Blog

Scroll down to explore this week's grants. Deadlines are always approaching, so take a look and see which ones might be the right fit for your nonprofit.

Happy grant writing!

The Lawrence Foundation

The private family foundation is focused on making grants to support environmental, human services, and other causes. Grants are awarded twice a year. 

Deadlines: April 30 and October 31, 2026

https://thelawrencefoundation.org/application-process

Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation

Supports U.S. nonprofits for which a relatively small amount of funding might make a large difference. The Foundation considers requests to support museums, cultural and performing arts programs; schools and hospitals; educational, skills-training, and other programs for youth, seniors, and persons with disabilities; environmental and wildlife protection activities; and other community-based organizations and programs.

Applications accepted May 11 to November 10, 2026

https://www.mvdreyfusfoundation.org/application-guidelines

Rota Foundation

The primary focus of the Foundation’s grant awards is community nonprofits. Funds support organizations whose services are directed at charities that support the local communities where they live.

Deadline:  June 1 to June 30, 2026, and October 1 to October 30, 2026

https://www.therotafoundation.org

AEGON Transamerica Foundation

This corporate foundation supports community development, health, and financial well-being initiatives in areas including operational support, capital expansion, and community outreach.  Priority in NY, MD, IA, CO, MA, TX, MN, and FL.

Deadline: November 1, 2026

https://www.transamerica.com/about-us/foundation-grant

CareSource Foundation

The Foundation funds programs that improve health outcomes and conditions for low-income, underserved populations in the communities where they are located. Areas of focus include health education, maternal and child health, neighborhood and downtown redevelopment, and more.

Deadline: Rolling

https://www.caresource.com/plans/

Costco Wholesale Charitable Support

Costco’s charitable efforts focus on programs that support children, education, and health and human services in the communities where it does business.  

Deadline:  Rolling

https://forms.benevity.org/eb5f89d4-4631-4c20-8681-0186712671a0

Emma Carey Groh Trust

The Trust provides grants to support programs that directly benefit children, including children with disabilities, who live in group homes, orphanages, and homeless shelters.

Deadline: May 1, 2026

https://www.wellsfargo.com/private-foundations/groh-trust/

‍

Let’s talk about the phrase that strikes fear into the heart of even the most seasoned fundraiser: donor fatigue.

It is real. It is frustrating. And it can turn even your most loyal donors into inbox ghosts.

Right now, nonprofits are stuck between a rock and a budget cut. Federal funding has taken a hit, the economy feels unsteady, and organizations are being asked to do more with less while still asking donors to give again.

So yes, donor fatigue happens.

But no, it is not a death sentence for your fundraising strategy.

You can keep donors engaged and even excited with the right mix of creativity, appreciation, and strategic communication. Let’s talk about how.

1. Stop Sounding Like Everyone Else

Generic appeals and mass emails might be quick, but they are also a quick way to get ignored. If your donor communications feel flat, overly polished, or like they could have come from any nonprofit anywhere, it is time to change course.

Here is what works:

Personalize your outreach. If your emails still start with “Dear Supporter,” we need to have a talk. Use their name. Reference the last event they attended, the last gift they gave, or the campaign they supported. Use your donor database to segment by giving history, interests, and connection points. Make donors feel seen.

Tell better stories. Your organization is doing important work. Do not bury it in dry copy. Share stories of lives changed, communities strengthened, and progress made. But be careful not to focus only on hardship. Celebrate wins too, even the small ones. Donors want to know their support is making something good happen.

Let donors speak for you. Ask supporters to share why they give. Feature those stories in your newsletter or on social media. When donors see themselves reflected in your cause, it deepens their connection and gives others a reason to lean in too.

2. Celebrate Donors Like They Are the Heroes, Because They Are

Too many nonprofits send a thank-you email and call it done. But if the only time a donor hears from you is when you need money, you are not building a relationship. You are running a transaction.

Here is how to do better:

Send thank-yous that actually feel like thank-yous. “Thanks for your donation” is the bare minimum. Go further. Be specific. Be warm. Include an update, a photo, or a quote from someone impacted by their support.

Here is a simple example:

Dear Ellen,

Thank you for your generous support. Because of your gift, we are able to provide students with the supplies and support they need to thrive this season. Your generosity is helping create opportunity, confidence, and community, and we are so grateful to have you with us.

Build a donor wall. It can be a physical display or a digital one. What matters is that it feels thoughtful and genuine. Highlight donor stories, recognize giving levels, and help supporters see the impact they are making.

