Let’s think of the impact that unrestricted funding can make. How can an organization attract that unrestricted funding?

Most organizations want unrestricted funding, but funders rarely award it.  How can an organization make its grant proposal look more attractive to funders when requesting unrestricted funds?

Some grants are sought to support specific projects requiring a particular writing style and content. However, for unrestricted grants, the messaging is slightly different to achieve success.  One must focus on clearly communicating the organization's overall impact, mission, and financial stewardship.  

Key elements to include in unrestricted grant proposals

• Alignment:  Ensuring that your organization's mission, vision, values, and culture align with the proposed funder's is one of the most important aspects of attracting unrestricted funding.
• Credibility:  “You have the power to choose what tens of millions of potential donors see about your organization."  Having an up-to-date organizational profile on Guidestar's Candid is one way to achieve credibility in the philanthropic world.  Many funders use Candid to get to know your organization.  Candid's transparency checklist tells funders everything they need to know about your organization, so ensure that you are entering information on Candid annually.
• Mission:  Everything starts here.  “A mission-driven organization should pursue its mission like a lodestar that will always keep it on course."  A focused mission statement and an aligned vision will sell the organization to potential funders and grantors.  The vision statement should reflect the mission and not the other way around.
• Organization impact (through evaluation):  “You can achieve incredible impact progress if you set a clear goal and fund a measure that will drive progress toward that goal."  Impact evaluation starts with an organization’s theory of change (how an organization’s programs will enable it to achieve its mission).  With the theory of change in place, an organization can now design an evaluation process that links intervention and impact.  Using evaluation techniques to find metrics will better show the impact that the organization is having on the social problem it’s trying to solve.
• Sustainability and leadership:  Demonstrating responsible management, strategic planning, and strong leadership is another essential element to include when attracting unrestricted funding. This includes long-term financial stability and operational sustainability.
• Current Priorities:  This is a high-level look at how unrestricted funds will help address operational overhead like staffing, outreach, and capacity-building.
• Gratitude and acknowledgement:  How you acknowledge the funder, as well as the timeliness with which the funder receives the acknowledgment, can make all the difference in building a respectful and trusting relationship for the future.  With that trust built, the funder will most likely choose to support the organization’s mission in the future.

The bottom line is that organizations need this unrestricted funding.  It's not only essential, but crucial, for day-to-day operations.

Using these elements when asking for funding will assist your organization in attracting more unrestricted donors. 

Caroline Creel is a 2025 graduate of the Master of Nonprofit Leadership and Management program at Arizona State University. She is also a Certified Nonprofit Professional through the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance.  She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Gordon State College and lives south of Atlanta in the suburbs. Her mission is to make the world a better place, however she can.  Caroline spent the last six years working for a nonprofit environmental organization, and she recently founded a small scholarship-granting hybrid community foundation, Faithful Endeavors.  The organization’s mission is to equip and connect faith-driven individuals and organizations to live out their mission through tangible support, resources, and community.   

Image by Lillian Finley

Write compelling grant applications after completing the Grant Development certificates

Securing funding for nonprofit organizations can be extremely competitive. Nonprofits need compelling proposals to receive the grants they need to achieve their missions. Whether you are a student or working professional, you will benefit from instruction by an experienced grant writer with real-world experience as they guide you through the step-by-step processes for submitting grants with the Grant Development certificates.

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