Are you ready to unlock your nonprofit’s Full potential?

Scroll down to explore this week's grants. Deadlines are always approaching, so take a look and see which ones might be the right fit for your nonprofit.

Happy grant writing!

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Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation

The Foundation’s Fighting Hunger Program provides grants to nonprofits that fight hunger in communities. Grantable programs may include local food pantries, food banks, meal assistance programs for children, families, seniors, and more. 

Deadline: January 31, 2026

https://alphagammadeltafoundation.org/fighting-hunger-grants/

U.S. Venture/Schmidt Family Foundation

The Foundation awards grants to empower disadvantaged communities, enhance quality of life, and foster stronger, more connected communities. 

Deadline: January 23, 2026

https://www.usventure.com/giving-back/us-venture-schmidt-family-foundation/program-grants/

Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood

The Foundation is an incubator of promising research and development projects that appear likely to improve the welfare of young children, from infancy through 7 years, in the U.S. Areas of support include parenting education, early childhood welfare, and early childhood education and play. Submit Letter of Inquiry online.

Deadline: January 31, 2026

https://earlychildhoodfoundation.org/#application-process

Parkinson’s Foundation

The Foundation funds community grants that further the health, wellness and education of people with Parkinson's disease. Programs may be new and existing grant-supported areas and/or pilot programs.

Deadline: January 30, 2026

https://www.parkinson.org/resources-support/community-grants

Light A Single Candle Foundation

The Foundation provides funding support for impactful community-based initiatives addressing food security, poverty relief, and sustainable livelihoods. Applications must be a U.S.-based nonprofit serving Central America or the Caribbean., or be located in West Central Illinois or St. Louis.

Deadline: January 17, 2026

https://www.lightasinglecandle.org/apply-for-grant/

National Endowment for the Arts

The NEA’s Big Read Program awards grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to nonprofits to support community reading programs designed around a single NEA Big Read book. Programming for 2026-27 centers around the theme of America 250 and applicants can choose a book from the 24 titles available in the program.

Deadline of Intent to Apply: January 15, 2026

https://www.arts.gov/initiatives/nea-big-read

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PADI Foundation

The Foundation provides funding to projects that expand understanding of underwater ecosystems, promote their protection, and deepen knowledge of the human relationship with the ocean. Through these grants, the Foundation fosters research and education for nonprofits that contribute to both scientific advancement and environmental stewardship.

Deadline: January 15, 2026

http://www.padifoundation.org/guides-deadlines.html

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Scroll down to explore this week's grants. Deadlines are always approaching, so take a look and see which ones might be the right fit for your nonprofit.

Happy grant writing!

AEGON Transamerica Foundation

The Foundation supports community development, health, and financial well-being initiatives. Focus areas include operational support, capital expansion, and community outreach for nonprofits improving the quality of life. Focus on communities where company employees live and work.

Deadline:  Throughout the Year (starts over Nov 1)

https://www.transamerica.com/about-us/foundation-grant

Hearst Foundations

A national funder supporting U.S. nonprofits in education, health, culture, and social services. Must primarily serve large geographic or demographic constituencies. 

No Deadline

https://www.hearstfdn.org/faq

Costco

Costco’s charitable efforts specifically focus on programs from nonprofits supporting children, health and human services issues, and education in the communities where they do business. Grants support larger, broader-based organizations and causes.

No Deadline

https://www.costco.com/charitable-giving.html?&reloaded=true

T-Mobile Hometown Grants Program

Grants support community projects in small towns, villages, and territories across the U.S. T-Mobile awards up to $50,000 for shovel-ready projects that foster local connections, such as technology upgrades, outdoor spaces, the arts, and community centers.

Next Deadlines: December 31, 2025, and March 31, 2026

https://www.t-mobile.com/brand/hometown-grants

Dr. Seuss Foundation

The Foundation’s grants aim to improve literacy and learning as these are essential to succeeding in the multi-layered worlds of the arts and humanities, health and well-being, animal welfare, and the environment. Programs focus on inspiring learning, sparking imagination, and expanding opportunities for children.

No Deadline; Submit Letter of Intent Online

https://drseussfoundation.org

Playworld

Every child deserves a safe, engaging place to play. Playworld’s grants provide funding to help fund the playground that meets communities’ unique play needs.

No Deadline

https://playworld.com

W.K. Kellogg Foundation

The Foundation supports communities, children, and families as they strengthen and create conditions that propel vulnerable children to achieve success. Funding priorities include programs focused on thriving children, working families, and building equitable communities. Submit letter of inquiry.

No Deadline

www.wkkf.org

 
Popeye's Foundation

The Foundation’s Food Love Grants program focuses on supporting nonprofits that provide food to those in need.  Food Love Grants range from on-site feeding programs, mobile kitchens, homebound food delivery programs, out-of-school meals, and disaster-related food support. Support is directed to nonprofits that are pre-qualified and invited to apply by the Popeye's Foundation.

No Deadline; Pre-Application Required

https://www.popeyesfoundation.org/programs/food-love-grants

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“It’s Annual Report time!”