Celebrate giving milestones. If someone has given for three years, say so. If they have stayed with you through a tough season, acknowledge it. Send a note. Mark the moment. Let them know they matter.

3. Mix Up Your Fundraising Approach

If your default move is yet another email asking for money, you are not alone. But you are also probably wearing people out.

Give donors a fresh way to say yes.

Try peer-to-peer fundraising. Let your supporters raise money on your behalf. When friends and family see someone they trust championing your cause, it opens the door to new donors and new energy.

Offer experiences, not just appeals. Think events, behind-the-scenes tours, volunteer opportunities, or special impact days. Invite donors into the work in ways that go beyond writing a check.

Build a recurring giving program. Monthly donors are often your most loyal supporters. Make it easy for them to give and make sure they feel appreciated. Regular updates, insider information, and genuine gratitude go a long way.

4. Make It About Community, Not Just Contributions

Donors are not ATMs. They are people who care.

If your fundraising treats them like transactions, they will tune out. But when you remind them that they are part of something meaningful, something bigger than a single gift, they stay connected.

Their dollars fuel real work. Their support creates real change. Their investment matters.

The more you can help donors feel like they are part of your mission, not just funding it from the sidelines, the stronger your relationships will be.

Final Word

Donor fatigue is not always avoidable, but it is manageable.

With better storytelling, smarter segmentation, stronger appreciation, and a little creativity, you can keep your donors engaged, valued, and willing to stick with you.

So wake them up.

Tell them a story worth reading. Invite them into something bigger. Remind them that they matter.

Because they do.

And because your mission is too important to lose momentum now.

‍

Scroll down to explore this week's grants. Deadlines are always approaching, so take a look and see which ones might be the right fit for your nonprofit.

Happy grant writing!

‍

Cisco

Cisco focuses on innovative, tech-enabled solutions in four social investment areas, which include disaster relief, shelter, water, and food; education; economic empowerment; and climate resilience.

No Deadline

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/about/csr/community/nonprofits/product-grant-program.html#~overview

Internet Society Foundation

The Foundation’s Community-Centered Connectivity Program supports nonprofits that expand Internet access and address the key barriers to meaningful Internet access in community, including availability, affordability, and adoption.

Deadline: May 7, 2026

https://www.isocfoundation.org/grant-programme/community-centered-connectivity/

McGuffin Creative Group

Applications are now open for the 2026 McGuffin Grant, created by the Chicago-based marketing and advertising agency, to help a nonprofit further its mission with $30,000 in creative services.

Deadline: April 15, 2026

https://mcguffincg.com/mcguffin-grant/

‍

American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN)

ARIN’s Community Grant Program provides grants in support of initiatives that improve the overall Internet industry and user environment.

Applications Accepted April 16 to June 14, 2026

https://www.arin.net/about/community_grants/program/

Hearst Foundations

A major national funder supporting well-established U.S. nonprofits in education, health, culture, and social services. Equipment or capital expenses may be eligible when aligned with the mission. Must primarily serve large geographic or demographic constituencies. 

No Deadline

https://www.hearstfdn.org/applying-reporting/how-to-apply

Vicek Foundation

The Foundation recognizes and celebrates immigrant contributions in the U.S. and funds programs that focus on supporting immigrant contributions in the arts, sciences, culture, and society, investing in organizations that take a creative approach to putting their mission into action. 

Deadline: April 30,2026

https://vilcek.org/grants/

‍

Picture this. You are holding a tiny plate of appetizers, balancing a drink, and someone at a cocktail party looks at you and says, “So what do you do?”

This is your moment. And you have about the length of one shrimp skewer to make them care.

Most nonprofit leaders freeze in that moment. They ramble. They get too technical. They offer a mission statement that sounds like it was written by a committee that loves long meetings.

But you, my friend, can do better. You can offer a pitch that is human, clear, and compelling. You can offer a pitch that leaves people saying, “Tell me more.”

Here is how you build an elevator pitch that lands.

Step One. The Hook. Ten to fifteen seconds.

Start with who you are and what you do. Skip the small talk. Get right into it. Think of this like the trailer before the movie. It should pull someone in and make them want to stick around.

A single sentence about your mission is enough. Do not firehose people with program details. There is time for that later.

Step Two. The Body. Thirty to sixty seconds.

Now you get to give them something meaty. What makes your nonprofit special. Who you serve. The difference you are making. This is where specificity shines. Numbers. A short story. A human detail. Anything that helps your listener see the impact rather than guess at it.

