How nonprofits can bridge the tech gap without big budgets

  Technology is evolving rapidly. Access to it is critical but underfunded.     According to a new survey from The Chronicle of Philanthropy, nearly 9 in 10 nonprofit leaders say technology is vital to their fundraising success. Yet most spend less than 3% of their budgets on it.     What would it look like to fully equip our nonprofits with the digital tools they need to thrive?     🔗 Read more about what’s holding organizations back and how we can close the gap: https://lnkd.in/emyNRhfn     #SongFoundation #AmplifyEquity #AmplifyPower #AmplifyProsperity #AmplifyJoy 

Thanks for joining us as we count down to our 10th Anniversary as a powerhouse grantwriting organization. We're reflecting on lessons learned -- having gone from our humble origins as two young women with a dream and zero clients to winning $155M in grant awards for more than 100 nonprofits. This week, we're sharing 10 trends reshaping how nonprofits secure funding, from federal shifts to philanthropic signals. These aren’t guesses or industry buzz. They’re real patterns we’re tracking across client portfolios, funder moves, announcements from government, and the broader ecosystem. As a grant consulting firm trusted by more than 100 nonprofits, we see the landscape up close—and we’re here to help you navigate what’s next. Here are the 10 trends reshaping how nonprofits secure funding: 📈Leveraging Technology - Funders are asking harder questions—with smaller word and character limits. 📈Evaluation is shifting from “proof” to “learning.” 📈While there is a backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), for some funders that still support DEI, there’s rising pressure to show DEI commitment with substance, not statements alone. 📈Multi-year funding is slowly becoming more common—but the trends point towards fewer, larger grants, which means exponentially increased competition. 📈More nonprofits are hiring grant strategists, not just writers. 📈AI-assisted writing is raising new expectations around clarity and turnaround time. 📈Small, unrestricted grants are gaining traction (and trust). 📈Government funding is getting more accessible—but more complex. 📈Strategic collaborations are starting before the RFP drops. 📈Sustainability is being redefined—not just “what happens when the grant ends?” These trends don’t just affect funders, but they shape how you plan, write, and win. We’re not just watching the trends. We’re helping our clients respond strategically every day. If you’re thinking about what’s next for your funding strategy, let’s talk. Work With Us: Get the support you need from expert grant professionals who have raised $155M+ in grant awards for over 100 nonprofits since our founding ten years ago. Click here to Work With Us and we’ll tell you how to get started!

🚨 𝗡𝗼𝗻𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆. The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s new survey highlights 5 key findings that every nonprofit leader and funder should pay attention to. One that stood out to me: while organizations know digital tools are critical for fundraising and impact, too many are still underinvesting in them. This has real implications for foundations. When grantees lack modern data systems, AI-driven insights, or secure digital platforms, it’s not just a tech gap. It’s a barrier to impact. 📊 What this means for foundations:  • 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀. Tech investments are often treated as overhead, yet they are mission accelerators.  • 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆. As foundations ask for impact data, they must also help nonprofits build the infrastructure to deliver it.  • 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲. Smaller, community-led organizations risk being left behind without intentional support. The opportunity is clear. Nonprofits can move the needle by funding not only the “𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵” of impact, but the “𝘩𝘰𝘸” that makes it scalable, measurable, and sustainable. 𝗜’𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲: 👉 Should foundations prioritize tech funding as core to their mission, or is it too often seen as “nice to have”? #Philanthropy #FamilyFoundations #Nonprofits #DigitalTransformation #FundraisingStrategy 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e8gYtJvD

