April 2026

🌱 From One Workshop to What’s Next

April often feels like a reset—the 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 I’m still thinking about the conversations that came out of it. Thank you to AACTE for the invitation—and to everyone who showed up ready to think differently about funding.

One thing that stood out: the tools resonated just as much as the content. Attendees kept asking for the handouts—simple, practical resources they could take back and actually use with their teams.

So, we decided to make them available more broadly. These are the same tools we walked through together, including:

A quick check to see if your organization is truly grant-ready
A smarter way to find aligned funders (without chasing everything)
A one-page template to turn ideas into fundable concepts
Outreach scripts, budget guidance, and a 90-day action plan

If you’ve been meaning to take a more strategic approach to grants—but haven’t quite had the time or structure to start—this is a good place to begin. (While these were made for a College of Education audience, the core content is relevant and easily adaptable to all nonprofits.)

Explore the Toolkit below.

Click Here

No pressure, just a resource if it’s helpful as you plan for what’s next this spring;)

Read blog

April Fools! 5 Grant Strategies That Sound Smart But Are Costing You Funding

“The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance—it is the illusion of knowledge.”

— Daniel J. Boorstin

April Fools’ Day is all fun and games… until your grant strategy is the joke. 🤡

✍️ Grant Writing Tips:

✍️ From Stuck to Started: A Simple Way to Build Capacity (Even If You’re Busy)

One of the most consistent themes we see echoed in recent data from Candid here is that many nonprofits don’t apply for foundation grants not because they lack strong programs, but because they lack time, structure, and a clear starting point.

So instead of trying to “do everything,” start smaller—and smarter.

Here’s a simple way to build momentum this spring:

1. Pick just ONE opportunity (not five).

Choose a funder that is clearly aligned—not just available. This is where tools like the Funder Match Checklist come in.

2. Block two focused work sessions.

Session 1: Clarify your concept (Who is this for? What changes? How will you know?)

Session 2: Draft core sections (need, approach, outcomes)

3. Use a template—don’t start from scratch.

The biggest time drain isn’t writing—it’s figuring out what to write. A simple concept template or boilerplate library can cut your effort in half.

Click Here for Concept Template

4. Treat this as a system test, not a one-off.

The goal isn’t just one application—it’s building a repeatable process your team can use again.

Pro Tip: Capacity isn’t something you “wait” to have—it’s something you build, one structured step at a time.

Grant Opportunities

GLS Campus Suicide Prevention Grant Program

Award Amount: $102,000

Deadline: May 6, 2026

Description: Supports a comprehensive public health and evidence-based approach that: (1) enhances behavioral health services for all college students, including those at risk for suicide, depression, serious mental illness (SMI)/serious emotional disturbances (SED), and/or substance use disorders that can lead to school failure; (2) prevents and reduces suicide and mental and substance use disorders; (3) promotes help-seeking behavior and reduces stigma; and (4) improves the identification and treatment of at-risk college students so they can successfully complete their studies.

Early Career Research Program (ECRP)

Award Amount: $875,000 - $2,750,000

Deadline: June 2, 2026

Description: Support the development of individual research programs of outstanding scientists early in their careers and to stimulate research careers in the areas of Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR); Basic Energy Sciences (BES); Biological and Environmental Research (BER); Fusion Energy Sciences (FES); High Energy Physics (HEP); Nuclear Physics (NP); Isotope Research and Development and Production (DOE IP).

Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER)

Award Amount: Expected to total a minimum of $400,000 for the 5-year duration, with the following exceptions: Awards for proposals to the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO), the Directorate for Engineering (ENG), or the Office of Polar Programs (OPP) are expected to total a minimum of $500,000 for the 5-year duration

Deadline: July 22, 2026

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.

NSF Trailblazer Engineering Impact Award (TRAILBLAZER)

Award Amount: Up to $3,000,000 over three years

Deadline: July 24, 2026

Description: Supports individual investigators in pursuing bold, innovative research that addresses national needs, strengthens U.S. leadership and fosters advances in areas such as AI, quantum engineering, bioengineering, robotics and nuclear engineering.

NSF TechAccess: AI-Ready America Coordination Hubs

Funded By: Funder:
U.S. National Science Foundation (in partnership with USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Labor, and U.S. Small Business Administration)

Award Amount: Up to $1,000,000 per year per Hub (for up to 3 years, with potential for a 4th year)

Deadline: June 23, 2026 (5:00 PM EDT)

Description: The NSF TechAccess: AI-Ready America initiative aims to expand access to artificial intelligence knowledge, tools, and training across the U.S. This funding opportunity will establish Coordination Hubs in every state and territory to support AI readiness.

These hubs will:

Expand AI literacy and applied skills across the workforce
Help small businesses and local governments adopt AI tools
Build hands-on learning pathways like internships and project-based programs

Each hub will coordinate local partners, scale proven solutions, and align efforts with regional workforce and economic needs to ensure broad participation in the AI economy.

Webinar Information:

Date: April 14, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM EDT
Register for webinar here

Milbank Foundation Grants

Award Amount: Up to $500,000

Deadline: Rolling Letters of Inquiry

Description: To support 1) consumer-focused, community-based initiatives that empower people with disabilities and foster independence and self-sufficiency, 2) the rehabilitation and re-integration of veterans, especially veterans with disabilities, 3) helping seniors to age in the place of their choice through non-institutional, community-based health and social services, and

Market-oriented, patient-centered health care reforms across the country, or 4) programs that address mental health issues and aim to prevent substance abuse and suicide, especially among young people.

🎉 Grant Win Alert! 🎉

Purpose: Provide the PI with protected time to rebuild her research program and reestablish herself as a productive scientist in the field of parasite taxonomy and systematics.

Success Total: $206,112

Carinci Consulting Role: Reviewer

Lessons Learned:

🤝 Why Strong Organizations Don’t Apply—and What That Means for You

Recent insights from Candid here highlight something important: many nonprofits sitting on strong ideas and real impact are not applying for foundation grants at all.

Not because they aren’t competitive—but because of three common barriers:

1. Capacity Isn’t About Effort—It’s About Structure

The biggest barrier isn’t motivation. It’s bandwidth.

When grant work is unstructured—no clear process, unclear roles, starting from scratch each time—it becomes overwhelming fast. Even strong teams hesitate to begin.

What this means for you: Before adding more grants, ask:

*Do we have a clear process for how we pursue funding?

*Are we reusing content, or recreating it every time?

Small systems create breathing room.

2. “Not Knowing How” Often Means “No Clear Path”

A significant number of organizations report they don’t apply because they don’t know how. But often, that’s less about capability and more about lack of visibility into the process.

Foundation grants can feel opaque:

No standard format
Limited feedback
Clear expectations

What this means for you: Shift from “figuring it out each time” to building a simple roadmap:

How we identify opportunities
How we decide yes/no
How we draft, review, and submit

Clarity reduces hesitation.

3. The Track Record Trap Is Real (But Navigable)

Many nonprofits assume they need prior grant wins to be competitive—so they hesitate to apply. Meanwhile, funders often look for evidence of capacity and credibility, not perfection.

This creates a loop: No applications → no wins → no track record → continued hesitation.

What this means for you: Break the cycle intentionally: