Article by Robyn Zimmann I know, you’re thinking “Jeez Louise, I’m barely through with 2021’s giving season, can I please take a break?” No. No, you cannot take a break. Or, let’s just say your break depends on how…
By Robyn Zimmann Senior Consultant at Cain Nonprofit Solutions It’s that time of year when all the annual fund letters from various organizations are starting to pile up on my desk. What have I already done this year? Turns…
It wasn’t that long ago that headlines were announcing that email is “dead”, “dying”, “obsolete” and “so 90’s”. Well, there are over 4 billion email users with in-boxes containing an average of 200 emails, so let’s just for fun pretend…
I am so excited to introduce to you the newest member of the CNPS team: Robyn Zimmann, Senior Consultant. Robyn is someone I've known and worked with for years and for whom I have immense respect. She actually used to…
Whether you’re a newbie to grant writing or you’re a veteran in the nonprofit grant writing arena, no one should ever really be done improving and learning. After all, it’s a journey, right? Although I think I’m a pretty…
The National Endowment for the Arts (or “NEA”, for short) is the Federal funding agency for arts and culture organizations in the United States. They have several grant opportunities each year and most arts nonprofits usually want a piece of…
All grant proposals are different. Some have strict requirements and lengthy lists of questions. Others ask very few questions and don’t require much in the way of hard metrics. But regardless of what type of proposals you may be working…
Last year many arts and culture nonprofits struggling to cope with closures and restrictions in the wake of COVID-19 were able to take advantage of multiple relief grants and funding, chief among them funds made available through the CARE Act…
Looking for the biggest key trends in grant writing for 2021? Look no further. It’s almost the New Year (thank goodness and good riddance to the dumpster fire that is 2020) and that means a whole new year of grants!…
This week I'm doing something a little different. A “Throwback Tuesday” post to one of my most popular grant writing guides. Yeah, yeah, I know “Throwback Tuesday” isn't a thing, but this week Thursday is also Thanksgiving. That's a cruddy…
Lately, I’ve engaged in multiple conversations with fellow grant professionals and colleagues in the nonprofit space about the issues and challenges facing our country right now. From #MeToo to BLM to COVID-19 to the 2020 election, many things are changing…
The term ‘SEO’ stands for Search Engine Optimization and it's one of the most important things that goes into creating and maintaining a successful website. In fact, SEO probably impacts you everyday. Every time you search for something on…
Most grant makers require you to provide a needs statement as part of your grant proposal. And since “need” tends to look quite a bit different for an arts and culture nonprofit than for a nonprofit specializing in things…
Writing With a Mission is available for purchase on Amazon now! Bruce Ripley and I are so excited to announce that after many months of writing, editing, and dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, our third book has gone on…
My new book, Writing With a Mission: How to Create a Successful Career as a Grant Writer” will be available in just a few short days (September 9th). This book is the book that Bruce (my co-author) and I wish…
Many people are re-evaluating career options right now. Currently, many employers are laying off or furloughing workers, parents are trying to juggle working from home and homeschooling, and both personal and business finances may be in precarious situations. With all…
It looks like COVID-19 may be here for a while, which will likely force arts and culture nonprofits to continue finding new ways to reach their audiences and patrons. Since this means that in-person gatherings and programs will be…
This past March, COVID-19 shut down much of the country and arts and culture organizations with it since you can’t really fill concert halls, theaters, museums, and classrooms without putting your patrons (and staff) at risk. But now it’s…
The NEA has released details on the next round of funding for their ‘Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Program: International Indemnity' grant. Although only certain organizations and objects are eligible, if your organization is a museum or has an interest…
Most of my blog posts are how-to's where I walk you through how and why to do something related to grant writing, marketing, or web development. But this blog post, and this month, are going to be a little different.…
During the Coronavirus quarantine, I’ve lost track of how many Skype calls and Zoom webinars I’ve participated in, but let’s just say it’s a lot. Some have been client calls. Some have been calls with colleagues. And some have…
I don’t know about you, but I need a dang break. The last few weeks of being quarantined and navigating this COVID-19 landscape have been incredibly draining. I have more work than I can handle, panicked clients who are…
