Diversified funding is a nonprofit nemesis.

Diversified funding is a nonprofit nemesis.

Diversified fundraising helps you survive early on. But it’s not how you get big. If you want to grow significantly, you have to muster the courage to put all your eggs in one basket. Then engage all those eggs in that one basket. And meet the requirements of that primary funding source.

The one-sentence theory of change.

The one-sentence theory of change.

A confused mind never funds. And the most common donor grievance we hear (by far) is that they can’t understand what you actually do. So here’s a formula to help. A simple, six-piece format to clarify and summarize your theory of change in a single sentence.

Climb the brand comms ladder.

Climb the brand comms ladder.

Brand communications is like a ladder with 10 steps. The higher rungs help nonprofits (and foundations!) maximize their funding. Understand the 10 steps — from Beginner to Influencer. Then learn how to level up your comms. And boost your fundraising, rung by rung.

Brand first, funding second.

Brand first, funding second.

Nonprofit leaders have countless necessary priorities. But funding isn’t #1. Because brand is strategy; fundraising is execution. And a foundation’s most valuable asset is not its money. Instead, brand is the best investment. A contrarian point of view. So let us try to convince you.

Theory of change: brand ambition.

Theory of change: brand ambition.

Theory of change: brand ambition. The need, the work, and the results of your model — to maximize funding KEVIN L. BROWN A theory of change is any social venture’s most important document. It’s critical to creating sustained impact and raising money alike. But...