This resource library provides a comprehensive collection of tools designed to strengthen nonprofit fundraising and development efforts across every stage of the revenue cycle. It includes guidance on grant sourcing and grant writing to help organizations identify funding opportunities and craft compelling proposals, as well as budgeting and financial planning templates to support strong fiscal management. The library also offers resources to build effective fundraising strategies, along with tools for donor cultivation that help partnership initiatives engage supporters, steward relationships, and sustain long-term investment. Together, these tools equip organizations with the practical knowledge and structures needed to grow and diversify funding streams.
Tools and Resources
Grant Sourcing & Identification
This set of tools helps grantees identify funding opportunities that align with partnership missions, programs, and capacity needs. Resources include curated funding databases and guidance on how to evaluate grant fit. These tools support the grant-sourcing process and ensure organizations focus their efforts on the most promising prospects.
Where to begin:
Guidance and Insights
Funder & Grant Search Engine
Grant.Gov provides a common website for federal agencies to post discretionary funding opportunities. It centralizes more than 1,000 different grant programs across grant-making agencies awarding more than $500 billion annually. In addition, it provides standardized grant information, application packages and processes for finding grants.
Candid’s search engine is a widely used platform that helps nonprofits quickly find relevant grantmakers and funding opportunities. It offers access to comprehensive funder profiles, giving histories, and keyword-based search tools to pinpoint the best prospects. Monthly / annual subscription is required.
GrantStation’s search engine provides nonprofits with a curated database of active funding opportunities from foundations, corporations, and government sources. It also offers tools to help organizations assess fit, track prospects, and plan a strategic approach to securing grants. Monthly / annual subscription required.
Philanthropy News Sources
The Philanthropy Journal offers news, insights, and practical resources to help nonprofits stay informed about trends, opportunities, and best practices in the philanthropic sector. Its regularly updated content supports organizations in strengthening their fundraising, leadership, and overall organizational effectiveness.
Grant Writing & Proposal Development
These tools provide grantees with guidance and resources to strengthen grantwriting efforts and overall fundraising success. It includes templates and examples to help organizations craft effective proposals, resources to clarify programmatic goals and articulate impact, and communication tools. These tools also offer supports for developing strong relationships with funders, from cultivation strategies to follow-up practices that build trust and long-term partnership. Overall, these resources help organizations position themselves competitively, communicate their value effectively, and secure the funding needed to advance their missions.
Where to begin:
This guidance outlines effective approaches for nonprofits to engage and establish partnerships with corporate entities. It provides insights into crafting compelling proposals, aligning missions, and leveraging corporate social responsibility initiatives to build mutually beneficial relationships that enhance fundraising efforts.
This guidance offers an overview of strategies that grantees can use to effectively engage with family foundations for funding opportunities. It highlights the importance of building relationships, understanding the foundation's philanthropic goals, and tailoring proposals to resonate with family values and interests.
This grant proposal template guides grantees through the articulation of projects, organizational backgrounds, goals, timelines, budgets, and evaluation plans. It includes dedicated sections for describing the problem, target population, activities, measurable outcomes, partnerships, accomplishments, and detailed income/expense budgeting.
Proposal Development
This tool offers a simple, customizable cover letter template that grantees can use to introduce their grant proposal to potential funders. It provides clear guidance on how to summarize the organization’s mission, articulate the funding request, and highlight the alignment between the proposed work and the funder’s priorities.
This tool provides nonprofits with clear guidance on crafting an effective letter of inquiry, outlining the key elements funders expect before inviting a full proposal. It helps organizations communicate their mission, the need they hope to address, and the anticipated impact of the proposed project.
Funder Engagement
This document provides a structured checklist to help granees identify the most appropriate funders before developing or submitting a proposal. It guides organizations through evaluating their program focus, target population, geographic reach, funding needs, and existing connections to ensure strong alignment with prospective foundations.
Funder Communications
This article offers practical guidance to help grantees maximize their end-of-year fundraising efforts. The article outlines a step-by-step approach covering key considerations like crafting a message, utilizing multiple communication channels, and effectively tracking and analyzing campaign results to maximize the impact of appeals.
This article explores how different generations engage with nonprofit organizations and the unique communication preferences of each group. It offers insights and actionable strategies for grantees to tailor their messaging and outreach efforts to effectively connect with different generations of funders.
This article examines the significant role social media plays in fostering connections between alumni and their alma maters. It provides actionable insights on leveraging social platforms to engage younger alumni, build community, and effectively convert their interest into financial support for institutional fundraising efforts.
This tool is a a concise resource designed to help nonprofits craft compelling narratives that resonate with their audiences and inspire action. This guide offers practical tips and techniques for weaving powerful stories that highlight the impact of the organization’s work and effectively engage donors and supporters.