Candid’s Foundation Directory Online (often called ‘FDO’, for short) is one of the many available options for conducting online grants research and creating a grant strategy. However, in order to use it you must have a subscription and that,…
I had planned to write this blog post on becoming a grant consultant long before the COVID-19 crisis hit, but now this topic seems even more timely than it did a month ago. Last year my business partner, Bruce…
Things are incredibly strange and scary right now. Everything seems uncertain, our routines, have been upended, and on top of it all most of us are worried about the wellbeing of our organizations as well. As you probably…
Reading and sifting through the information in 990s is a big part of grant writing (or at least, it should be). But most of us aren’t born with the innate ability, let alone the willpower, to read and interpret long…
Grant writing case statements are a beautiful thing. If you’ve never used one for grant writing before, it’s time you started and this blog post is going to show you how useful they are and exactly how to incorporate…
In our last blog post, we talked about how to implement the Pareto Principle in your grant writing work. Today, we’re talking about your nonprofit’s website and how you could really think of this post as a Pareto Principle, Part…
In January, most of us are full of optimism and plans for the year ahead. That’s great, but as the year rolls along and builds up steam most of us start to be pulled in lots of different directions.…
Say goodbye to 2019 and hello to 2020. This year promises to bring big things in a variety of arenas – politics, science, and technology, just to name a few. But I also hope that it will usher in…
2019 has flown by, hasn’t it? As the year comes to a close I’ve been engaged in tracking my progress, my goals, and my stats from 2019 as well as looking ahead to determine what I want to accomplish…
Have you ever watched the TV show “Doomsday Preppers”? It was on the National Geographic channel from 2011 -2014 and showcased American families who believed that Doomsday (or at least hard times) were coming and were preparing accordingly by…
As a nonprofit pro, you’re probably interested in making sure that your grants, social media, and marketing strategies are as effective as possible. Luckily, there’s one secret to getting all of them right. Mastering this one thing will align your…
Preparation is vital in grant writing. Fail to plan and you’ve virtually guaranteed that something important will fall through the cracks. In my time as a grant writer, consultant, and mentor I’ve seen otherwise competent and well-meaning professionals miss…
This is the second episode of my Program Notes series, where I interview professionals working in arts and culture nonprofits from across the United States. These are dedicated pros who are actually working in the field and have their fingers…
“Grant Readiness” refers to how competitive a nonprofit organization is for grant awards as well as how ready they are to manage a grant award should they get one. It’s a really broad topic which touches on almost every…
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – you just can’t get away with not having a website in today’s world. Your patrons, donors, and funders expect it and hey – how else are most people going to…
Most nonprofit employees I know are faced with a common problem: too much work to get done, not enough time to do it, and all of it’s important. Sound familiar? I’m betting it does, and these problems are compounded by…
Welcome to the Program Notes Series! This is the first in what I hope will become a regular series I’m calling ‘Program Notes’, wherein I talk with leaders in the arts and culture nonprofit world to discuss pressing issues, current…
One of the most common things I hear from clients and readers is that they struggle to get consistent engagement with their followers on social media. Many of them even have substantial numbers of followers, but for whatever reason, those…
First and foremost, Happy 4th of July! I’m very aware that today is a holiday and you probably have limited time in between barbecues, dips in the pool, or lighting off fireworks to read this. Or you’re reading it sometime after…
Most of what I write is intended for people working at arts and culture nonprofits. Executive directors, development staff, marketing managers, program directors…this is typically who I’m talking to. Today I’m going to write something a little bit different. This…
It’s finally here! After many months of writing, editing, late nights, and tons of excitement, our 2nd book is here! Bruce Ripley and I are thrilled to say that “Granted: How to Break Into Freelance Grant Writing and Build a…
Something I hear often from nonprofits that are newer to grant seeking or are maybe working on their own for the first time, without the benefit of a consultant or specialist staff member, is that they aren’t sure where to…
We are entering the home stretch with our book, Granted: How to Break Into Freelance Grant Writing and Create a Business and Life You Love. It’s set to be released on June 18th and I and my coauthor, Bruce Ripley,…
