Nonprofit Management Blog
The Grant Work AI Leaves on Your Desk
AI can make grant writing easier, but it doesn’t replace the expertise of a qualified grant professional.
LLMs and other AI-powered tools can help you write a convincing proposal for a grant your organization shouldn’t pursue. It can also produce a polished draft for an excellent opportunity while leaving important work unresolved: developing the strongest funding case, determining what the request should cover, and preparing your team to deliver what’s proposed.
Funders Say They Can Tell When You Use AI
“When it comes to AI, we can tell who’s using it and who’s not.” That comment came from a funder during a roundtable discussion I recently attended. Other speakers raised concerns about AI removing important information from narratives or producing responses that didn’t adequately tell an organization’s story. Nobody called for a blanket prohibition on using it, but the overall sentiment about applicants’ use of these tools was fairly skeptical.
If you’re a nonprofit leader exploring how AI can support your grant writing, that’s worth knowing.
What a Grant Writing Retainer Actually Includes (and How It Works)
Many nonprofits underestimate what it actually takes to maintain a healthy grant pipeline over time.
From the outside, grant work can look fairly straightforward: identify opportunities, write proposals, submit applications, and wait for decisions. In reality, sustainable grant work involves far more coordination, planning, communication, and strategic judgment than most organizations initially expect.
6 Signs Your Nonprofit Has Outgrown DIY Grant Writing
There’s a common assumption in the nonprofit sector that grant writing problems are caused by weak writing skills, lack of effort, or insufficient knowledge about fundraising.
In reality, many nonprofits struggling with grants aren’t struggling because they’re unqualified or unprepared. They’re struggling because the organization has outgrown an informal, pieced-together approach to grant management.
Am I Ready to Apply for Grants? A Nonprofit Self-Assessment
“Are we ready to apply for grants?” This is one of the least common questions I hear from nonprofit leaders – but it’s often the most important one.
More frequently, leaders come to me after they’ve already started applying. They’re frustrated by repeated rejections, confused about what funders are looking for, or wondering why their organization isn’t competitive despite doing meaningful work in the community.