Paint a picture. Make it vivid. Make it human.

Step Three. The Wrap Up. Twenty to thirty seconds.

Bring it home with a clear and friendly invitation. Not a hard ask. Not a corner-them-in-the-hallway moment. Just an open door.

Think of it like saying, “We would love to have you in our world if it speaks to you.”

Your invitation can be small. Share our work. Follow us on Instagram. Come to a volunteer day. People appreciate an easy on ramp.

What This Sounds Like At A Cocktail Party

Because let’s face it. That is where half of these pitches happen.

Here are three examples that sound like actual humans talking. Use them for inspiration.

Environmental Conservation Example

Hook:
“Hi. I'm Sarah. I run GreenEarth Foundation. We are all about protecting the planet for our grandkids.”

Body:
“We roll up our sleeves and get things done. Tree planting. Clean energy advocacy. Community training. Last year we planted one hundred thousand trees and brought down carbon emissions in our community by twenty percent. It feels pretty incredible to see real change.”

Wrap Up:
“If you ever want to get your hands dirty at one of our tree planting days or just check us out, I would love to loop you in.”

Youth Empowerment Example

Hook:
“I'm David. I started EmpowerYouth. We help kids discover their confidence and leadership.”

Body:
“We match young people with mentors and put on workshops that help them see what is possible for their futures. Ninety percent of the students who go through our programs say they feel more confident at school and at home. It is pretty amazing to watch them grow.”

Wrap Up:
“If you ever want to mentor a student or even host an intern for a few weeks, I would be thrilled to connect you.”

Animal Welfare Example

Hook:
“Hi, I'm Lisa. I run Paws for Compassion. We rescue animals that have had a rough start.”

Body:
“Our team pulls animals from unsafe situations, gets them medical care, and finds them loving homes. This past year, we rescued more than five hundred animals. Watching them go from terrified to tail wagging never gets old.”

Wrap Up:
“Always happy to share our adoption events or foster opportunities if you love animals as much as we do.”

Your Elevator Pitch Is More Than A Pitch

It is an invitation. It is storytelling. It is leadership.

And the more you practice, the more natural it becomes. Do yourself a favor. Write your pitch down. Practice it three times. Out loud. Maybe even in the mirror. Your confidence will rise and your impact will grow right along with it.

You want people to see the heart of your mission in under a minute. When you get this right, they will not forget you. And that is exactly the point.

And honestly, who does not need that?

Scroll down to explore this week's grants. Deadlines are always approaching, so take a look and see which ones might be the right fit for your nonprofit.

Happy grant writing!

‍

Sparkplug Foundation

The Foundation prioritizes grassroots organizing and innovation as the key for creating change and supports projects that engage individuals who have been excluded or marginalized. Funding supports U.S. nonprofits for community organizing projects, education initiatives, and music.

Deadline: May 1, 2026

https://www.sparkplugfoundation.org/apply/

Office of Postsecondary Education

Seeking applications to implement the Talent Search Program, which funds nonprofits and others in supporting disadvantaged individuals in completing secondary school and pursuing higher education.

Deadline: May 1, 2026

https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/361528

Cause Strategy Partners

The Alexandra Hallock Capacity Building Grant supports small nonprofits working to advance human rights, girls' and women’s empowerment, and LGBTQ+ causes by providing financial assistance and capacity-building resources to strengthen their long-term sustainability.

Deadline: April 10, 2026

https://causestrategypartners.com/resources/alexandra-hallock-capacity-building-grant-for-small-nonprofits

AJ Muste Foundation for Peace and Justice

The Foundation’s Social Justice Fund supports projects confronting institutionalized violence against racial, ethnic, gender-based, and LGBTQ communities. The Organizing Grant is designed to support grassroots activist efforts by newly founded and existing organizations working toward systemic change in the U.S.

Deadline: April 6, 2026

https://ajmuste.org/apply/organizing-grants/

DWF Foundation

The Foundation supports registered charities that create an impact in one or more of the following areas: homelessness, health and wellbeing, employability, education, and environment and sustainability. 

Deadline: June 30, 2026

https://dwfgroup.com/en/about-us/dwf-foundation

(If the link doesn't open, please copy and paste in a separate tab or different browser.)

‍

Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation

The Foundation supports community-based organizations and programs for which a small amount of money can have a large impact. 

Deadline: May 11, 2026

https://www.mvdreyfusfoundation.org/

‍

‍