Heart For the Community Consulting LLC

10/19/2026

Funders are not investing simply because your organization needs money.

They are investing in what your organization makes possible.

In Part 16 of our Building Financially Healthy Nonprofits series, we explore an important shift in fundraising:

Instead of stopping at
“We need another staff member.”
“We need a new database.”
“We need general operating support.”

Ask: What changes because that investment is made?

When you connect your organization’s needs to the outcomes they make possible, your request becomes more than an expense.

It becomes an invitation to invest in impact.

📖 Read Part 16 here:
https://www.heartforthecommunityconsulting.com/post/part-16-funders-don-t-want-to-fund-your-existence

Your organization needs money.I know that sounds obvious.💰 You have salaries to pay.💰 Rent.💰 Insurance.💰 Technology.💰 Programs.💰 Administrative expenses.Maybe you've identified some of the capacity investments we discussed last week.All of those needs are real.But here's the challe...

10/18/2026

What if the people your nonprofit serves had an actual seat at the boardroom table? 👀

We often talk about building stronger nonprofit boards, but here's a question worth asking:

Are we making decisions WITH our communities or simply FOR them?

In this clip from our upcoming Bold, Black & Building conversation, we hear about an interesting approach to nonprofit board governance: creating a seat for a program participant to bring firsthand experiences and perspectives into leadership conversations.

Because sometimes, the people closest to the challenges have insights that can change how we approach the solutions. 💛

For nonprofit founders, executive directors, and board members, this is a conversation worth having!

🎙️ Join me and our guests for this month's Bold, Black & Building: Working with a Board of Directors, where we'll explore nonprofit leadership, community representation, and building boards that truly support the mission.

📅 Wednesday, October 21
🕦 11:30 AM ET

🔗 RSVP on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/events/bold-black-building-workingwith7514686214848053248/theater/

I'd love to hear your thoughts: Would you consider having a program participant serve on your nonprofit's board? Why or why not?

10/14/2026

Before a funder reads your budget, they are already looking for signals.

They want to understand whether your organization is aligned, prepared, clear, measurable, and thinking beyond the life of the grant.

This is why grant readiness matters.

A strong proposal is not just about beautiful writing. It is about showing that your mission, programs, capacity, outcomes, and sustainability plan are strong enough to support the funding you are requesting.

Swipe through for 5 things funders check before they even read your budget.

Then explore more grant readiness resources here:
https://www.heartforthecommunityconsulting.com/resources

10/12/2026

Capacity building is not separate from the mission.

It is part of the mission.

In Part 15 of our Building Financially Healthy Nonprofits series, we’re talking about the people, systems, technology, knowledge, and infrastructure that make strong programs possible.

Because growth without capacity can leave organizations more stretched, more fragile, and more dependent on a few people carrying too much.

Sometimes the next step is not another program.

Sometimes it is:

👥 hiring the support your team actually needs
💻 updating outdated technology
📊 strengthening financial or evaluation systems
🎓 investing in staff development
🗂️ creating processes that do not live in one person’s head

These are not “extra” investments.

They are what help your organization deliver its mission consistently and sustainably.

📖 Read Part 15 here:
https://www.heartforthecommunityconsulting.com/post/part-15-capacity-building-is-mission-work

For years, the nonprofit sector has created an artificial divide between two things:The mission and The organization that makes the mission possible.We celebrate money spent on programs.But money spent strengthening the organization?Sometimes we feel like we have to explain—or even apologize for.....

10/11/2026

A simple thank-you can do more than acknowledge a gift, it can build a relationship.

This moment from a previous Bold, Black & Building conversation with Daryle Unseld was such a powerful reminder that fundraising is not only about the ask. It is also about stewardship, gratitude, follow-up, and helping donors feel connected to the impact they are helping create.

When nonprofit leaders communicate with care, celebrate generosity, and keep relationships warm, trust grows. And sometimes, that trust opens the door to deeper support.

A thank-you turned into a $10,000 gift — not because of pressure, but because of relationship.

