5 Ways to Win More Grants for Your Nonprofit
Building a strong grants pipeline
Building a sustainable and actually effective grants pipeline isn’t about chasing every opportunity that pops up. Here at Capacita, we know it’s about doing the work to connect the right funders with the right story about your organization.
Whether you’re just getting started or refining a mature fundraising program, these five steps can help you build a pipeline of grant funding that delivers consistent, strategic results.
Start with Solid Research
A strong pipeline starts with knowing your landscape. That means identifying who funds what you do, where you do it, and why they care.
Take the time to map your grantmaker ecosystem:
Look at foundations and agencies that have funded organizations like yours.
Pay attention to geography. Funders often have clear place-based priorities.
Notice which ones focus on your issue areas or serve the communities you serve.
This kind of focused research helps you spend your time where it counts: on funders most likely to say yes.
Turn Research into a Relationship Strategy
Once you know who’s out there, the next step is to build a grantseeking and development strategy. The goal isn’t just submitting proposals. It’s building relationships.
It turns out, as in most things, people are people. And to build trust, there are no shortcuts! It has never been about the perfect application. It’s about building up the credibility, experience, relationships, and competence to show a funder that you can do what you say you will.
Identify your top targets and plan how you’ll connect with them: through introductions, shared networks, conference or local event attendance, or thoughtful outreach. Over time, this approach turns cold leads into warm relationships and warm relationships into partnerships.
Manage Your Pipeline Like a Project
Consistency is everything. Even the best research and strategy will falter without strong follow-through. Use a simple system (a spreadsheet, CRM, or project management tool) to track:
Funders in your pipeline
Key deadlines (LOIs, applications, reports)
Notes on outreach and follow-up
Think of it as project management for your grants process. Regular check-ins and updates keep your team accountable and ensure opportunities don’t slip through the cracks.
Work on Your Message
You can have the most beautifully organized pipeline in the world, but if funders can’t tell what you do, why it matters, and what you’re asking for, it won’t get you far.
Strong messaging helps funders quickly understand the impact you’re making and the value of investing in your work.
Make sure your core story is clear, compelling, and consistent across your website, proposals, and conversations. Practice explaining your work in a few sentences that connect heart and head.
Anchor Your Message in a Strong Strategy
The best messaging sits on top of a strong foundation. Funders don’t just fund good stories—they fund good ideas backed by strong leadership and organizational capacity.
That means your programs, strategy, and internal systems all need to align with the message you’re putting out into the world. When you can show that your vision is matched by your ability to execute, your proposals carry real credibility.
At Capacita, we help organizations build all the pieces of a strong grants pipeline, from landscape research and messaging, to strategy and systems. We’ve seen how clarity, structure, and consistency can transform a fundraising program. If you’re ready to strengthen your pipeline and grow your funding partnerships, we’d love to help you get there. Get in touch today.