I came across a great post on LinkedIn today. Here is a quick snippet of that post.
Too many nonprofits operate from scarcity. Afraid to invest in staff, tech, or marketing—because “donors don’t want to fund overhead.
But here’s the truth: organizations that invest in talent and infrastructure achieve greater impact! 💡 Donors don’t want to fund shoestring operations—they want to fund impact. And impact requires investment.
I agree with this post — but there’s a piece missing that matters for new nonprofits.
We keep telling nonprofits to invest in infrastructure, pay competitive wages, and get out of scarcity thinking (which I fully support) but very few people talk about how brand new founders are supposed to fund those early investments in the first place.
So many first-time founders get their 501(c)(3) and immediately start applying for grants — with no program history, no defined mission, no proof of community need, and no donor base. Not because they don’t care but because no one taught them what to do before filing paperwork. I am surprised almost daily how many posts I see asking for advice on building a board, finding money, or just asking what they are supposed to do now that they have the IRS determination letter.
The scarcity isn’t always mindset — sometimes it’s true lack of startup capital and knowledge.
And with constant funding attacks on nonprofits, executive orders limiting service work, and budget cuts affecting the most vulnerable — we need strong, well-structured nonprofits more than ever.
This is why I strongly believe in supporting founders before and while they launch. Helping them build sustainable organizations from day one.
Before registering a nonprofit or applying for a 501(c)(3), founders should first learn to:
✅ Craft a clear mission + the actual change they want to create
✅ Define their programs (not just the idea of them)
✅ Know their ICA — who exactly they’re serving and why
✅ Build early trust + local donor support before chasing big institutional grants
Because the truth is it is rare for foundations to fund a brand new nonprofit at a significant level. It isn’t impossible, but not common. But a person will fund you if they trust you and what you are trying to achieve.
Grants should come after clarity, credibility, and community backing – not before.
Abundance for new nonprofits starts with:
✨ Community relationships
✨ Donorship and storytelling
✨ Startup funding from people who believe in the mission
✨ Building the foundation before the paperwork
We don’t just need more nonprofits — we need stronger ones.
The majority of my work with nonprofits is based on this belief of starting off strong. Even if you are 1-3 years into running your nonprofit it is not too late to review your foundational building blocks for a better future.
📣 If you’re considering starting a nonprofit, I’m hosting a free 90-minute webinar on November 5: “Stop! Before You Start That Nonprofit…”
We’ll walk through the options you should consider, the early mistakes to avoid, and what truly needs to be in place so you launch on a solid foundation — not a shaky one.
Save your seat today!