Last week I shared with you that my co-author, Bruce Ripley, and I are getting ready to publish our 2nd book though Painted Post Publications: “Granted: How to Break Into Freelance Grant Writing and Create a Business and Life You…
Grant readiness is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. For any of you who haven’t heard the term before, “Grant Readiness” refers to a nonprofit’s readiness and competitiveness to win grant awards and their capacity…
If books were the key to unlocking hopes and dreams, then the one I’m about to tell you about would help you unlock the door to a new life as a successful, grant writing business owner. Intrigued? Watch the video…
Responsive marketing has been around for a while now, but if you’ve never heard that term before, don’t feel bad. It’s not something that gets talked about a lot in the nonprofit sector. Which is a shame, because it could…
I have never encountered a nonprofit that wasn’t short on time, staff, or both. It’s just the nature of the industry that we all try to do as much as possible with as little as possible. We could have…
Today, most organizations in both the nonprofit and for-profit worlds have websites (and if you don’t, stop reading this article and for the love of all that’s holy, contact a web developer!). That’s great because it’s how the majority of…
Usually when you hear the terms “equity” and “inclusion” used in the same sentence as “grant writing” it means you’re talking about writing grants which will fund programming to address imbalances and inequities in various facets of society. Or you’re…
I want you to think back to the last arts or cultural event you attended. Maybe it was a gallery opening or a theater production or a museum exhibition opening or a symphony concert. It really doesn’t matter. What…
On March 27th I had the pleasure of attending the 2019 ReWrite Conference in Lexington, Kentucky. The conference was presented by KY GPA (Grant Professionals Association) and the Kentucky Nonprofit Network and it was absolutely fabulous! For those of you…
In the minds of grant makers, impact is king. It’s what they want to see most in your proposals and ultimately in your outcomes. But here comes some tough love: arts organizations are not always great at creating evaluation…
The past few years have seen a steady rise in the effectiveness of video as a way to engage with audiences. Nonprofit audiences are no different, so if your organization has yet to get on the video train, it’s time.…
When you’re focused on writing grant proposals and trying to secure awards for your nonprofit, it can be really easy to zero in solely on your proposal. You worry about how well it’s written, whether or not your budget is…
If you have been a grant writer for any amount of time, then the prospect of joining a professional organization or maybe even pursuing professional credentials has probably crossed your mind. But like many, you may not know where to…
That's right. It's finally here. I don't know how many of you grew up sincerely loving books, but I sure did. I always had my nose stuck in a book as a kid, but it didn't end there. I also…
One of the things I’m asked most often by those new to grant writing or even by prospective clients is: “what are the most important things we should be doing to get more grant awards?” It’s a good question,…
At the beginning of the month, we asked all of you to help us choose a cover design for our book, Get the Grant: Your No B.S. Introduction to Foundation Grants. And you did not disappoint! We’ve looked at…
No one writes grants in a vacuum. By which I mean that even if you work at a small nonprofit or if you’re a “one-person shop”, you really never write grants all alone. You still need input from program directors,…
We are entering the home stretch with our book, Get the Grant: Your No B.S. Introduction to Foundation Grants. It’s set to be released on February 21st and I am beyond excited about it. But before we can release the…
Last week I told you that I had formed a publishing company with my business partner, Bruce, called Painted Post Publications and that we had an exciting new book coming your way. I’m thrilled to share that in February we…
January 2019 is an incredibly exciting time for me, and I hope it’s going to mark the beginning of a wonderful year for you, also. For one thing, my free 4-video “Nonprofit Digital Fundraising & Marketing Mastery Workshop” series started…
For the last few months I’ve been cooking up something behind the scenes that I am sooo excited about, and I’m finally ready to share it with everyone. I’m going to be offering a free video workshop series, tailor-made just…
2018 has come to a close and it’s now time to look forward to the new year. You probably have high hopes that 2019 will be the year your nonprofit soars to new heights and brings its mission to an…
Wikipedia defines project management this way: Project management is the practice of initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing the work of a team to achieve specific goals and meet specific success criteria at the specified time. I think that’s…
