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"In rural areas like the North Country, we see disparities in healthcare, education, and economic development that urban areas like New York City don’t experience in the same way." – Pamela Ayers #NewYork #grantfunding

Is New York's private grant scene representative of the entire U.S.? We hope not. Our findings of grant funding between 2021 and 2023 show stark disparities for rural counties. What is grant funding like in your state? Are you also seeing disparity? Let us know so we can prioritize which data to look at next!

We asked several seasoned grant professionals located in New York State what trends, challenges, insights, and opportunities they see. Here's what they had to say: Pamela Ayers "Rural communities see a lot of disparities in healthcare. For example, grantors supporting healthcare think hospitals, but dispersed rural communities often need flexible funding such as mobile healthcare vans, but those aren’t always the obvious option." Carolyne Hevesi "Smaller nonprofits find themselves navigating complex requirements and reporting. Starting with capacity-building initiatives creates the foundation they need to succeed with these funding streams." Diane H. Leonard, GPC, RST "Post pandemic, we’re seeing New York grantmakers return to ‘business as usual,’ with stricter requirements than before. Strengthening relationships with grantmakers remains essential." Laureen Fredella "The emphasis has shifted toward diversity and equity. Organizations that fail to show a commitment to diversity—on their staff and board—risk losing out on funding, even with strong programs." ?? For full details on New York's grant landscape, access our report in the comments.

Is your nonprofit's financial future secure? ?? In a few weeks, Sabrina Walker Hernandez, MPA will join us to share practical strategies for building a diversified fundraising model that withstands economic uncertainties. Don't let your mission teeter on a financial tightrope. Join us to master the art of balanced fundraising. ?? Spots are limited! Register now ??

Instrumentl's team has dug into New York's grant landscape because it's the second-largest state for grant funding in the U.S. We learned that grant funding is not dispersed equitably, and there are very real "funding deserts," as?Diane H. Leonard, GPC, RST,?and?Pamela Ayers?(who have both been experts in NY's grant landscape for years) helped us understand. We're curious to learn if NY is representative of other states, or if they're an extreme example — something we're looking into. Find the full details in our report and let us know how if grant funding is equitable in your state.

"What is a good success rate for a contract grant writer?" Today, I facilitated a discussion about selecting grant contractors, and this was one of the hot topics. My take? So glad you asked ?? I never share my success rate. I don't even track it! Why? Because I'm not 100% in control. I've written a near perfect grant that was denied funding. Story time! I submitted a Dept of Ed grant with a long-time client. We worked out behinds off knowing this was an incredibly competitive funding opportunity. Well over a hundred hours of my time. Ultimately, one of three reviewers took off 1 point out of 107 points. The final score on the application was 106.66 out of 107. My client was not funded. And I was devastated. Another reason? Especially as an in-house writer, but often as a contractor, you aren't always in control of the grants your boss tells you you MUST write. Even though you've said you are at capacity or it isn't a good fit. "Just do it." And it is denied. You aren't surprised. But now a key indicator of your worth is impacted. No. Just no. So how do I talk about my success? 1. I like to talk about total awards. I'm up to $135 million, which includes some larger team-based awards where I wasn't the sole writer/wrangler. 2. I like to share funders/opportunities with which I have a very high success rate. USDA, NEA, HRSA, SAMHSA. I chalk this up to a combination of my experience, the competitiveness (relatively low) of the agency or specific opportunity, and the readiness and competitiveness of my clients in that area. 3. AND I like to share with potential clients how my clients have re-used language I created for a failed attempt and re-tooled for success with another funder. The work we do as consultants should build tools for a nonprofit that outlast and outshine any single grant decision. Do you like to share win rates? Do you share total awards won by clients? Why or why not? How do you talk about your success?

'It doesn't hurt to just apply.' - Not true, says grant strategy expert and Instrumentl partner?Rachel Werner, MPA, GPC, PMP?at?RBW Strategy, LLC. Effective grant research takes time, strategy, and resources. Check out the 4 critical steps their team recommends to create an effective grant research strategy. ?? in comments!

The question I get most as a grant writer is, “How do you find grant opportunities?” ?? Finding funders can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack, but there are some strategic steps that can make it easier: ??Utilize Databases & Subscriptions—I use Instrumentl for my daily grant research and grant management. I’m also subscribed to updates from Grants.gov, the U.S. Department of Education, the National Science Foundation (NSF), and Candid’s Philanthropy News Digest. ??Look Local—Many community foundations or regional corporate giving programs are committed to supporting local initiatives! Starting with these can open doors to funders who are interested in investing in their community. ??Network, Network, Network! Sometimes the best connections come from within your existing network. Attend events, post on social media, and don’t hesitate to ask colleagues about funders they've successfully engaged. To me, finding grant opportunities is about mixing research, relationships, and the right tools. What’s been your most effective strategy for finding/connecting with funders? PS: If you wanna check out Instrumentl, you can get one month free with my code! https://lnkd.in/e5zXvj6J. #GrantWriting #GrantWriter #GrantManager #NonprofitDevelopment #NonprofitOrganization #BeInstrumentl #NonprofitFunding

Tomorrow! ? Explore the top trends shaping grants in 2025—and discover the strategies to maximize your success. Only 11 spots left! ?? Save yours now ??

Your grant application strategy just got an upgrade ?? Thank you to everyone who joined us for an insider’s guide to crafting successful proposals with Dawn Lynn Lego, CMP, from OneCause ???♀?? From decoding what funders prioritize to avoiding common pitfalls, you’re now equipped with tools to make your applications truly stand out. What’s the one takeaway you’re most excited to put into action? Drop it below! ??