Jeanne Tilley

"A small group of about 10 writers, researchers and web development ninjas are launching an ambitious effort to preserve key climate data that the Trump administration has taken offline, including a landmark, congressionally mandated report and the contents of the climate.gov website." https://lnkd.in/eMR7Gj6f

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In philanthropy, playing it safe can mean missing what matters most. The social challenges we’re facing today: climate change, displacement, deepening inequality, require bold ideas and unproven models. But with boldness comes risk. And in the world of corporate philanthropy, that risk can feel especially heavy. At the Cisco Foundation, we believe that responsible risk-taking is essential to unlocking impact at scale. That means funding early-stage solutions that might not have a ten-year track record. It means supporting community-led approaches that don’t always fit neatly into traditional frameworks. It means trusting partners to experiment, learn, and adapt in real time. Of course, we monitor results. But we also value learning alongside our grantees, and we accept that not every bet will lead to a breakthrough. What matters is that we are moving with purpose, and that we are not waiting for perfection before we act. Social innovation thrives when funders make space for experimentation. We should not shy away from the uncertainty that comes with doing something new. Instead, we should embrace it, because the risks we take today may be what unlocks a more just and resilient future tomorrow. #SocialInnovation #SocialImpact

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End-of-week reflection for development professionals: The most successful fundraisers I've worked with don't just track dollars raised—they measure relationship momentum. Here's a simple Friday practice that transformed an approach to major gifts: Every Friday, review your donor interactions using the "3R Framework": • RESPONSE: Which messages resonated most strongly this week? • RESISTANCE: What objections or hesitations did I encounter? • REVELATION: What new donor insight surprised me? This 15-minute exercise has helped identify patterns that were missing and helps adjust approaches in real-time. One organization I worked with implemented this weekly practice across their team and saw a 28% increase in second meetings and a 17% faster cultivation cycle. What end-of-week reflection practices keep you growing as a fundraiser?

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When Medicaid and SNAP cuts go into effect, around 12 million families will lose both their health insurance *and* their nutrition assistance benefits, according to a new Urban Institute study. While 32 million households participate in Medicaid and 15 million participate in SNAP, a large percentage participate in both. Data show that certain areas could be hit the hardest—including Appalachia, along the U.S.-Mexico border, and large cities. This study paints a dark picture of the challenges that millions will face and how their health, nutrition, and wellbeing will be impacted. https://lnkd.in/ez5SC8wf

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🚨 The #1 mistake nonprofits make in grant writing? Treating the budget like an afterthought. A persuasive grant budget is not just numbers, it’s a story in disguise. Your budget is one of the most powerful credibility signals to funders. Done right, it shows you have the capacity, sustainability, and systems to deliver real impact. Done wrong, it raises red flags. Here are 7-steps our grant writing agency uses to design a budget that tells a story: 🔹 Anchor Budget to the Narrative Every budget line should connect to the proposal’s activities. Outreach in the narrative? Outreach costs in the budget. Alignment builds funder confidence. 🔹 Signal Organizational Capacity Include realistic salaries, overhead, and service costs. Underpricing staff undermines credibility; show you know what it takes to manage responsibly. 🔹 Demonstrate Sustainability Illustrate how costs evolve post-grant. Share co-funding, partner uptake, or transition plans to show this is an investment, not a one-off. 🔹 Highlight Leverage & Cost-Share Show in-kind support or co-financing, no matter how small. It signals commitment, stakeholder buy-in, and efficiency. 🔹 Prioritize Transparency & Realism Skip vague round numbers. Break expenses into logical subcategories to show precision and financial discipline. 🔹 Demonstrate Impact Efficiency Frame costs against outcomes: “$200 per participant trained” is more persuasive than a lump sum. Funders see value-for-money clearly. 🔹 Leave a Trace of Institutional Strength Include modest but real indirect costs. Zero admin = red flag. Reasonable overhead = institutional maturity. ✨ Grant budgets are strategic storytelling tools. When numbers and narrative align, your proposal becomes unforgettable. ♻️ If you found this helpful, please repost so others can benefit too 🔔 Follow me for more resources and grant writing advice #grantsconsultant #nonprofitfunding #grantwriting #donordevelopment #fundraisingstrategy #communityimpact

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Fundraisers often use “planned giving,” “gift planning,” “legacy giving,” and “deferred and estate giving” as if they mean the same thing. They don’t, and the distinctions matter. - Planned Giving: The traditional term, widely recognized in the U.S., though it can sound transactional and dated. - Gift Planning: Preferred by practitioners, and a more modern, donor-centered approach highlighting the thoughtful alignment of philanthropy with personal financial goals. - Legacy Giving: The most resonant with donors, emphasizing values, story, and the enduring impact of one’s generosity. - Deferred & Estate Giving: A technical descriptor often used in policies, covering bequests and other gifts that mature at death. Each has its place. But when speaking with donors, I lean into legacy giving because generosity is about meaning, not mechanics. Internally, policies and strategies may require the precision of “deferred and estate giving” or “gift planning.” Externally, our job is to help donors see that legacy is not about loss—it’s about life continuing in new ways through the causes they cherish. What language do you use most with your board, with your staff, and with your donors? #Fundraising #Philanthropy #CharitableGiving #PlannedGiving #GiftPlanning #LegacyGiving #DeferredandEstateGiving

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