sure to include clear numbers and specific goals, like the number of people impacted or community changes, so funders know their support will create real change. 3️⃣ Tell a Simple, Powerful Story Data is essential, but a compelling story is what makes your proposal memorable. 56% of funders prefer proposals with storytelling elements, as it creates a human connection. We make sure to share a story that shows who will benefit and why it matters, making it easy for funders to connect emotionally with the cause. 4️⃣ Use Clear, Simple Language Complex language can make a proposal hard to follow. 70% of funders say they prefer straightforward language that makes the project easy to understand. We avoid jargon and keep the language simple, so the message is clear, and funders can quickly grasp what the project is about and why it’s important. 5️⃣ Highlight the Strengths of Your Team Funders are investing in your team as much as your project. Proposals that showcase team experience and skills have a 25% higher chance of approval because they build trust. We emphasize the team’s qualifications, showing that capable people are behind the project and ready to make it a success. 6️⃣ Follow Up to Build Relationships A strong proposal is the start of a relationship. Following up after submitting shows funders that you’re committed. In fact, 35% of successful proposals involve some follow-up communication. We encourage follow-ups to answer questions, keep funders engaged, and build a long-term connection that could lead to ongoing support. ──────────────────── Repost 🔁 to help your network. ✔️ Helping clients raise over $13 million ✔️ Working closely with non-profits and social enterprises ✔️ Securing grants and managing donors ✔️ Crafting personalized fundraising strategies ✔️ Learning from real-world experiences and client feedback These essentials capture our experienced key takeaways. Follow @eternalsparksconsulting to learn more. #WinningProposals #NonProfitGrowth #EternalSparksConsulting #FundraisingSuccess #MakeADifference

𝗔𝘀 𝗮 𝗖𝗘𝗢, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁? ◽ A Wealth System in a nonprofit organization is a #structured approach that supports financial sustainability and growth. ☑️ It includes various strategies and tools to enhance the organization's wealth and resources, ensuring long-term success and #impact. ◽Embracing Commercial Practices for Nonprofits ☑️ To thrive in a competitive environment, #nonprofits are adopting professional business practices. ☑️This means developing products or services that align with their mission while also generating revenue. ➡️ By adopting a 'pro-style' approach, nonprofits can apply commercial strategies and professional management techniques to the nonprofit sector. ✅ Key Components of a Wealth System: 🇦. Financial Evaluation: Regular reviews of income, expenses, and cash flow to understand the financial health of the organization. 🇧. System Analysis: Implementing efficient systems for managing #operations, from donor databases to project management tools. 🇨 . Marketing: Creating persuasive messages and #campaigns to #attract #donors, #volunteers, and public support. 🇩. Brand Image: Developing a strong brand and reputation that reflects the organization's #values and #mission. 🇪.Sustainability Research: Researching to identify sustainable practices and sources of funding. 🇫. Events: Organizing events that raise funds and increase #visibility and support for the #organization. 📈 As a Member of the Board thinks about: ➖Is Your Nonprofit Equipped with a Wealth System? YES or NOT? . Nonprofit organizations rely on #prosperity systems, which involve careful #planning and #investment #strategies to maintain a steady flow of resources. . These systems create a strong financial foundation that can withstand #economic #changes and support the organization's #goals. . To continue making a meaningful impact, nonprofits must adopt a professional approach and use a variety of #financial tools and #strategies. For a deeper understanding, consider exploring resources on social #entrepreneurship, transforming #nonprofits into social enterprises, and contributing to equitable #prosperity. _____✨ 1. Follow Luis Saro to maximize your LinkedIn 2. Click the 🛎️ to get notified about new posts 3. Like, comment and ♻️ repost bellow 4. 🆓️ Subscribe to my Newsletter: "LEADING with PURPOSE" https://lnkd.in/dJfa6bQq _______ #️⃣ #EthicalLeadership | #Insights | #LeadershipDevelopment | #CEOCommunity | #DataInsights | #InsightsReport | #AnalyticsInsights |#Storytellers | #DigitalStorytelling | #LeadGeneration | #Cloud | #DigitalMarketing | #DataScience | #PersonalBranding | #Millionaire | #BrandStorytelling | #NOHE | #StorytellingInBusiness | #Storytelling | #ContentStrategy | #InspiringLeadership | #ImpactfulCommunication |

𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙙? Think again. With nonprofit funding, it's tempting to jump on the latest grant bandwagon. There's a common misconception that grants are FREE money. You couldn't be more wrong! You may not have to pay it back but there are stipulations and requirements that come with a grant (𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵)! This approach might be setting your organization up for failure. Here's why: 1. 𝘿𝙞𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙈𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 - Tailoring projects to fit the hottest funding opportunity can stray your focus from your core mission. Remember, mission drift 🚗 is a silent killer of nonprofit impact. 2. 𝙄𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 - The newest trends attract the most applicants, skyrocketing competition and decreasing your chances of success. Sometimes, the road less traveled offers better odds. 3. 𝙎𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙨 - Trend-based funding is often short-lived. Building your programs around these fleeting opportunities can leave you in a lurch when the trend fades and the funding dries up. 4. 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚 𝘿𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣 - The chase consumes resources. Time and energy spent adapting to the latest trend could be better invested in strengthening your organization's foundation and exploring diverse, stable funding sources. So, what's the alternative? ✨ 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 - Focus on grants that align with your long-term vision and mission. ✨ 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗼 - Build resilience by diversifying your funding sources. Don't put all your eggs in the trend basket. ✨ 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 - Engage with your community to understand their needs deeply. Often, the most sustainable funding opportunities are those that address genuine, long-term community needs. Chasing the latest grant trend might seem like a shortcut to funding success, but it's a risky strategy that can divert your nonprofit from its mission and jeopardize its sustainability. Before you jump on the next big thing, pause and consider: Is this in line with our mission and the needs of those we serve? 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀? Share your experiences and strategies for sustainable funding in the comments below.

Nonprofits are at the forefront of addressing global challenges, but outdated grant management systems hinder their impact. As demands for transparency and accountability rise, it's crucial to embrace a tech-driven transformation. By adopting a strategic approach—focusing on user-centric design, process optimization, and robust requirements gathering—nonprofits can enhance efficiency, scalability, and visibility. Let’s innovate for a better tomorrow, ensuring our mission-driven work makes the difference it should. Read More: https://lnkd.in/eNn7xBWQ #NonprofitTech #GrantsManagement #Innovation #Impact Rajarshi Chatterjee

Is Your Nonprofit Ready for 2025? Now that we’re well into Q4, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about the year ahead. Strategic planning isn’t just about setting goals. It’s about building a roadmap that helps you overcome challenges and take advantage of new opportunities. Here's how starting your planning now can set your nonprofit up for success in 2025: ✔️ Review & Reflect: What worked well in 2024, and what could be improved? Now is the time to assess your programs, funding streams, and impact metrics. ✔️ Set Clear Priorities: Align your goals with your mission and identify where to focus your energy and resources. From fundraising strategies to community engagement, make sure every step you take serves your larger vision. ✔️ Adapt & Innovate: The nonprofit sector is always evolving. Preparing for 2025 means being flexible and ready to adapt. What trends are emerging? How can your organization stay ahead of the curve? ✔️ Budget & Resource Planning: Plan your budget and secure resources for the year ahead. Ensuring you have the funds to support your mission is critical for achieving sustainable impact. A well-thought-out strategy can transform your nonprofit’s potential and set the stage for a successful new year. Have questions or looking for guidance to jumpstart your 2025 planning? Divine Writing & Consulting Solutions LLC is here to help! Let’s connect and make next year your most impactful one yet!

