#049: Surviving the Shift: Building Resilient Fund Development Strategies

As food assistance programs see their federal funding slashed, food banks across the country struggle to meet rising demands. These cuts, in tandem with rising costs, have occurred as food insecurity reaches its highest point in almost a decade. Navigating this shifting landscape in order to serve their communities, nonprofits like the Sumner Community Food Bank in Washington state have had to develop creative strategies in order to build resilient funding models.

Atrómitos Principal Kate McNulty joins Sumner Community Food Bank Communications Manager Katie Garling to discuss the importance of diversifying funding sources, and discuss the role of community engagement in supporting food distribution efforts.

Katie Garling brings previous experience with a grantmaking application software to her current role at Sumner Community Food Bank, where she has been writing, fundraising, and writing grants since 2021, raising almost 1.5 million in grants to date. Those funds have helped the Sumner Community Food Bank fulfill its mission to provide families with nutritious food, and to partner with other food banks and charitable nonprofits to meet the overall needs of the community.

Kate McNulty spent more than a decade helping nonprofit organizations learn the intricacies of the federal funding process to increase their chances of success in what continues to be a highly competitive market. She has a strong background in grant writing as well as an uncanny ability to identify growth opportunities. 

Key Takeaways

What has changed? With food insecurity at a decade high and a record number of Americans affected by federal funding cuts, nonprofits have had to think creatively in order to secure the funding necessary to meet the needs of their communities. Diversifying funding sources is crucial for sustainability.

What has worked? Along with community engagement and building partnerships with other local organizations to enhance outreach, Katie stresses the importance of storytelling in fundraising efforts. Donors enjoy knowing who their donations have helped, and how — even if it’s just “keeping the lights on.”  

What’s next? While it may sting, learning from rejection can only improve future fundraising efforts. Katie emphasizes the importance of delegation, research, and preparation in grant writing as well as staff and volunteer engagement.

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