How to Move Non-Profits Away from Grants and Toward Sustainability

This is the one I attended for Science Alliance for Valuing the Environment – SAVE.  Seems as if many non-profits are having a very difficult time trying to find funds for their organizations.  The use of grant writers is proving to be ineffective much of the time and resulting in non-profit staff reduction and even the closing of the organizations.  Some of the ideas passed around include:

People support what they love.  Love is an emotional feeling that opens up virtues of generosity.  Solutions could include finding those individuals and companies that love your concept, establishing a relationship, and then ask for direct funding.

Non-profits cannot expect continuous funding for their organizational growth model.  If the organization grows, there may not be funds to sustain that growth.  A better idea would be to establish a sustainable organizational model and look for the interested people/organizations to fund it.

Look to creating ideas for projects and use the project ideas to solicit funding.  Instead of non-profit growth, it may be easier to get funding for great ideas and plans.

The extensive use of all kinds of social media to get the word out on what your non-profit is about.  This will make it easier to link up with those passionate about your organization and to solicit funding.

Make sure you have a plan / vision before you ask for money.  This will link funders to projects and not organizations.