Thanks for joining us as we count down to our 10th Anniversary as a powerhouse grantwriting organization. We're reflecting on lessons learned -- having gone from our humble origins as two young women with a dream and zero clients to winning $155M in grant awards for more than 100 nonprofits. This week, we're sharing 10 trends reshaping how nonprofits secure funding, from federal shifts to philanthropic signals. These aren’t guesses or industry buzz. They’re real patterns we’re tracking across client portfolios, funder moves, announcements from government, and the broader ecosystem. As a grant consulting firm trusted by more than 100 nonprofits, we see the landscape up close—and we’re here to help you navigate what’s next. Here are the 10 trends reshaping how nonprofits secure funding: 1. Leveraging Technology - Funders are asking harder questions—with smaller word and character limits. 2. Evaluation is shifting from “proof” to “learning.” 3. While there is a backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), for some funders that still support DEI, there’s rising pressure to show DEI commitment with substance, not statements alone. 4. Multi-year funding is slowly becoming more common—but the trends point towards fewer, larger grants, which means exponentially increased competition. 5. More nonprofits are hiring grant strategists, not just writers. 6. AI-assisted writing is raising new expectations around clarity and turnaround time. 7. Small, unrestricted grants are gaining traction (and trust). 8. Government funding is getting more accessible—but more complex. 9. Strategic collaborations are starting before the RFP drops. 10. Sustainability is being redefined—not just “what happens when the grant ends?” These trends don’t just affect funders, but they 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻, 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗻. We’re not just watching the trends. We’re 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱 strategically every day. If you’re thinking about what’s next for your funding strategy, let’s talk. Send us a DM or comment "let's talk" below, and our team will reach out with how we can help.

The Chronicle of Philanthropy recently surveyed 350+ nonprofit leaders and found that technology is even more of a defining factor in whether organizations thrive or struggle. While nearly 9 in 10 leaders say tech is vital to their success, most nonprofits are only able to spend 3% of their budgets on it, compared to almost 6% in the for-profit world. This gap leaves many teams grappling with outdated systems, manual processes, and limited capacity, even as AI and digital tools reshape every sector around us. What stood out most in the survey is how much difference a single technologist can make. Whether it’s an IT professional who sets up secure systems, a data expert who helps make sense of donor trends, or a volunteer who introduces automation tools, one tech-savvy champion can dramatically shift what’s possible. Nonprofit leaders know where their gaps are, they just lack the money, time, and in-house expertise to solve them. That’s where skilled volunteers and board members can have an outsized impact. If you work in technology, your skills are urgently needed. By lending your expertise, you can help organizations save precious staff hours, strengthen their cybersecurity, and unlock data-driven strategies. Most importantly, you can free nonprofit teams to focus on what matters most: serving communities and advancing their missions. The digital divide in the sector is real, but with talent allies stepping forward, it doesn’t have to be permanent. Link to study in comments

It's time to stop asking nonprofits to "make do." I’ve been watching purpose-driven organizations manage their most important relationships through disconnected systems that work against them, not for them. The truth? The nonprofit sector doesn't need another lecture about doing more with less. It needs infrastructure that matches the sophistication of the work being done. Too often, I see a culture where settling for "just enough" has become the norm—where expectations are shaped by scarcity rather than possibility. But nonprofits don’t need to lower their sights. They deserve to expect more, demand better, and operate from a place of abundance. Here's what happens when we give established nonprofits the integrated systems they deserve: → Revenue increases by 47% → Constituent growth jumps 12% year-over-year → Volunteer participation rises 35% That's not about working harder. That's about working smarter with tools that compound your efforts instead of resetting them with every campaign. Read my full perspective on why abundance thinking isn't wishful, it's strategic: https://lnkd.in/g94nPGS4 What would your team accomplish if your systems actually worked together? #Bloomerang #BuiltForPurpose #MoreLeadsToMore

I'm becoming somewhat of a "poster child" for the transition from corporate to nonprofit work... First of all, I am on my way to Minneapolis for the Virtuous User Summit and looking forward to connecting with colleagues and friends in the nonprofit sector!!! Ok, back to the point, lately, I have had many conversations with people considering a move into nonprofit work. Often, they are coming from the corporate world and want to understand what that transition might look like. After more than 20 years in this space, I want to share a few realities for anyone thinking about taking the leap. The biggest differences I see stem from RESOURCES and PACING. Resources: Nonprofits operate with leaner infrastructure, compensation, and budgets compared to corporate environments. ****92% of all registered nonprofits in the US operate on less than $1M annually!!! Pacing: The daily work can feel like a nonstop race, yet the pace of change (adopting new systems, technology, or processes) can feel slow. Both can be frustrating if you are unprepared, but they are also part of what makes nonprofit work unique and deeply rewarding. Think of the transition as a sliding scale: *Closest to corporate are B Corps like Patagonia, with a double bottom line of profit and mission. *Next are large national or international nonprofits with established infrastructure and name recognition. *From there, higher education and healthcare organizations often provide the most resources and structure within the nonprofit world. *On the other end of the spectrum are smaller regional and local nonprofits, which can be the most mission-driven but also the leanest in resources. There is no one-size-fits-all answer. It depends on your appetite for change and what kind of environment you thrive in. Nonprofits offer meaningful, mission-centered work, but it is important to enter with realistic expectations. If you are considering the move, I would be glad to connect and share more about the landscape. Agree/disagree? Any other super top line info I should always share when I have these conversations?