(Cue the collective groan. I hear you.)

But before you reach for your third cup of coffee or consider hiding under your desk, let’s reframe this. Your Annual Report is not a dreaded task. It is not just something you “have to do.” It is one of your most underutilized tools for showing impact, building trust, and rallying support.

When done well, an Annual Report is a living, breathing celebration of your organization’s mission in action. It is a storybook of impact, a financial report card, and a love letter to your supporters, all rolled into one. And yes, it can be enjoyable to create. No, really.

Let’s talk about how to make one that doesn’t just sit in someone’s downloads folder.

Know Your People

Before you even think about page one, ask yourself: Who is this for? If your answer is “everyone,” let’s take a step back.

Your Annual Report should feel like a one-on-one conversation with the people who matter most to your mission. That includes major donors, monthly supporters, foundation funders, corporate partners, board members, and the people you serve.

Donors want to see how their dollars made a difference. Funders want outcomes and impact. Corporate partners want to see their logo and their value. Volunteers want to see themselves reflected in your wins. And your community? They want to feel proud.

When you know who you’re talking to, you can tailor your tone, your visuals, and your stories to meet them where they are. That’s how you build a report that gets read, remembered, and shared.

Let Your Brand Do the Talking

The moment someone sees your Annual Report, they should know it came from you.

Your logo, your colors, your fonts...this is your visual handshake. Make it consistent with everything else you put out into the world. If you’ve ever walked into a room and immediately spotted someone who felt like “your people,” that’s what your brand should do.

Your report should say, “This is us. This is what we stand for.” From the cover design to the thank-you page, make it unmistakably yours.

Stories That Stick

Now we get to the heart of it.

The most powerful part of your Annual Report is not the financials. It’s not the pie charts or the bulleted lists. It’s the stories.

Tell a story about a family whose life changed because of your food program. Let a volunteer share, in their own words, why they keep showing up. Use names and faces (with permission). Get specific. Because specificity builds trust.

If you say you distributed 12,000 pounds of food, great. But if you say that thanks to a donor-funded fundraiser, you restocked a nearly empty pantry just in time for the holidays, and show the shelves before and after? That’s gold.

Avoid industry jargon and keep the acronyms to a bare minimum. Speak human. Make it clear, warm, and relatable. And before you call it done, have someone outside your organization read it. Ask: Does this reflect the community we serve? Does it sound like us?

Show Me the Money

Your supporters made an investment. They want to know it paid off.

You do not need to bury them in spreadsheets, but you do need to be transparent. Share real numbers in ways that are easy to understand. Include a simple breakdown of revenue and expenses, and maybe a pie chart or two for the visual learners among us.

For those who want more detail (looking at you, funders and accountants), include a QR code that links to your full audited financials online.

And do not forget your call-to-action. Make it bold, clear, and easy. Add a donation link. Mention monthly giving. Offer a phone number for anyone who prefers to talk it out. Your Annual Report is not just a wrap-up, it’s a runway to what’s next.

Embrace the Digital Age

Remember those old-school printed reports that felt like a phone book married a tax return? Let’s leave those in the archives.

Today, your Annual Report can be a sleek, clickable, digital experience. Host it on your website. Share it on social. Email it to your list. That said, keep a few printed copies on hand. Some folks still love to hold something in their hands, and that’s okay too.

And please, I beg you, do not settle for a double-sided Executive Summary and call it a day. Your Annual Report should be a living asset—something you proudly send to funders, hand to a new board member, or pull up during a donor meeting.

Final Thoughts

Yes, I know it’s called an Annual Report, but think of it as a love letter to your mission and everyone who makes it possible.

Make it beautiful. Make it clear. Make it something your supporters look forward to.

Need a little more help? I’ve got you. Download “It’s Annual Report Time!”—your go-to guide for creating a report that informs, inspires, and actually gets read.

Let’s raise the bar on Annual Reports and show the world just how powerful, passionate, and high-impact your nonprofit truly is.

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So, you pulled off a fundraising event. The lights were perfect, the speeches were heartfelt, and nobody (that you know of) cried into the dessert. Success, right?

Not so fast.

The real magic of a fundraising event happens after everyone goes home.
If you want your donors, volunteers, and sponsors to stay excited about your mission, you need a smart follow-up plan, not just a “see you next year” wave.

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Here's exactly what you need to do:

1. Say Thank You Like You Mean It

Thanking people isn’t just good manners. It’s your first (and best) shot at building real, lasting loyalty.

• Send your thank-you’s fast. Aim for 48 hours – a week max. Anything longer feels like you forgot (because honestly, you probably did).
• Make it personal. Skip the “Dear Supporter” nonsense. Mention their gift, their attendance, their whatever – make it about them.
• Mix it up. Use emails, social media shoutouts, handwritten notes, phone calls. No one ever said, “Wow, they thanked me too much.”

Pro Tip: Tell them what their support made possible. Stories beat statistics every day of the week.

2. Share the Highlights and the Heart

Your event was awesome. Now prove it.

