Our government funding got cut. What do we do now?

Nonprofit leaders who have spent years building effective programs are now being forced to choose between scaling back or scrambling for new funding. Grants they counted on didn’t get renewed. And the rules seem to be shifting faster than anyone can keep up.

Are you running low on time and energy? Get strategic. Take proven steps to increase the revenue your mission needs.

Jordan’s Story

Jordan is the executive director of a small, social-service nonprofit. For years, he focused almost entirely on programming. He’s the kind of leader who rolls up his sleeves, knows every participant by name, and stays late to make sure one person gets what they need.

Then the funding started to change. A federal grant was cut and individual giving trended downward. Suddenly, Jordan found himself in meetings about budgets instead of spending his time with the community.

Raising money wasn’t just his new highest-priority task. It felt like a loss to Jordan. Every hour spent on budgets and fundraising was an hour away from helping people directly. Jordan wasn’t resistant because he didn’t care. He was resistant because he cared deeply and hated the idea of turning his mission into a sales pitch.

But reality has a way of reshaping priorities. Something had to give.

If You Feel Like Jordan, You’re Not Alone

For many nonprofit leaders, this moment feels less like a strategic pivot and more like a personal tug-of-war. You got into this work to serve your community, not to write grants or steward donors. But without funding, the services disappear. And that pressure is real.

The good news? What comes next might suit you better than you expect.

Private Funders Are Different

Unlike government grants, private foundation funding is often more flexible and mission-aligned. It rewards storytelling, values clarity, and favors purpose over paperwork.

What they want is simple:

• A story they can believe in
• A project that aligns with their goals
• A team that knows who they serve and why it matters

What they don’t want:

• Over-polished jargon
• Generic proposals
• Abstract metrics with no emotional weight

What You’ll Need to Compete

Start with this:

• A specific story that shows your mission in action
• A project description written from the funder’s point of view
• Financials and outcomes that are honest, not inflated
• Language that feels real, not rehearsed

Most importantly, you need to stop thinking of fundraising as a distraction from the mission. Start seeing it as part of how the mission survives.

Quick Wins to Shift Your Messaging Today

You can start small. You can start now.

Swap out internal phrases.
Before: “We provide wraparound services.”
After: “We help families stay housed and hopeful.”

Lead with a person, not a program.
Use real stories to make outcomes feel tangible.

Tailor each proposal.
Don’t send the same copy to five funders. Show how each one connects to your work.

Write like a human.
If your proposal sounds like a policy memo, rewrite it.

I will help you make the shift from compliance-driven writing to connection-driven strategy. Whether you’re reworking a grant proposal, telling a success story, or trying to reach funders who’ve never heard of you, get structure, clarity, and practical insight.