💡 Corporate Giving & The “One Big Beautiful Bill” Did you know the new One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) could reshape how companies give to nonprofits? The legislation sets a 1% floor before any corporate gift is tax-deductible. On paper, it’s a small change. In practice, it may disrupt nonprofit funding models. 📊 According to the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship, many companies are expected to start “bunching” gifts every few years in order to clear the new 1% threshold, creating feast-or-famine cycles for nonprofits. ⚖️ Nonprofits could struggle to show steady results in off-years - just when funders and regulators are watching more closely. This isn’t just a finance issue. It’s a governance issue. Boards now need to help their organizations: - Signal resilience and legitimacy to funders in uneven years (a growing marker of trust). - Align staff, board, and funders around tech, data, and impact systems that can withstand funding volatility. - Plan for digital transformation and risk so donors know their investment is safeguarded. At Board.Dev, we help boards lead through these shifts. Because strong governance today isn’t just about oversight, it’s about protecting funding pipelines, managing digital and financial risk, and keeping mission delivery steady even when the rules change. 👉 Has your board or CSR team started planning for the OBBB era?

Most nonprofits miss out on corporate giving—not because budgets shrink, but because they pitch differently than corporations think. Did you know that U.S. charitable giving hit a record $592.5 billion in 2024, up 6.3% from 2023—outpacing inflation for the first time in three years? Corporate giving led the charge, rising 9.1% to $44.4 billion. Yet many nonprofits still struggle to land these opportunities. So, what’s the missing link? Four Simple Shifts for Nonprofits That Want to Win Corporate Support 1. Don’t pitch “Charity.” Pitch strategy. Most nonprofits lead with “Here’s who we are.” Instead, start with the corporate challenge: “Here’s the business risk you’re facing, and how sponsoring us helps solve it.” 2. Leverage employee engagement—not just check writing. Businesses want teams involved. Invite their staff to volunteer, co-create content, or amplify impact stories on LinkedIn. That’s when budgets open up. 3. Share measurable impact—not emotional feel. Companies seek alignment with brand visibility, culture, and ESG reporting—not gala attendance. Show them metrics of engagement, reach, and story impact. 4. Know where the giving is growing. Public-society benefits (+19.5%), international affairs (+17.7%), and education (+13.2%) saw double-digit growth in philanthropic support last year—so lean into those sectors. Final Reminder... Platform budgets are rising—but nonprofits must switch from charity ask to strategic partnership pitch. How are you changing your pitch to land real partnerships? I’ll share the most insightful responses in my follow-up post. Help US help your mission be seen and supported. 💯 ❤️

Leading a nonprofit today means balancing mission, community needs, and the reality that our sector is often deprioritized when policy and funding decisions are made. That’s why I’m so encouraged by Candid’s new free tool: “Know Your District: Nonprofit Stats by Congressional District.” It puts data directly in our hands—showing how many nonprofits operate in our communities, the people we employ, and the economic value we generate. For those of us in the sector, this is more than just interesting data. It’s a powerful tool for advocacy. It allows us to: ✳️ Show policymakers that we are an economic driver, not just a service provider. ✳️ Benchmark our local sector’s footprint and workforce. ✳️ Strengthen our case for funding and policy support. Nonprofits are the backbone of resilient communities. When our work is sidelined, it’s not just organizations that suffer—it’s the students, families, patients, and neighbors who count on us. I encourage my fellow nonprofit leaders: take a look at your district’s data, share it with your boards and partners, and use it to amplify your voice. The more we highlight our collective impact, the harder it becomes for decision-makers to ignore us. Let’s make sure our value is not only recognized—but prioritized. #NonprofitLeadership #DataForGood #CandidData #SocialImpact #NonprofitInsights #ImpactDriven #NonprofitSector #LeadershipInAction https://lnkd.in/gM8GGuke