Planning for Greater Community Impact

An important project can sit on the to-do list for a long time.

Not because it isn’t important, but because the people responsible are already wearing a lot of hats and keeping everything else running.

Maybe it’s expanding a service, replacing equipment, or strengthening fundraising. The need is there, but someone still needs to pull the pieces together and figure out what comes next.

Sometimes, a grant or donor gift for one specific need is exactly what’s needed. Other times, it’s worth asking: Is this a stand-alone need, or part of a larger goal?

The goal isn’t to make every project bigger. It’s to plan for the result we want—not just the next purchase.

Before asking “What grants are available?” or “Who could give?” I like to start here:

• What are we really trying to accomplish?

• Who will benefit, and what will change?

• What needs to come together to carry out and sustain the work?

Whether we’re approaching a grantmaker or an individual donor, we need to explain more than what we need to buy. We need to show what their support will make possible.

This is the work I love to do through Hardy Impact Consulting: helping rural nonprofits, healthcare providers, and community organizations connect the dots, develop a practical plan, and build a clear case for support—with hands-on help to move it forward.

I’m welcoming new projects. If an important priority needs time and attention your team doesn’t have, let’s visit. And if an organization comes to mind, I’d appreciate an introduction.