Today’s topic is near and dear to my heart because I want to talk about burnout and how to avoid it. See, many years ago I worked like an absolute lunatic for my nonprofit and although I was proud of…
Years ago, I realized that donations at my then-employer had been relatively stagnant for a few years. As a result, they weren’t coming close to their fundraising goals and cuts to my program were being discussed. Like anyone whose primary…
The end of the year is prime-time for people to donate to nonprofits they love. Some are trying to fit in a last-minute tax deduction and others are just in that giving spirit and want a case of the warm…
There are a ton of foundations out there which do not have set deadlines. They either have revolving deadlines or they may provide you with their board meeting schedule and suggest that you submit something close to their meeting dates.…
There are thousands upon thousands of nonprofit websites on the internet today. They vary widely in design, layout, functionality, and purpose. But despite their differences, there are some elements which effective websites tend to have in common. These elements are…
Today, online giving is an important part of fundraising strategy. Whereas in the old days you could do just fine soliciting donations via snail mail and face-to-face meetings, now donors want modern ways to give. Let’s start with a few…
Over the years I have heard many a nonprofit staffer say that they don’t focus much on the organization’s website because it doesn’t get much traffic anyway. Often they decide to focus their efforts on old school mailings or social…
Everyday I talk with nonprofits and individuals who needed to build their own website and decided to use a website builder like Wix, Weebly, or Squarespace. And although I totally understand their reasons for doing so, every time I have…
I recognize the fact that many of today’s grant writers are not just grant writers. Many of you wear multiple hats at your nonprofit. Maybe you’re a one-person development department who is comfortable meeting with donors, but also needs…
Marketing and targeting are 2 terms that go hand in hand. In fact, here’s a common phrase in marketing that you should know: “If you’re talking to everyone, you’re really talking to no one.” What this means is…
From the outside, it can seem like large nonprofits have it made. It seems they have giant donor bases, nice facilities, polished marketing campaigns, and the funds to really make things happen. Who wouldn’t want that, right? But large…
Ethics. It’s a subject that makes some people squeamish, but it’s also an incredibly important one. Yes, even for grant writing. See, grant writing has its own guiding set of principles and ethics and those who want to engage…
Hopefully, you've already checked out the previous “2 Tips” Video I did in collaboration with Morghan from Anchoring Success. If not, go back and check it out here because it was packed with organizational development tips just for arts organizations.…
Program evaluation, to put it simply, is the process of putting in place systems and procedures to measure whether or not your nonprofit’s program has achieved its stated goals and how effective (or not) it’s been in doing so. …
Most of you who’ve read this blog for a while know that I’m a big advocate for nonprofits learning the ins and outs of smart marketing. But all marketing strategies are not created equal, which is why I want to…
Any of you who follow me here, on the Arts Roundup, or on social know that this month I've been working closely with Morghan from Anchoring Success to offer you a chance to win one of their Program Refresh Kits (a…
Program design is, arguably, the most important thing your nonprofit will ever do. Bold statement, right? You all know of my deep and abiding love for great websites and well-written grants. And those things are important. But how well designed…
In my recent blog posts I’ve written several times about how important a great website is to your nonprofit. I don’t want to belabor the point here, but the reality is that your website is often the first impression people…
Did you know that over a third of all websites on the internet are powered by WordPress? Well, they are. And for good reason. For anyone not in the know, WordPress is a powerful open-source website creation platform that can…
Aren’t startups amazing? They’re born of passion and energy and they’re scrappy in all the best ways. I love them and love working with them often. However, looking for ways to save money, get discounts, and still get the services…
Marketing is sometimes last on the list of priorities for nonprofits, particularly if they are smaller. You’re juggling all the other things just trying to make sure you’re delivering great programs, fulfilling your mission, and keeping everything funded. So maybe…
I’m always looking for ways to improve my skills and gifts. I like to think I’m a pretty good writer at this point, but that doesn’t mean I have no room for improvement. We all have room for improvement. Always.…
So you’ve come to the realization that your nonprofit needs a little help with grants. Maybe you just need a few proposals written or maybe you need a full-blown strategy created. Either way, you’ve decided to hire a consultant to…
