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 $200 million in grant funding. How could leveraging my expertise advance your mission and free up your time?
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🔭 Mid-Year Strategy Reset + What to Prioritize Now for Fall Funding Success
Published 25 days ago • 5 min read
June 2026
☀️ Mid-Year Check-In
(No Panic Required)
Let’s be honest, nonprofit teams are juggling a lot—program delivery, staffing, events, board needs, and about 47 other priorities. June is that month where the year quietly clears its throat and says, “Hey…how’s that plan going?” 😅 If this question has you sweating like undecided seniors being asked for college or career plans, the good news is you don’t need a total overhaul—you usually just need a quick reset and a clearer game plan for what’s ahead.
For those whose grant strategy feels scattered (or like it’s quietly slipping to the bottom of the to-do list), this month is for you. In this issue, we’ll do two things:
1. Run a quick mid-year “grant ROI” check-in to help you focus on what’s most winnable and mission-aligned, and
2. Look ahead at what funder cycles tend to do in the second half of the year so you can plan proactively—not reactively.
Foundation Funding Isn’t Frozen—But It Is Getting More Intentional
“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” — William Arthur Ward
If the federal landscape feels noisier, slower, and harder to read than it used to, you are not imagining it.
✍️ Grant Writing Tips:
The 30-Minute Grant ROI Audit
While some of you I talk to need assistance prospecting aligned grants, many don’t need more opportunities—you need better decisions. Here’s a quick audit you can do in 30 minutes to sharpen your pipeline for the rest of the year.
Step 1: List your active opportunities (10 minutes) Write down every grant you’re considering for the next 4–6 months—even if it’s vague.
Step 2: Score each one (10 minutes) Give each opportunity a quick 1–5 score in three categories: Fit: Does it align strongly with your mission, population, and approach?Feasibility: Can your current team realistically submit a quality application on time?ROI: Is the grant amount and strategic value worth the time (application + reporting)?
Step 3: Sort into Matchup Buckets (10 minutes)
🟢 Priority Pursuits (high fit + feasible + good ROI): these get your best energy
🟡 Conditional (good but not perfect): pursue only if capacity opens up or value is strategic
🔴 Release (low fit or low ROI): let them go with confidence
Pro Tip: Your pipeline should feel like a portfolio—not a pile. If you have too many “maybes,” your team will be stretched thin and proposal quality will suffer.
Grant Opportunities
Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP) - TCUP for Secondary and Elementary Teachers in STEM (TSETS)
Award Amount: Up to $1.75 million
Deadline: September 1, 2026
Description: Supports in-service professional development in STEM disciplinary or STEM education content and/or research for K-12 STEM teachers in the relevant service area.
Description: Supports interdisciplinary research and education to develop a secure, resilient and trustworthy global cyber ecosystem by addressing vulnerabilities, improving trust in cyber systems and cultivating a well-trained cybersecurity workforce.
Award Amount: Conferences - Up to $250,000; Track 1 Small Scale Projects – Up to $1,000,000; Track 2 Projects - $1,200,000 to $3,000,000; Track 3 Consortia - $1,200,000 to $3,000,000; Track 4 ATE Center - $7,500,000 over five years
Deadline: October 1, 2026
Description: Supports partnerships between two-year institutions of higher education, other academic institutions, industry and other entities to improve the education of technicians in science and engineering.
FY25 Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for Navy and Marine Corps Science and Technology
Award Amount: Unspecified
Deadline: September 30, 2026
Description: Funds projects that offer potential for advancement and improvement of Navy and Marine Corps operations; declares ONR, ONRG and MCWL’s broad role in competitive funding of meritorious research across a spectrum of science and engineering disciplines.
FY 2024 – 2026 - Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for the Office of Education
Award Amount: Unspecified
Deadline: September 30, 2026
Description: Requests applications for special projects and programs associated with NOAA's strategic plan and mission goals. NOTE: Each NOAA Line or Staff Office that supports financial assistance (National Marine Fisheries Service, National Ocean Service, National Weather Service, Office of Atmospheric Research, Office of Education, and National Environmental Satellite Data Information Service) has a separate broad agency announcement found in Grants.gov, so applicants should submit their application to the BAA for the Line Office that best fits their application.
Description: Funds organizations supporting Middle and High School students participating or interested in advanced STEM programs and who ultimately want to pursue a college degree in a STEM-related field.
🌟 Real results, real impact. Hear what people are saying about their experience with us!🌟
🏆 Grant Win Spotlight
Lessons Learned:
The Funding Forecast (What We’re Watching for Fall)
A lot of grant stress comes from a predictable problem: fall deadlines hit fast—and many organizations don’t start early enough. Here are a few patterns worth knowing now:
1) Federal rhythms: fall is often “forecast season”Many federal programs publish forecast notices or begin signaling priorities months before full releases.
This is your chance to:
confirm fit
build partnerships
draft core narrative sections
gather data and letters early
Even when release dates shift, prepared organizations move faster—and submit stronger.
2) Foundations: summer research → fall action Many foundations finalize budgets and year-end allocation plans in the second half of the year. June is a high-leverage month to:
If this message hit home, you’re not alone. A mid-year check-in is one of the highest-ROI things you can do to reduce stress and improve results for the rest of the year.
If you’d like support: choosing the best opportunities for Q3/Q4, tightening your grants calendar, or building a focused, funder-aligned plan…let’s talk.
Carinci Consulting: Strategy, Funding, Coaching, and Evaluation Services to Advance Nonprofit Impact
Jennifer Carinci
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 $200 million in grant funding. How could leveraging my expertise advance your mission and free up your time?
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