• Show the numbers. How much was raised? How many lives will be changed? Brag — humbly, but brag.
• Share the faces. Photos and videos bring your success to life. Post them on social, in newsletters, and splash them across your website.
• Tell the stories. Show exactly how donations will be used and who will benefit. (Hint: This makes your donors the heroes of the story — and everyone wants to be the hero.)

Bottom line: Don’t just share what happened — share why it mattered.

3. Be Transparent About the Money

Money talk makes people squirm. Do it anyway.

• Break it down. Show supporters where the money is going in simple, clear language.
• Connect the dots. “Your $100 is helping send five kids to summer camp” beats “We raised $10,000 for youth services.”
• Own it. Transparency = trust. And trust = donors sticking around for the long haul.

Hard truth: If you don't tell them how the money’s spent, they'll make up their own stories (and those stories usually aren’t pretty).

4. Ask for Feedback (and Actually Listen)

You can think your event was perfect...or you can know what actually worked (and what bombed).

• Send a short survey. Keep it quick and easy – think five questions, tops.
• Ask smart questions. What did they love? What would they change? What would make them bring a friend next time?
• Offer a little carrot. A small prize drawing for survey responders can help boost your feedback numbers.

Remember: Feedback isn’t criticism — it’s free advice from people you want to impress.

5. Recognize Your All-Stars

Everyone loves a little extra love.

• Shout them out. Post thank-you's on your website and socials for major donors, sponsors, and volunteers.
• Get creative. Awards, custom gifts, spotlight posts ...find ways to make your MVPs feel seen.
• Throw a mini-party. Host a small appreciation event (even virtual!) to celebrate your rockstars.

Key tip: When people feel valued, they stick around. When they feel overlooked, they ghost you faster than a bad first date.

6. Set the Stage for What's Next

Don't let the conversation die just because the balloons did.

• Create a communication calendar. Plan your next email, newsletter, social post now, not when you remember three months later.
• Stay visible. Regular updates about your mission’s progress keep supporters engaged and proud to be part of your journey.
• Plant seeds. Drop hints about future volunteer opportunities, events, or fundraising drives to keep excitement brewing.

Goal: Keep them thinking, “I’m so glad I’m part of this,” not “Wait, who are you again?”

The Ripple Effect of a Good Follow-Up

Skipping your follow-up after a fundraising event is like running a marathon and quitting five feet from the finish line.
A thoughtful, authentic follow-up keeps the energy alive, strengthens relationships, and sets you up for bigger and better wins down the road.

One great event can turn into a year of impact.
But only if you treat your follow-up like it matters ...because it absolutely does.

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Scroll down to explore this week's grants. Deadlines are always approaching, so take a look and see which ones might be the right fit for your nonprofit.

Happy grant writing!

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Literary Arts Fund

The Fund is offering a new cycle of General Operating Grants, designed to provide unrestricted financial support to U.S. literary arts nonprofits, presses, and publications.

Deadline: December 19, 2025

https://literaryartsfund.org/grants/

Latinos in Heritage Conservation

The Nuestra Herencia Grant Program presents an opportunity for Latinx-led and Latinx-serving U.S. nonprofits to access a total of $600,000 in funding to support heritage preservation, community engagement, and capacity-building initiatives.

Deadline: February 13, 2026

https://www.latinoheritage.us/grants

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National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)

The NEA’s Big Read Program awards grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to nonprofits to support community reading programs designed around a single NEA Big Read book. Programming for 2026-27 centers around the theme of 'America250' and applicants can choose a book from the 24 titles available in the program.

Deadline for Intent to Apply: January 15, 2026

https://www.arts.gov/initiatives/nea-big-read

ProLiteracy

ProLiteracy is seeking applications for its Literacy Opportunity Fund to meet the needs of U.S. nonprofits that are doing direct work with adult students. Funded by the Nora Roberts Foundation; grants awarded quarterly.

Deadline: January 3, 2026

https://www.proliteracy.org/Literacy-Opportunity-Fund

Barnes & Noble Charitable Donations Program

Barnes & Noble, a bookstore chain that has stores throughout the U.S., supports nonprofits that focus on literacy, the arts, or education (pre-K-12), at both local and national levels. The company also funds sponsorship opportunities with organizations that focus on higher learning, literacy, and the arts. Barnes & Noble funds nonprofits in communities with company stores.

No Deadline

https://www.barnesandnobleinc.com/about-bn/sponsorships-charitable-donations/

Kazickas Family Foundation

Nonprofits working from the Lithuanian diaspora in the U.S. may submit proposals designed to deliver long-term social impact across key priority areas including arts and culture, medicine, human rights, social welfare, youth empowerment and education, diaspora engagement, and crisis response.

Deadline: December 31, 2025

https://kazickasfamilyfoundation.lt/apply-for-grants/

National Endowment for the Humanities

The National Digital Newspaper initiative, open to nonprofits and others, encourages the digitization of historically significant newspapers published between 1690 and 1963. The results of these digitization projects become part of a searchable, publicly accessible database, preserved at the Library ofCongress.

Deadline: January 15, 2026

https://www.neh.gov/grants/preservation/national-digital-newspaper-program

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