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The First Quarter Decision Window: How Early Choices Shape Your Nonprofit’s Entire Funding Year
Most nonprofits assume that funding success comes down to individual grant decisions, whether a proposal is approved or denied, or whether a specific opportunity works out. In reality, long-term funding success is shaped much earlier by the choices organizations make at the beginning of the year, especially during the first quarter. Q1 acts as a critical decision window where priorities are set, systems are tested, and strategies are either clarified or left unfocused. The de
Shannon Onderko
Jan 145 min read


Scaling What Works: Using grants to expand high-impact services, deepen community engagement, and strengthen outcomes.
Learn how to use grants to scale your nonprofit’s high-impact services, deepen community engagement, and strengthen measurable outcomes. Every nonprofit dreams of doing more: reaching more people, offering stronger programs, and creating lasting community change. But growth without strategy can lead to burnout, mission drift, or financial strain. The good news? Grants are one of the most effective tools for scaling what already works. When approached strategically, they can h
Shannon Onderko
Dec 26, 20255 min read


End-of-Year Nonprofit Planning: Turning Strategy Into Q1 Action
Plan ahead for 2026. Learn how nonprofits can turn strategy into Q1 actions, assign roles, and build simple reporting habits for lasting impact. As the year draws to a close, nonprofit leaders are already thinking ahead. How do we carry momentum into 2026, strengthen our funding strategy, and set up our teams for success? At Elevate Consulting Services, we believe that effective year-end planning isn’t just about strategy, it’s about turning vision into action. Through inten
Shannon Onderko
Dec 17, 20255 min read


The Role of Storytelling in Winning Grants
When most people think about grant writing, they picture numbers, budgets, and technical requirements. While these elements are...
Shannon Onderko
Sep 25, 20254 min read
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