Stephanie Robertson

When Medicaid and SNAP cuts go into effect, around 12 million families will lose both their health insurance *and* their nutrition assistance benefits, according to a new Urban Institute study. While 32 million households participate in Medicaid and 15 million participate in SNAP, a large percentage participate in both. Data show that certain areas could be hit the hardest—including Appalachia, along the U.S.-Mexico border, and large cities. This study paints a dark picture of the challenges that millions will face and how their health, nutrition, and wellbeing will be impacted. https://lnkd.in/ez5SC8wf

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12 Keys to Conducting Effective Donor Interviews Curiosity is a fundraisers greatest asset. Yet even the most curious must learn to ask questions that yield the most insight into donor motivation and to link those propensities to institutional mission.  The most important time to put structured curiosity to its best use in when meeting potential donors for the first time - including those who you are meeting for the first time even though they have given to your organization before. The rapport you do or do not establish with the donor at such meetings will be highly determinant of how the process unfolds, or not. A fundraiser can begin to establish a rapport and put the prospect at ease by saying, “May I ask a few questions to ensure that we do all we can to relate our work to causes and purposes that you care most about? Assuming the prospect agrees, the most strategic question to ask is, “To what cause or purpose do you give the most, and why?” If the prospect responds by saying “social justice,” citing a number of issues and incidents that have dominated the headlines in the last year, the fundraiser would be wise to pivot to the social justice work being done, and to be done by their organization. Attempting to compete with donors’ pet causes, or being oblivious to them, will never be as effective as aligning with them because they are rooted so deeply in the donor’s psyche. As someone who has conducted an enormous number of donor interviews and who continues to do so for various clients (in one recent week, I conducted 29), I thought it might be helpful to show how I get up for an interview and I ensure that I make the most of it. Below is the advice I give myself when preparing for each.

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‼️ Nonprofit leaders working in Oklahoma's justice space. Please check this out and share! The Justice Funders Network of Oklahoma (JFNO), a coalition of local and national funders focused on criminal legal reform in our state, has released its first grant opportunity.   This cycle includes two funding priorities: 1. Statewide Alternatives to Incarceration – supporting efforts to expand and strengthen alternatives to incarceration, including building on the progress of State Questions 780 and 781.   2. Reducing Women’s Incarceration – supporting work to reduce Oklahoma’s high rates of women’s incarceration, with particular attention to survivors of domestic violence and mothers.   In addition, JFNO funds work aligned with its broader goals of system transformation, narrative change, and policy/advocacy—all aimed at creating safer, healthier, and more equitable communities across Oklahoma.   If this aligns with your organization’s work, I encourage you to take a look and consider applying.  You can find the full RFP through the link in the comments.

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Fundraisers often use “planned giving,” “gift planning,” “legacy giving,” and “deferred and estate giving” as if they mean the same thing. They don’t, and the distinctions matter. - Planned Giving: The traditional term, widely recognized in the U.S., though it can sound transactional and dated. - Gift Planning: Preferred by practitioners, and a more modern, donor-centered approach highlighting the thoughtful alignment of philanthropy with personal financial goals. - Legacy Giving: The most resonant with donors, emphasizing values, story, and the enduring impact of one’s generosity. - Deferred & Estate Giving: A technical descriptor often used in policies, covering bequests and other gifts that mature at death. Each has its place. But when speaking with donors, I lean into legacy giving because generosity is about meaning, not mechanics. Internally, policies and strategies may require the precision of “deferred and estate giving” or “gift planning.” Externally, our job is to help donors see that legacy is not about loss—it’s about life continuing in new ways through the causes they cherish. What language do you use most with your board, with your staff, and with your donors? #Fundraising #Philanthropy #CharitableGiving #PlannedGiving #GiftPlanning #LegacyGiving #DeferredandEstateGiving

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🚨 The #1 mistake nonprofits make in grant writing? Treating the budget like an afterthought. A persuasive grant budget is not just numbers, it’s a story in disguise. Your budget is one of the most powerful credibility signals to funders. Done right, it shows you have the capacity, sustainability, and systems to deliver real impact. Done wrong, it raises red flags. Here are 7-steps our grant writing agency uses to design a budget that tells a story: 🔹 Anchor Budget to the Narrative Every budget line should connect to the proposal’s activities. Outreach in the narrative? Outreach costs in the budget. Alignment builds funder confidence. 🔹 Signal Organizational Capacity Include realistic salaries, overhead, and service costs. Underpricing staff undermines credibility; show you know what it takes to manage responsibly. 🔹 Demonstrate Sustainability Illustrate how costs evolve post-grant. Share co-funding, partner uptake, or transition plans to show this is an investment, not a one-off. 🔹 Highlight Leverage & Cost-Share Show in-kind support or co-financing, no matter how small. It signals commitment, stakeholder buy-in, and efficiency. 🔹 Prioritize Transparency & Realism Skip vague round numbers. Break expenses into logical subcategories to show precision and financial discipline. 🔹 Demonstrate Impact Efficiency Frame costs against outcomes: “$200 per participant trained” is more persuasive than a lump sum. Funders see value-for-money clearly. 🔹 Leave a Trace of Institutional Strength Include modest but real indirect costs. Zero admin = red flag. Reasonable overhead = institutional maturity. ✨ Grant budgets are strategic storytelling tools. When numbers and narrative align, your proposal becomes unforgettable. ♻️ If you found this helpful, please repost so others can benefit too 🔔 Follow me for more resources and grant writing advice #grantsconsultant #nonprofitfunding #grantwriting #donordevelopment #fundraisingstrategy #communityimpact

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5 Metrics Every Nonprofit Board Director Should Master As a nonprofit CEO, I’ve witnessed how powerful a well-informed board can be. To lead with purpose, every director must go beyond governance—they must own the numbers that shape mission, trust, and momentum. |• These five metrics aren’t just indicators—they’re leadership in action. { 1. Fundraising Efficiency . Measures how cost-effectively your nonprofit raises money. A gold standard is $0.20 or less per $1 raised. . Why does it matter? Because every dollar saved is a dollar redirected to impact. - I’ve helped boards recalibrate their strategies using this metric, building donor confidence and financial integrity. { 2. Program Expense Ratio . Reflects the proportion of funds invested directly in mission work—aim for 70%+. . This is more than optics; it’s a signal of alignment between your values and your budget. - Boards that internalize this ratio steer the organization with purpose and precision. { 3. Donor Retention Rate . Tracks how many supporters return year after year. . A rate above 60% indicates trust and a compelling mission narrative. - I’ve seen firsthand how boards that prioritize relational stewardship cultivate reliable, long-term revenue. { 4. Cash Reserves . Measure how long your organization could operate without new income. . The ideal is 3–6 months. . This buffer empowers bold decisions and ensures resilience during disruptions. - A strong reserve isn’t excess—it’s strategic foresight. { 5. Volunteer Engagement . Reveals how time, not just money, fuels your mission. . Track hours and impact—10+ hours per volunteer annually signals a thriving ecosystem of shared purpose. - Boards that elevate this metric unlock new capacity and deeper community roots. | These aren’t vanity metrics—they’re a leadership compass. - Fundraising and Program ratios show stewardship. - Retention and Reserves reflect trust and foresight. - Volunteer data reveals your human capital engine. Master these, and you lead with clarity, credibility, and courage. 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 —and these five metrics are where transformation begins. Thinkers360 #NonprofitLeadership #InspiringTheBusinessWorld #Leadership #ThoughtLeadership

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