How to Position Your Organization to Be Fully Funded in 90 Days
Fundable by Design
Let’s talk about next steps. If you’ve been learning, listening, and realizing that something needs to change in how your organization is set up, this video is about moving from awareness to action. In this conversation, I walk you through how I think about positioning an organization to be fully funded within the next 90 days, not through wishful thinking, but through clarity, structure, and alignment.
info_outline
You’ll Never Get It Right If You Understand It Wrong
Fundable by Design
I see this mistake over and over again: smart, passionate leaders working hard and still not getting the results they want. And the problem usually isn’t effort. It’s understanding. If you’ve felt like you’re doing everything you’re “supposed” to do but nothing is clicking, this conversation will help you identify where the misunderstanding started and how to realign. You don’t need to work harder. You need to understand better.
info_outline
The Two Hats Every Nonprofit Leader Wears
Fundable by Design
There are two hats you wear. You wear a program hat, and you wear an administrative entity hat. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything and still falling behind, this conversation will help you understand what’s really happening and how to lead more effectively. You don’t need to do more. You need to lead differently.
info_outline
Passion Is Not a Plan (And That’s Why So Many Nonprofits Struggle)
Fundable by Design
I want to say this plainly, because I’ve seen the cost of it for decades: passion is not a plan. If you care deeply about your mission but feel like you’re working nonstop with little progress, this isn’t a motivation problem. It’s a planning problem, and that’s fixable. Passion starts the work. A plan is what makes it sustainable.
info_outline
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.
info_outline
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....
info_outline
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.
info_outline
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.
info_outline
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.
info_outline
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.
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?
-
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.
-
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.
-
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