What “Fully Funded” Actually Means
Fundable by Design
I hear nonprofit leaders say it all the time: “Once we’re fully funded, everything will be fine.” But after nearly 40 years in the nonprofit space, I can tell you this: most people don’t actually know what fully funded means. In this episode, I break down what being fully funded really looks like from an operational and funder perspective, not just a hopeful one. If you’re bringing in some money but still feel stretched, overwhelmed, or uncertain, this conversation will help you understand what’s missing, and what to build next. Fully funded isn’t a feeling. It’s a system.
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Nonprofit Success Starts With Operations
Fundable by Design
I’ve seen this over and over again in the nonprofit world: incredible missions, passionate leaders and organizations that still struggle. Here’s the truth I’ve learned after nearly 40 years in this space: Nonprofit success starts with operations. In this episode, I explain why operations are what determine whether a nonprofit survives and grows. If you’ve started your nonprofit but still feel overwhelmed, inconsistent, or unsure why funding hasn’t followed, this conversation will help you understand what funders see and what you can fix. Operations aren’t the boring part....
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Nonprofit vs Program vs Paperwork: What Founders Get Wrong
Fundable by Design
One of the biggest mistakes new nonprofit founders make is confusing the nonprofit, the program, and the paperwork, and that confusion can quietly block funding. Your paperwork makes you legal. Your program delivers services. Your nonprofit is the system that makes both sustainable. If you’ve done “everything right” on paper but still feel stuck, this conversation will help you reframe how you’re building and why structure matters more than forms.
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Are Donors Stingy? Busting This Nonprofit Myth
Fundable by Design
One of the biggest myths in nonprofit fundraising is this: “Fundraising is hard because donors don’t want to give.” That’s simply not true. Donors aren’t withholding money. They’re avoiding uncertainty and risk. If fundraising feels exhausting, awkward, or impossible, this conversation will help you see fundraising through the donor’s eyes — and change how you approach it.
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Why Funders Avoid Risk Even When the Mission Is Good
Fundable by Design
When nonprofit leaders hear the word risk, they often think about money. Funders think about something very different. Funders don’t avoid impact. They avoid uncertainty. If your nonprofit keeps hearing “not right now” or “not a fit,” this conversation will help you understand what funders are seeing and how to position your organization differently.
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The Moment Passion Turns Into Real Leadership
Fundable by Design
Passion is often what starts the work, but leadership is what sustains it. Turning your passion into leadership doesn’t mean losing heart. It means building something that can last beyond you. If you’ve felt the tension between loving the mission and carrying the weight of responsibility, this conversation will help you step into the next level of your work.
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Capacity Isn’t Cash. Here’s What Funders Actually Mean
Fundable by Design
When funders talk about capacity, many nonprofit leaders hear one thing: money. But that’s not what capacity actually means, and misunderstanding it is one of the biggest reasons nonprofits stay unfunded. Capacity is about ability, not balance. It’s about whether your nonprofit can deliver what it promises. If you’ve been told you “lack capacity” and assumed it meant you needed more money, this video will change how you see funding and how you prepare for it.
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Why Nonprofit Leaders Burn Out Before They Get Funded
Fundable by Design
Nonprofit burnout doesn’t happen because leaders don’t care enough. It happens because most founders are building, fundraising, and serving without the structure that makes funding possible. If you’ve been doing everything (running programs, posting online, applying for grants) and still feel stuck, this isn’t a motivation issue. It’s a fundability issue. Burnout is a warning sign, not a personal failure.
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The Grant Myth Is Getting Worse (And It’s Hurting New Nonprofits)
Fundable by Design
Many founders still believe that getting nonprofit status leads to grants. Not only is that wrong, but it’s making the journey harder than ever. Funding doesn’t come from starting a nonprofit. Funding comes from being fundable. In this episode of Nonprofit Nuggets, I'm discussing why today’s nonprofit landscape makes the “start a nonprofit and get a grant” mindset more damaging than ever.
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What I Wish Nonprofit Leaders Knew Before Starting
Fundable by Design
Starting a nonprofit often begins with passion — but passion alone won’t protect you from burnout, chaos, or costly mistakes. In this episode, I share what I wish nonprofit leaders understood before starting their organizations. We’ll talk about the realities of leadership, the importance of structure and systems, and why chasing funding without a foundation can hold you back instead of moving you forward. This isn’t meant to discourage you — it’s meant to help you start smarter, stronger, and more sustainably.
info_outlineWords are everything in fundraising. One major key to your success is found in the strength of your nonprofit storytelling.
The way you tell your story and engage people in your message can make or break your fundraising efforts.
Jen, what do we mean by storytelling you may ask...
At its most basic level, storytelling is a way to convey facts, information, history and experience from one person, the teller, to another, the listener, but it goes deeper than that.
Stories are interactive, connecting, bonding and gripping.
Shared stories can tie whole cultures and groups together. Shared stories connect and bind all sorts of people, from families to religious groups. Your best friend is your best friend because there are a few stories only the two of you share.
In fundraising, stories are one of the strongest ways to make emotional connections between donors, organizations and community impact.
Nonprofit storytelling lets donors and volunteers know that they are making an impact and making life better for real people.
In other words, you are letting your donor know that he/she is part of your story and most importantly part of the beneficiary’s story.
So, how good are you at using storytelling in fundraising?
Why is storytelling an effective fundraising tactic to increase funding and engagement?
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It connects with the emotions. Stories are much more powerful and motivating than merely using statistics or discussing administrative goals. Donors don’t support you so you can buy a new printer or move into a better building. Those things may be important, but only as a means to the real goal of helping make the world a better place.
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It shows donors that their actions are making a difference. They need to know that goals are being met and lives are being improved. The emotional satisfaction can keep them motivated and prevent burnout. It may inspire them to donate more and get more involved with your cause.
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It gives dignity and context to the beneficiaries and connects their lives to the donors. Telling stories prevents your beneficiaries from being just another statistic. It gives them depth and authenticity. It allows them to have a voice in your foundation just as staff, donors, and volunteers have a voice. It reminds everyone involved that you are helping living, breathing people.
Begin to use this powerful tool right away! Today in fact. When you are ready for expert help, schedule 20 min. on my calendar to make the shift right away: www.jdyarbrough.com