Seasoned fundraising professionals know that grant seeking is a dynamic process. As the landscape continues to evolve—shaped by new funding priorities, economic pressures, and emerging trends—it’s essential to continually refine and elevate your grant strategies. While its important to understand the fundamentals, the real competitive advantage is knowing how to apply your expertise in new and creative ways.
Based on my own 20+ years of experience in institutional fundraising and countless partnerships and collaborations with fundraising experts around the country, I’ve compiled 10 practical recommendations to help you sharpen your grant seeking approach and take your organization’s fundraising to the next level.
1. Reevaluate your pipeline regularly
It’s easy to rely on long-standing relationships with funders, but maintaining a competitive edge means constantly expanding and diversifying your grant pipeline. Grantmaking priorities shift, new foundations emerge, and established funders recalibrate their focus areas. Be proactive in reviewing your pipeline on a regular basis and invest time in researching untapped funding opportunities. This is especially important as funders increasingly look for innovative, cutting-edge projects aligned with the evolving needs of the communities they serve.
2. Go beyond data – use storytelling as a differentiator
Experienced fundraisers know how to leverage data, but in today’s climate, it’s the combination of data and storytelling that truly sets proposals apart. Funders expect robust metrics, but they also want to feel emotionally connected to the projects they support. Weave stories of real impact into your proposals to humanize the data. Funders aren’t just investing in numbers; they’re investing in change-makers. Highlight your organization’s unique narrative to create a lasting impression.
3. Prioritize equity, sustainability, and justice thoughtfully
The most successful organizations don’t just adapt to emerging trends—they deeply integrate values like equity, sustainability, and social justice into their organizational DNA. Today, funders are increasingly focused on addressing systemic inequities and fostering long-term, community-driven impact. It’s not just about reacting to these priorities but about building authentic, inclusive strategies that center on marginalized communities and align with their needs. As you pursue grant opportunities, ensure that equity isn’t an add-on, but a core principle reflected in your program design, partnerships, and organizational culture. This approach positions your organization as a leader in driving meaningful, lasting change.
Related Reading: 5 Tips for Using Equitable Language in Grant Writing
4. Leverage funder relationships for strategic insights
By now, you likely have deep relationships with funders, but are you using these connections to their full potential? Your funder relationships can provide more than transactional financial support—they can serve as a gateway to valuable insights. Engage funders in conversations about future priorities, trends in the sector, and how your organization can evolve alongside these shifts. This will bolster your positioning as a strategic partner, provide valuable insights, and reveal opportunities to help tailor your proposals more effectively.
5. Elevate the role of authentic collaboration
Collaboration has long been a staple in our industry, but today, funders seek authentic, deeply integrated collaborations that reflect shared values and collective impact. Funders expect organizations to work together in ways that amplify their strengths and address systemic challenges. True collaboration means co-creating solutions, pooling resources, and ensuring that all partners have a voice at the table. As you pursue major grants, consider how you can build robust partnerships that prioritize mutual respect, transparency, and sustained impact over time. Funders will be drawn to projects that demonstrate not just cooperation but the ability to create change through thoughtful and inclusive collaboration.
Related Reading: Putting Grantees at the Center of Philanthropy
6. Set a clear vision from the top
Experienced grant-seekers understand that a proposal represents much more than just a project—it reflects the strategic leadership of the organization. Funders want to see that your executive team is forward-thinking, resilient, and adaptable. One critical point to remember: leadership transitions are often the most challenging times to secure grant dollars. Funders look for stability and long-term vision when investing in organizations, so having your leadership firmly in place is essential. Highlight how your leadership is driving innovative change and growth within your organization and how your team is prepared to navigate challenges in a rapidly changing world. Funders invest in visionary leadership, so let that shine through in your proposals.
Related Reading: 20 Key Characteristics Needed In Today’s Nonprofit Leaders
7. Invest in capacity and infrastructure
Funders today expect more than just program delivery—they’re looking for organizations committed to internal growth and sustainability. Consider how you can leverage capacity-building investments to address long-term organizational growth, leadership development, and adaptability to external changes. Funders are looking for organizations that can scale impact efficiently, manage risks, and evolve with the sector. Prioritize the types of capacity investments that will position your organization as forward-thinking and resilient, demonstrating that you’re equipped to drive change well into the future.
8. Prioritize transparency and adaptability in reporting
While robust evaluation is crucial, experienced fundraisers know that it’s the transparency and adaptability in reporting that can solidify trust with funders. Rather than simply adhering to metrics, embrace a reporting process that is responsive to the evolving nature of your programs and outcomes. Being upfront about the unexpected challenges you face, along with the adjustments you’re making to overcome them, shows that your organization is both nimble and accountable. Funders appreciate partners who can navigate complexity and demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement, which strengthens your relationship and sets you apart as a reliable, long-term grantee.
9. Showcase innovation in every aspect of your leadership
Funders today are seeking organizations that not only excel in execution but also demonstrate leadership in pushing boundaries and fostering innovation. As a strategic leader, it’s crucial to show how your organization is continually evolving, whether that means refining existing programs, adopting new technologies, or exploring fresh approaches to community engagement. Innovation isn’t always about reinventing the wheel; it can be about finding smarter ways to improve what’s already working. Show funders that your organization is agile, forward-thinking, and well-positioned to adapt to new challenges. This signals to funders that you are a reliable partner capable of sustaining impact over the long term, even in a rapidly changing environment.
Related Reading: Remove These 4 Barriers to Become an Agile Nonprofit Leader
10. Resilience is the new benchmark
In an uncertain economic climate, funders want to know that the organizations they support can withstand economic fluctuations, political challenges, and other external pressures. Even when proposals don’t directly ask about these factors, weave in highlights about your organization’s risk management strategies, adaptability, and financial health by showcasing examples of how you’ve navigated past challenges or evolved in response to external changes. Funders are looking for partners who can deliver impact regardless of the obstacles, so emphasize your track record of resilience and your plans to stay agile moving forward.
Refine and adapt to take your grant funding to new heights
For experienced fundraising leaders, the key to continued success in grant seeking is refinement and adaptation. The fundamentals may remain the same, but the landscape is ever-changing, and your strategies need to evolve accordingly. By thinking strategically, leveraging relationships, embracing collaboration, and demonstrating leadership and innovation, you can position your organization as a top contender for competitive grants.
At its core, successful grant seeking requires a forward-looking mindset. Rather than reacting to the shifting environment, be a proactive leader who anticipates trends and positions your organization as a partner funders can’t ignore. Grant seeking should be a dynamic, evolving part of your overall development strategy, allowing your organization to secure the resources it needs to thrive in the years to come.
