I’ll bet you do something related to nonprofits.

So do I. With more than 1.5M nonprofit organizations in the U.S. we are all fans, critics, board members, staff, funders or donors. And likely more than one. (Multiple nonprofits. Multiple roles.)

I’m Melanie.

Through my work at communitygrantwriters.us, I serve small-staffed nonprofits with free and low-cost fundraising tools – and encourage them not to pay for grant writers. Proposals are hard work and have a low success rate. But they don’t have to be.

Here are some things I believe (and in the Follies I give lots of real life examples)…

Foundations are increasing the wealth gap, not reducing it. In the name of philanthropy, foundations have amassed a huge amount of wealth — nearly $1.6 trillion dollars — an increase of over 23% in 2024 alone.

Nonprofits are like startups, but with risk-averse funders. Nonprofits solve complex, difficult, world-changing problems. We all benefit from their big, bold work. And we each can contribute our time, talent and treasure in simple — but meaningful — ways.

Foundations don’t really want nonprofits to spend funding on staff time to write cumbersome grants and reports. What if funders embraced a single grant application form (with a custom question or two) like the Common Application? If thousands of universities can use a shared form for financial aid, can’t foundations?? It would be a game changer.

Why subscribe?

In the name of “doing good,” some crazy s**t happens. Funder Follies shares real-world tales of woe and comedy from scrappy nonprofits just trying to get funding.

New Follies arrive each Friday. This short weekly newsletter on absurd expectations in the world of “Doing Good” will make you laugh (or cry). No naming or shaming, just some good old community, storytelling, and best practices. We invite all subscribers to share your own fundraising stories and wisdom – what’s happening, what you’re learning, and what’s working (but not who done it).

And for more inspiration, check out our interviews tab to meet down-to-earth nonprofit donors and leaders.

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