If you want to watch the full conversation, you can view the full podcast episode here:
https://www.linkedin.com/events/bold-black-building-daryleunsel7491599081581051904/theater/

You can also explore more nonprofit leadership, funding strategy, and grant readiness resources here:
https://www.heartforthecommunityconsulting.com

10/09/2026

When nonprofit leaders are first starting out, the right guidance can make all the difference.

This reflection from Linda James-Rivera, Founder & President of Northwest Mutual Aid Collective, Inc., is such a meaningful reminder of why we do this work. Grant readiness is not just about writing proposals — it is about taking the time to understand the organization, strengthen the foundation, and offer strategy that leaders can continue using long after the conversation ends.

If your nonprofit is growing, preparing for funding, or trying to get clearer about your next steps, you can learn more about our work and explore helpful resources here:
https://www.heartforthecommunityconsulting.com

10/07/2026

Not sure if your organization is grant-ready?

That is exactly why the free Grant Readiness Quiz exists.

Before you spend time chasing funding opportunities, it helps to understand where your organization may already be strong and where there may be gaps in your programs, systems, strategy, or fundraising approach.

The quiz is a simple starting point to help you stop guessing and begin building with more clarity.

And after you take it, I’d love to stay connected through the newsletter, where I share practical nonprofit insights, grant-readiness tips, resources, and weekly guidance to help you strengthen your foundation over time.

Take the free quiz + subscribe for more support: https://form.typeform.com/to/KosC55F5?typeform-source=www.google.com

10/05/2026

What would your nonprofit budget look like if you built it around what your mission actually requires — not just what you think you can afford?

In Part 14 of our Building Financially Healthy Nonprofits series, we explore why strong budgets should start with organizational need, not survival mode.

Too often, nonprofits quietly work around what is missing:

👥 staff absorb extra responsibilities
💻 outdated technology gets stretched another year
🎓 professional development gets postponed
📊 evaluation and fundraising capacity stay underfunded

Over time, those workarounds can start to feel normal.

But a balanced budget does not always mean a healthy one.

This blog invites nonprofit leaders to ask a different question:

Are we operating efficiently or have we simply become really good at working around what is missing?

📖 Read Part 14 here:
https://www.heartforthecommunityconsulting.com/post/part-14-build-the-budget-your-mission-requires

Before you begin building your next organizational budget, try an exercise.❌ Don't start with last year's budget.❌ Don't start with what you raised last year.❌ And don't start with what you think you can raise next year.Instead, start with: “What would it take to do this work well?”What wo...

09/28/2026

There is no perfect nonprofit revenue mix.

The goal is not to have equal percentages from grants, individual donors, corporate partners, events, government contracts, and earned revenue.

The goal is to build a funding mix that makes sense for your organization— and gives you enough flexibility that losing one major source does not put the entire mission at risk.

In Part 13 of our Building Financially Healthy Nonprofits series, we explore why diversified revenue is not just a fundraising tactic.

It is a leadership strategy.

Because concentration creates vulnerability.

Diversification creates options.

And financially healthy organizations need options.

📖 Read the full blog here:
https://www.heartforthecommunityconsulting.com/post/part-13-diversified-revenue-is-a-leadership-strategy

Let's start by getting one misconception out of the way.There is no perfect nonprofit revenue mix.Your organization does not need to receive 20% of its revenue from individuals, 20% from foundations, 20% from government, 20% from corporations, and 20% from earned income to be financially healthy.The...

09/23/2026

Is your paperwork funder-ready?

In Week 4 of Grant Readiness Mastery Training, we’ll focus on the financial and legal readiness pieces that funders often look for before they make an investment.

Because funders are not only reviewing your program idea — they’re also paying attention to whether your organization is prepared to manage funding responsibly.

We’ll talk about the documents, systems, and readiness indicators that help strengthen your organization’s foundation before the next opportunity opens.

And your $600 investment includes: https://heartforthecommunityconsulting.my.canva.site/grant-readiness-mastery-training

✔️ 4 live training sessions
✔️ Grant Readiness Assessment
✔️ Grant Readiness Toolkit
✔️ Customized Action Plan
✔️ 30-Day Check-In

If you’re ready to move from grant chaos to confidence, this training was created for you.

Register for the Fall Cohort: