Hey Reader,

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Happy New Year!

I took the entire month of December off from this newsletter and (mostly) from social media. 2024 was a busy year for me personally and professionally, in addition to being an overwhelming year on the global scale.

I hope that your 2024 wrap-up was as relaxing or exciting as you needed it to be. I have to admit that over at least the past two years, I have been struggling with embracing joy while also witnessing huge injustices in the world. I know it’s not new nor have we left them behind in 2024. And, I don’t have a solution to share in this email (but if you have some thoughts, I’d like to hear them. Hit reply and let me know).

While the world’s problems may feel monumental, there are actions we can and are taking (my social impact friends) to make the world better. That makes me optimistic about what’s in store for 2025.

The start of the new year is when many individuals and organizations begin to make plans and set goals for the year ahead. So I have a question for you…

When was the last time your organization checked in with your constituents?

Do you know what they need right now? How is your organization addressing or adapting to meet their needs? How are you checking in (surveys, phone calls, focus groups)?

I suppose that’s four questions. My bad.

But, my point is:

You already know that your programs and services should be informed by community need. Being intentional in gathering feedback and fostering two-way communication sets up your organization to adapt as needed and also show evidence to help you make your case for support.

So, before you start drafting that needs statement for your next grant application, consider including your constituent’s voices. Yes, you can and should pull data from reputable sources like Census.gov. But it’s so powerful when you can include data, quotes, and stories from the constituents you serve. In the education and youth development space, that means reaching out to youth participants, their guardians, and the practitioners who support them to understand current needs.

Speaking from experience, I know it can be challenging to get input:

• maybe your nonprofit staff is juggling many tasks that it’s difficult to find time
• or, you are your nonprofit staff (aka, one-person shop)
• when you do outreach, you hear crickets because parents/guardians are busy juggling their own responsibilities including one or more jobs, childcare, etc.
• young kids, even up to middle school, can have a tough time putting into words the impact the program has had on them

That’s why being intentional and starting early helps you gather the information you need (in theory) before you need it. Set up systems that are doable for your team and offer multiple ways for your constituents to respond such as video, surveys, or listening sessions.

Looking for ideas or templates to support you? This Community Tool Box developed by the Center for Community Health and Development at the University of Kansas has been a particularly useful tool for me in my days as an educational leader and now.

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Happy Grant Seeking,

Tiffany

#GrantOpportunities