Dear Figuring It Out,
First, I want to affirm what you’re feeling. Relying heavily on federal funds can feel like both a blessing and a limitation—providing stability for a time, but leaving you vulnerable when policies, priorities, or budgets shift. The fact that you’re thinking about a pivot shows real foresight and leadership.
When moving toward private, mission-aligned donors, here are a few strategies to ground your next steps.
1. Reframe Your Case for Support
Private donors want to see themselves as partners in impact. Take the language you’ve used in federal reports—outcomes, compliance, benchmarks—and translate it into a compelling story about people and community transformation. Ask: What problem are we solving? How does our mission uniquely address it? What happens if we don’t? That’s the narrative that resonates with individuals, foundations, and even corporations, because they want to see how they can contribute. Remember that fundraising is an optimistic profession that serves society well, especially in times of distress.
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