I love great websites. To me, they’re like their own art form. And it kinda hurts when you see amazing arts organizations with amazing missions missing out on opportunities to engage with patrons and donors through their website. Luckily, a…
Can I ask you 2, very important questions? Ok, here goes: #1 – Does your organization need more ticket sales/class registrations/etc.? #2 – Do you need more engagement on your social media accounts and at in-person events to help…
Today’s article is both a cautionary tale and a set of lessons. All arts organizations go through growing pains and setbacks, especially in the early years when they are still small-medium sized. I’ve seen many of them fall into the…
For today’s incredibly sexy topic, I thought we’d talk about Endowment Funds. Before you run screaming or just nod off in boredom, let me assure you that this topic is so, so necessary to talk about and I will try…
If your arts nonprofit organization hasn’t written or received many grants in the past, then you may now be wondering how in the heck people even track down grant opportunities. Especially if the grants you have encountered fell in your…
Nowadays every business and nonprofit organization needs a website, and yet I so often see them without it. Or sometimes they do have one, but it clearly hasn’t been worked on since the late 90’s or it’s lacking some really…
There are tons of posts and articles out in internetland right now on GDPR. And for good reason, since it has the potential for affecting so much of what we do online. For anyone living under a rock (or maybe…
Lately, I’ve been working with and hearing from lots of startup nonprofits and organizations who have only been around a few years. I absolutely love working with new kids on the block because they are typically so filled with passion…
It occurred to me recently as I was writing the staff and board series, that there was one more area where we could definitely stand to air some things out. Much like the relationship between staff and board, the relationship…
Buckle up, folks. This is going to be a longer blog post than I normally write. But it’s going to be absolutely packed with my best tips, strategies, and hacks for finding, writing, and editing grant proposals that get funded.…
Let’s talk about evaluations. They are vital to your organization and yet I see so many nonprofits neglect them either because they have trouble making the time to get them done, they fear upsetting already overworked staff and board, or…
I really do. I would absolutely love to know what topics you wish you knew more about. Is there something in particular that you or your organization is struggling with? Is there a tool or guide that you wish existed…
Alright, board members. It’s your turn! In my last blog post we got in the head of nonprofit staff members and outlined the things they wish their boards knew and some suggestions on improving that partnership. Now it’s time to…
Hey there, fellow nonprofit friends! Recently I connected with Marita Meegan of FundraisingIP.com and as we were talking about our work with nonprofits, she was kind enough to ask me to prep a guest post for her readers. I happily…
Can we be 100% honest with each other for just a minute? Working with boards is tricky. It’s frustrating. It often feels like a power struggle with a million buried landmines. There is so much that nonprofit staff wish they…
This is the last installment of the GrantMasters Series… and I hope you’ve gotten some enjoyment and some good ideas and resources out of it. If you’re just joining us for this blog post, you aren’t too late. Make sure…
Have you noticed the theme of the GrantMasters posts yet? If you’ve been following along with the other posts in the GrantMasters series, you’re probably starting to see a general theme emerge: that there is so much more that goes…
In case you missed the last few….. So, to summarize the last three blog posts we’ve had on this series, the first one was “The Power of Organization”, the second one was, “Why Board Engagement Matters”, and the third was,…
Why Do I Need a Plan? Having a plan, and the tools to execute it, is so important in the nonprofit world. Let's be honest here…those of us who have been working in this field a while know that there's…
Welcome back to the second installment of the GrantMasters Series: Why board engagement matters In this blog we explore how having a hands-on board contributes to being grant-ready and competitive for grant dollars. I cannot stress the importance of board…
Welcome to the new GrantMasters Series! I'm kicking off a new blog series here this week called ‘GrantMasters'. I'll be going over some basic lessons that every nonprofit organization and grant writer can benefit from and sharing some great tips…
How are your funding relationships doing? Most of us in the nonprofit world are well aware that our organizations thrive or fail based on the quality and number of relationships. Relationships with donors, relationships with patrons, and relationships with other…