📈 Is Frugality Undermining Your Nonprofit's Success?


March 2025

Redefining Nonprofit Success:

Beyond Frugality

This month, we've been thinking about how adopting a mindset that prioritizes ambitious goals and substantial achievements—rather than minimal overhead—can transform our approach and that of the nonprofits we serve to securing grants.
Let's draw inspiration from Dan Pallotta's thought-provoking TED Talk, which challenges the conventional wisdom about how we evaluate the effectiveness of nonprofits. His insights into the double standards that nonprofits face can empower us to advocate for a shift in how potential funders perceive value and success in charitable organizations.

As we explore these ideas, consider how redefining success could elevate your organization's impact.

Discover more about changing the narrative for nonprofits by watching Dan Pallotta’s TED Talk here:

video preview

Let’s embrace a bolder approach to making a difference and inspire our communities to invest in what truly matters—real, impactful change.


From Chaos to Clarity: How to Make Your Next Grant Proposal Practically Write Itself

Does grant writing sometimes feel like staring at a 1,000-piece puzzle with no picture on the box? You’re not alone. For many nonprofits, the grant writing process can feel overwhelming, messy, and downright chaotic. But here’s the good news: with a clear plan and a few organizational hacks, you can transform the process from a stress-inducing scramble to a streamlined operation. Let’s dive into how to make your next grant proposal practically write itself.


Unlock your creative potential! 🚀 This insightful article shares practical tips to tap into your creativity and bring fresh ideas to life. Check it out! 🎨✨

Read more HERE!


Facilitating Research at Predominantly Undergraduate Institutions: (RUI and ROA-PUI)

Award Amount: RUI ~$225,000 - $1,000,000+ ROA awards are for up to $80,000

Deadline: Full proposal accepted anytime

Description: RUI proposals support PUI faculty in research that engages them in their professional field(s), builds capacity for research at their home institution, and supports the integration of research and undergraduate education. ROAs similarly support PUI faculty research, but these awards typically allow faculty to work as visiting scientists at research-intensive organizations where they collaborate with other NSF-supported investigators.

NEH Humanities Initiatives at Colleges and Universities

Award Amount: up to $150,000

Deadline: May 6, 2025; optional draft due March 25, 2025

Description: Strengthens the teaching and study of the humanities by supporting the development of new or improvement of existing humanities programs, educational resources, or coursework. Projects must address a core topic or focused set of themes drawn from humanities areas such as history, philosophy, religion, languages and literature, or humanities-informed composition and writing skills.

Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Directorate for STEM Education (IUSE: EDU)

Award Amount: ICT Level 2 $400,001 to $2 million; ESL Level 2 up to $400,000; ESL Level 3 $750,001 to $2 million

Deadline: July 16, 2025 for Institutional and Community Transformation (ICT Level 2) proposals and Engaged Student Learning (ESL Level 2 and Level 3) proposals

Description: The ICT track funds innovative work applying evidence-based practices that improve undergraduate STEM education and research on the organizational change processes involved in implementing evidence-based practices. The ESL track focuses on design, development, and research projects that involve the creation, exploration, or implementation of tools, resources, and models. Projects must show high potential to increase student engagement and learning in STEM.

Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER)

Award Amount: minimum of $400,000 for the 5-year duration

Deadline: July, 23, 2025

Description: Supports early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization.

TD Charitable Foundation: Capacity Building Fund

Award Amount: $ $25,000-$150,000

Deadline: May 30, 2025

Description: Provides grants to nonprofit organizations in TD Bank’s U.S. market areas (including CT, DE, DC, FL, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, SC, VA, and VT) to help strengthen and increase the impact of organizations on the communities they serve. These grants support work around three key issues: tactics, talent, and tools. Support is primarily provided for programs aligned to one of TD’s corporate citizenship priorities: better health, connected communities, financial security, and a vibrant planet.

Venable Foundation Grants

Award Amount: Average $10,000D

Deadline: June 1, September 1, February 1

Description: Support projects that provide access to equitable employment opportunities, healthcare, housing, food, and more to help communities where Venable has offices (DC, Northern Virginia, Baltimore, New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Miami, and Denver) thrive.

Spark Good Local Grant Program

Award Amount: $250 - $5,000

Deadline: Applications are accepted and reviewed on a quarterly basis: current period: Mar. 7 – Apr. 15, 2025

Description: Designed to support local organizations focused on community-building, hunger relief, public safety, or education that meet the unique needs of the communities where Walmart operates.


🌟 Client Testimonial Spotlight 🌟

We are please to share this incredible testimonial from Dr. Amelia Randich, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Biology and PILLAR Faculty Coordinator

University of Scranton | Scranton, PA


We are happy to announce that our client, a public school in Curry County, Oregon, has been awarded a COPS School Violence Prevention Program from the US Department of Justice (DOJ)


Do you know a nonprofit, higher education institution, school district, or mission-driven organization looking to secure funding and make a greater impact? 💡✨

Refer them to Carinci Consulting! Together, we can help them unlock their full potential with expert grant strategy and writing. 🤝

BONUS 💼 Through our new referral program you can earn: -$1,000, if your referral signs on as a 12-month strategy client or -$200, if your referral signs on for a project.

Your referral could be the first step toward their next big breakthrough.🌟


🎉 Congratulations to our YouTube channel subscriber giveaway winner, Allan Carraway from Anchorage, Alaska! 🎉

Allan is a Certified FocalPoint Business Coach who collaborates with community-minded business decision-makers. With over 20 years of experience in small business and retail management, Allan specializes in business development, customer service, recruiting, human resources, and finance. He provides support, comfort, and accountability to help clients achieve their desired lifestyle.

Learn more about Allan's coaching services HERE

Thank you, Allan, for being a valued subscriber!


🔔 Level Up Your Grant Game! 🔔
Subscribe to Carinci Consulting for expert tips on grant strategy, funding success, and nonprofit growth! 🚀✨

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Carinci Consulting: Strategy, Funding, Coaching, and Evaluation Services to Advance Nonprofit Impact

As Founder and Principal Consultant of Carinci Consulting, I bring two decades of non-profit leadership launching national strategic and research initiatives, conceptualizing networked improvement communities, and forging diverse partnerships to address gaps and improve stakeholder outcomes. Since launching a grants agency in December of 2022, I have helped clients win over $30 million in grant funding and have advanced a total of over $54 million in my career. How could leveraging my expertise advance your mission and free up your time?

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