Hey there, Changemaker!
Welcome to Mission: Fundable — your monthly intel drop from Boyd Grants where we break down what really makes grant funding work. This isn’t your average grant newsletter. No endless deadline lists, no copy-paste jargon. Just real strategies to sharpen your instincts, boost your proposal confidence, and help you boldly fund what matters—again and again. Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, grant writer, or social impact strategist, you’ll get:
- Straight talk about what’s working right now in grant funding
- Practical tools you can actually put to use
- Insider insights most funders won’t say out loud
- And the occasional spicy take 🔥 (because grant writing shouldn’t be boring)
What Makes a Project “Fundable”?
You’ve got a great idea….your community needs it…your mission is rock-solid. So why aren’t the grants landing? Here’s the truth that often gets missed: Fundable projects are designed to align with funder priorities…not just yours. To move your proposal from “interesting” to “funded,” you need to frame it in a way that resonates with:
- The funder’s mission
- Their desired impact
- Their risk tolerance
- Their budget structure, and
- Their timeline
This doesn’t mean watering down your vision, it means positioning it strategically.
Try This Today…
Grab a pen and take 10 minutes to jot down:
- Your top project goal
- 3 measurable outcomes
- 2 ways your community benefits
- 1 reason you are uniquely positioned to lead
Now ask yourself:
- Does this clearly line up with a specific funder’s goals?
- Can an outside reviewer immediately understand why this matters right now?
That’s how you move from good idea → funded project.
Funding Intel Brief: What’s Hot Right Now?
Place-Based Funding is Rising: More funders are hyper focusing on local initiatives, especially in historically underfunded communities. What this means for you:
- Think Local First: Even big missions benefit when you show real local roots (community engagement, partnerships, and outcomes).
- Show Place-Based Impact: Use neighborhood-level data, local leadership, and proof of community buy-in.
- BONUS: Foundations love collaboration — highlight local coalitions and cross-sector partnerships.
Fundable takeaway: Local stories + local data = stronger proposals.
Tools of the Trade: Free Checklist
Quick Grant Prospecting Check: Before you write, check for:
- Mission + program fit
- Past grantee profiles
- Typical grant amounts
- Project types they prefer (startup, capacity, capital, etc.)
- Any geographic restrictions
- Reporting expectations
Want the full PDF version? Send us an email: info@boydgrants.com — happy to share!
Mission Debrief: From My Desk to Yours
Over the years, I’ve worked with dozens of organizations—each with passion, purpose, and great projects. But the difference between funded and not funded isn’t always the idea. It’s the presentation and positioning. This newsletter is my way of helping you turn smart ideas into strategic wins. Because you deserve to fund what matters—and we’re going to make sure you do.
Next Month’s Intel: The Funder Files: Reading Between the Lines
- How to decode funder language like a pro
- The top 3 clues that a funder really wants something different than what they’re saying
- What to do when you see a red flag in the RFP
Let’s get your mission funded—see you next month!
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