As a nonprofit leader for over 20 years, I rarely had the luxury of time. I would rush from one task to another and from one meeting to the next, always wishing for a moment to stop and think deeply about our organization’s problems or prepare effectively for meetings. On my worst days, I felt like I was letting down my team, board, and service partners because I wasn’t able to provide them with my best ideas. It feels incredible now to be able to help Extra Good’s partners with the breathing room necessary to show up with their best thoughts and solutions. Here’s a glimpse of how we help organizations be their best selves and serve their communities impactfully. #nonprofit #nonprofitleadership #operationalexcellence #operations

My clients are all in need of operating/capacity-building costs. I say, even to Funding for Good or some other foundation, be an angel investor into Pro Financial Fitness so that we can solve our client's problems. It will be more efficient and effective for PFF to solve everything instead of Funding for Good or foundations providing each client a million dollars. https://lnkd.in/eFrdN-E2 When it comes to sustainability, some grants are better than others. Usually, your first grant from a foundation will be a one-year project grant. These grants fund very specific activities and often have limited overhead rates. This means most of the funds go to direct project costs. If you have too many project grants and not enough unrestricted funding, you can end up in what’s called the “nonprofit starvation cycle.” But you don’t have to be stuck in this cycle! The most powerful thing you can do as a grantee is ask your program officer whether they are open to other types of funding, such as multi-year commitments, general support, or capacity-building grants. Even if they say no for this year, they might just be ready to commit in the future. To help you think through your grant renewal strategies, here are different types of funding to consider requesting: https://lnkd.in/eFrdN-E2 hashtag #nonprofit hashtag #fundingforgood hashtag #grants hashtag #funding hashtag #strategies

🔗 𝗖̲𝗼̲𝗹̲𝗹̲𝗮̲𝗯̲𝗼̲𝗿̲𝗮̲𝘁̲𝗶̲𝗻̲𝗴̲ ̲𝗳̲𝗼̲𝗿̲ ̲𝗦̲𝘂̲𝗰̲𝗰̲𝗲̲𝘀̲𝘀̲:̲ ̲𝗧̲𝗵̲𝗲̲ ̲𝗣̲𝗼̲𝘄̲𝗲̲𝗿̲ ̲𝗼̲𝗳̲ ̲𝗣̲𝗮̲𝗿̲𝘁̲𝗻̲𝗲̲𝗿̲𝘀̲𝗵̲𝗶̲𝗽̲𝘀̲ ̲𝗶̲𝗻̲ ̲𝗚̲𝗿̲𝗮̲𝗻̲𝘁̲ ̲𝗪̲𝗿̲𝗶̲𝘁̲𝗶̲𝗻̲𝗴̲ 🏆 In the world of grant writing, the adage "It takes a village" couldn’t be more accurate. Successful grants often stem from strong partnerships with stakeholders who bring diverse expertise, resources, and perspectives to the table. But how do you build these essential relationships? 🔍 1. 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀: Seek out organizations and individuals who share your mission and can complement your strengths. Whether it’s community leaders, fellow nonprofits, or government agencies, alignment in goals is key. 🤝 2. 𝗙𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Regular, transparent communication builds trust. Establish clear channels for dialogue and make sure every partner feels heard and valued throughout the grant process. 🎯 3. 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀: Collaborate on resource pooling—whether it's sharing data, expertise, or networks. This not only strengthens your grant proposal but also increases your capacity to deliver impactful programs. 📈 4. 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Funders love to see evidence of past success. Highlighting previous partnerships and their outcomes can enhance your proposal’s credibility. 💡 𝘗𝘳𝘰 𝘛𝘪𝘱: 𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘴! 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴, 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵. At First Light Grant Solutions, we believe that strong partnerships are the backbone of every successful grant. We’ve seen firsthand how collaboration can amplify impact, turning good ideas into great realities. Ready to build your next winning partnership? Let’s connect and explore how we can work together to secure the funding you need. Comment below or message me directly to start the conversation! 📣 What strategies have worked for you in building strong partnerships for grant success? Share your experiences below! 👇 #GrantWriting #NonprofitSuccess #PartnershipsMatter #CollaborationForGood #FundingSuccess #NonprofitLeadership #SocialImpact #CommunityEngagement #StakeholderCollaboration #ImpactfulPartnerships #FundingStrategies #GrantManagement #NonprofitGrowth #FirstLightGrants #DoMoreGood