Hi Reader Back-to-school season always brings a certain energy: sharpen the pencils, clean out the backpack, get a little more organized than we were in July, and brace ourselves for the return of deadlines (although in the grant world itās like finals week every weekš). For nonprofits, it is also the perfect time to do a little grant strategy reset. This summer on the Carinci Consulting blog, we explored three big shifts in the current funding landscape: federal grants, foundation grants,...
9 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read
August 2026 āļø Did Your Grants Strategy Take a Vacation This Summer? August is that funny in-between month: vacations are winding down, back-to-school energy is picking up, and fall deadlines are suddenly a lot closer than they looked in June.So hereās the question: Did your grants strategy take a summer vacation too?If so, no judgment. Summer can be a lot. But if your team is finalizing your 2026 budget, adjusting your fiscal roadmap, or looking ahead to fall and winter submissions, this is...
23 days agoĀ ā¢Ā 9 min read
July 2026 Freedom From Funding Chaos š½ July is full of independence talkāso letās claim a kind of independence nonprofits rarely get enough of: š Freedom from grant chaos. š Freedom from last-minute deadline sprints. š Freedom from chasing low-fit opportunities. š Freedom to focus on mission while your funding strategy runs like a systemānot a fire drill. This month, weāre focusing on two practical ways to get there: 1. Using July as your strategic drafting window (so fall deadlines donāt run...
about 1 month agoĀ ā¢Ā 4 min read
Hello, community. July is often framed around independence, fireworks, and freedomāso letās talk about a kind of freedom nonprofits donāt celebrate enough: š„Freedom from funding chaos.āØFreedom from chasing every RFP.šFreedom from last-minute proposal sprints.š„Freedom to focus on impactā¦without burning out your people. Here are a few āfreedom movesā you can make this monthāpulled from Carinci Consulting resources and a few external reads that pair well with summer strategy. 1) Declare...
about 2 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read
Warm greetings, mission-driven leaders: If youāre anything like me, June is a great month for a little āread + recalibrateā before fall deadlines start crowding the calendar. Below is a short roundup of what Iāve been reading latelyāeach with a quick takeaway you can actually use in your grant strategy. 1) The donor base is shrinkingāeven when headline giving looks āfineā This SSIR piece highlights a major trend: total giving can look healthy while the number of giving households declines,...
2 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 1 min read
June 2026 āļø Mid-Year Check-In (No Panic Required) Letās be honest, nonprofit teams are juggling a lotāprogram delivery, staffing, events, board needs, and about 47 other priorities. June is that month where the year quietly clears its throat and says, āHeyā¦howās that plan going?ā š
If this question has you sweating like undecided seniors being asked for college or career plans, the good news is you donāt need a total overhaulāyou usually just need a quick reset and a clearer game plan for...
3 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 5 min read
May 2026 Fund What Works: The May Grants Mindset Shift š±May has a way of making everything feel like it should be growingāplants, plans, programsā¦proposal pressure included. But in grantland, ābiggerā isnāt always better. In fact, one of the most strategic moves a nonprofit can make is resisting the urge to chase growth for growthās sake. This month, weāre leaning into a more fundable (and sustainable) idea: depth over hype. The organizations that win consistently arenāt always the ones doing...
4 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 5 min read
April 2026 š± From One Workshop to Whatās Next April often feels like a resetāthe moment when ideas that have been sitting quietly start to take shape. Recently, I had the opportunity to lead a grant strategy workshop at the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), and Iām still thinking about the conversations that came out of it. Thank you to AACTE for the invitationāand to everyone who showed up ready to think differently about funding. One thing that stood out: the...
5 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 6 min read
March 2026 š„March Matchups ā Make Your Grants Portfolio Work Harder March is where the year gets real. Q1 momentum is building, deadlines are starting to stack, and the question becomes: Are you choosing the right opportunitiesāor just the next ones? This monthās theme is March Matchupsābecause grant success isnāt only about writing well. Itās about picking battles you can actually win and punching above your weight. When your proposals go to funders that truly match your mission, capacity,...
6 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 5 min read
February 2026 š§” Welcome to New (and Returning!) Grant Gurus and Novices If youāre new hereāwelcome! š This newsletter is written by me, Jennifer Carinci, Ed.D., PMP, Founder & Principal Consultant at Carinci Consulting and produced with help from my team. (Special shout out to Sam!) We partner with nonprofits, school districts, and higher education institutions to design smart grant strategies, write competitive proposals, and build sustainable funding pipelines. Weāve had a record number of...
7 months agoĀ ā¢Ā 7 min read