Building a Successful Grant Program
For schools and nonprofits, grants are a vital component of a sustainable funding mix. Yet, we all know that winning grants is a competitive, time-intensive, and unpredictable process.
When we speak with clients, we often hear frustration about reactive, one-off applications that are rushed to meet deadlines, disconnected from broader fundraising goals, and require rushing to pull together data for the application. When a grant is secured, there is often no system in place to report outcomes, steward funders, or position the organization for future renewal opportunities. It doesn't have to be this way.
We recently partnered with a nonprofit that wanted to adopt a more strategic approach to grant funding. Our approach was collaborative from the start. As part of our engagement, we took the lead in researching and identifying prospective funders that closely aligned with the organization's mission, values, and programmatic priorities. We researched foundation databases, reviewed 990s, and assessed giving patterns to identify mission-fit funders with a clear track record of supporting similar work.
We created a custom grants database that enabled the team to track key deadlines and eligibility criteria, store notes on funder history, and prioritize opportunities based on readiness and timing. We also established a coordinated internal process across departments for prioritizing funding needs.
This infrastructure provided the team with a holistic view of their grant pipeline and a stronger foundation for informed decision-making. It transitioned them from a reactive grant-seeking approach to a proactive, strategic one, making it easier to prioritize their time and focus on the most suitable opportunities.
We worked closely with staff to strengthen grant storytelling, drawing out authentic narratives from programs, staff, and community members. These voices became the foundation for stronger and more compelling proposals. Our stewardship system ensures that relationships with grant foundations are ongoing.
The result? A more strategic and responsive grant program that saves time improves proposal quality and cultivates long-term relationships with foundations. Within a year, the organization was submitting significantly more applications and seeing more wins.
“Working with Alex Borders has been productive and rewarding, she has become not just a trusted partner, but also a dependable friend. We are grateful for her support and feel fortunate to work with someone who genuinely cares.”
- Marcia Cary, Director of Development, Triform Camphill Community
“Through a highly collaborative partnership, Alex Borders guided us through every stage of developing a grants program, from identifying strategic priorities and potential funding opportunities to crafting compelling grant proposals and strengthening relationships with foundations. She designed the strategic and operational infrastructure we needed, coached our team, and helped us adopt a more proactive and sustainable approach to grant-seeking. Alex has a rare combination of strategic thinking, get-it-done energy, and a deep sense of care for our mission. She is everything you would want in a partner.”
- Anne Bailey, Board President, Triform Camphill Community
The result? A more strategic and responsive grant program that saves time improves proposal quality and cultivates long-term relationships with foundations. Within a year, the organization was submitting significantly more applications and seeing more wins.
Alma Partners brings decades of experience in nonprofit fundraising. If you're ready to make grant funding a reliable part of your strategy, let's talk!
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