some of the responses to my last article about capacity building included the inevitable question of how to get find money to started … and the conversation usually goes one of two ways:

• umm, I’d love to do this but we can’t afford it, or
• we will find a way to start this journey and make it happen

i think many of us who’ve worked in the nonprofit sector have experienced scarcity: waking up in the middle of the night worrying about the lack of money, not enough staff with the right skills, making tough calls, or feeling disempowered and unsupported …

but the money is there to transform your nonprofit, if you are willing to fight for it. the charity sector received $13.4 billion in donations in 2021 and it’s growing. philanthropists and funders want to use their money for social change. your job is to show them why your nonprofit deserves more funding.

so you can either wish for more money and struggle to survive, or break the scarcity mindset and plan for change. it starts with a commitment by the board to use their networks, put some of their own money on the table, or use some of your cash reserves, reprioritise spending and work together to build capacity and start the journey. whatever it takes!

you cannot attract money without a plan for how you will spend it.

start by articulating the social change your nonprofit plans to achieve (a strategy on a page is a good start), how much money you need to make it happen (through a sustainable financing plan) and why your nonprofit deserves more funding (through a Case for Support).

investing in capacity building will buy you time to plan how you move forward, how you attract more money for your mission, and how you mobilise people, to scale your nonprofit’s impact.

do it well and you will give funders the confidence and belief that you know where you are going, what funds you need, why it’s important and the impact your programs make.

the choice is still one of two paths: stay small, poor and powerless. or empower your board and staff to think big, plan together, mobilise networks, and find more money for sustainable, lasting social change. the former is a miserable experience. the latter is, well, fun and energising.

if you want to talk about how I can help you move from wishful thinking to action – by coaching others, sharing tools or facilitating the process – drop me a line for a free chat. i’m always in your corner to advise you, guide you, and share the burden of your social change work.