Insights & Ideas
Our library of strategies and resources to elevate your business strategy and funding tactics.
Why be grant ready?
We get it, you have tonnes of work to do just to keep things running. You are busy. So why is it worth making the effort to be grant ready? Instead of being reactive and scrambling to respond to grant applications as they emerge, youâre in control. You have a clearly...
The Goldilocks Approach to Your Grant Budget
Itâs not often you can reference a fairy tale when talking about project planning and grant writing. But today's topic features Goldilocks. When it comes to creating your grant budget, think Goldilocks â not too much, not too little, just right. You want to have...
How much does it cost to engage a grant writer?
Here's a question we hear often: How much does it actually cost to engage a grant writer? Well, that depends! Things that would influence the price include: How complicated is the application process? How ready your organisation is to apply. Have you completed a...
Remote working for small teams
Deviating from our usual focus on content about planning projects and sourcing funding, the current challenges presented by COVID-19 have prompted me to take some time to reflect on our strategies for remote working for small teams. We are a small team that all work...
How Project Planning Can Help You Win Funding
This might sound boring and obvious, but investing in thorough project planning sets your organisation up for success when the time comes to apply for grants. Many organisations leap into project planning mode when a grant fund opens. Unfortunately, most of...
Embrace your leadership potential
Embrace the fact that you are a leader. We believe that everyone is a leader, each leading in their own unique way. Donât be shy about it or discount your leadership potential. Leading is not necessarily tied to being a boss, sitting on a board, or acting in some...
What is an Ideal Client Avatar and why should you have one?
Have you ever thought about who your Ideal Client is? If your answer to that question is, âanyone who wants to buy from meâ, then you are most likely limiting the effectiveness of your marketing and content, and maybe even your services and/or products. If you try to...
Being Tender Ready
Let's talk quotes and tenders. If you're a service provider who regularly has the opportunity to respond to requests for quote and tenders, which describes your approach? Option A - Mad panic desperately pulling together all the information you need, often ending in a...
What’s the difference between community engagement and communication?
We often work with non-profit organisations and local governments on community engagement projects. Occasionally it raises an interesting question - what's the difference between community engagement and communication? Many smaller local governments team up their...
Using Structure to Streamline Your Project
So, youâve applied for and secured funding for your project, hurrah! Hopefully this means you are clear on your project objectives, timeline, stakeholders and desired outcome. From here, the success of the project will rely on implementing effective structures to...
Evaluation Series: Method Selection
We're in the final post in our evaluation series where we'll focus on evaluation method selection (along with ideas on different methods to use). In our previous posts, we've covered the basics of project evaluation and how to plan for an evaluation process. Method...
Evaluation Series: Process Planning
In the first post in the series, we covered the basics of project evaluation, exploring what it is and why you'd want to undertake it, along with the principles underpinning authentic evaluation. Now, we'll look at effective evaluation process planning. Identify...
Evaluation Series: Project Evaluation Basics
Project evaluation is as complicated (or simple) as you want it to be. In this series, we'll walk you through the basics of project evaluation, advise how to plan for the process, and finally explore methods for evaluation and how to select the right options for your...
Being Grant Ready
If you're a not-for-profit, or really any organisation that might rely, even in part, on grants to get projects off the ground, they are probably a hot topic. Maybe even a source of constant frustration, depending on where you stand. I talk to lots of people about...
Get better value from your next consulting project
If youâre going to engage a consultant, you want to get good value, so donât leave it to chance. Here are our top four strategies to get better value from your next consulting project. #1 Get familiar with the marketplace Think about when you are buying something for...
Funding for Operations
Where can I find a grant to fund our operations? In short, you probably can't. In today's grant-making environment, it is extremely difficult to find funding to support the ongoing operations of an organisation. This really is a 'unicorn' grant and most commonly you'd...
What is a Business Case?
If your organisation relies on funding, such as grants, to turn projects into a reality, then most likely you will need to become proficient at producing a business case. So just what is a business case? Business cases are generally required for large scale projects...
Should I change my business to a not-for-profit?
'Should I change my business to a not-for-profit?' This is a question I see a lot in business groups on Facebook. The first answer is 'Ask your accountant.' And the second answer is 'Probably not.' Most people are attracted to the idea of converting to a...
Does our not-for-profit need a business plan?
If your business is not-for-profit, what is the point of having a business plan? This is a question (or complaint!) we hear a lot. Perhaps as a non-profit, you are obliged to have a business plan, whether it be to apply for funds or as a requirement from your...
Using Experience to Drive Donations
Not-for-profits touch many lives and undoubtedly your intended audience truly appreciate what you do. But it can be a difficult situation to raise funds in, because often those who use the service are not the ones that can (or should) fund it. However, using...