We all know that panicked feeling as reporting time comes around again while there is so much to do on the ground.

Many organisations see grant reporting as an administrative task.

Smart organisations see it as an opportunity to strengthen relationships.

A good report does more than list activities and financial figures. It tells the story behind the numbers.

EM Solutions has three tips to take your reports from average into impactful:

1. Share about the lives that have been changed. Include meaningful quotes from beneficiaries, photographs where appropriate, and examples of lessons learned.
2. Be transparent. If targets were missed, explain why and describe the steps you’re taking to improve. Honest reporting builds far more trust than trying to present everything as perfect.
3. Submit reports on time and in the format requested. Reliability is one of the strongest signals that your organisation is well managed.

Remember that your report may influence whether a funder supports your organisation again—or recommends you to others.

Every report is an opportunity to reinforce confidence in your leadership and your impact.

Would you like an independent review of your reports? EM Solutions’ team of NPO professionals can give you clear and honest feedback about your reporting, and help you to build reports that tell the real story of the impact of your work.

Receiving a grant is not the end of the fundraising journey—it’s the beginning of a new relationship.

Many organisations make the mistake of only contacting funders when reports are due. Great stewardship means staying connected throughout the life of the project.

Start with a sincere thank-you. A personal email, phone call or handwritten note can make a lasting impression. Let the funder know how their support will make a difference.

Keep them informed with short, meaningful updates. You don’t need to wait for formal reporting deadlines. Share milestones, success stories, photographs (with permission), or exciting developments as they happen.

Be honest about challenges too. Projects rarely go exactly as planned. Funders appreciate organisations that communicate openly and explain how they are responding to obstacles.

Most importantly, recognise that funders are people. They want to know that their investment is creating positive change.

Excellent stewardship builds confidence, strengthens trust, and lays the foundation for future support.

EM Solutions has a team that is standing by to help you shape your stewardship approach. Give us a call today to set up a coaching or strat session to evaluate your current relationships and how to take them to the next level.

Fundraising is not about convincing someone to give you money.

It’s about helping a funder see how your organisation can help them achieve the impact they want to make.

Think of fundraising as building a partnership.

Before submitting a proposal, take the time to engage with the funder where appropriate. Attend their events, comment thoughtfully on their published work, and share updates about your organisation’s impact.

Keep communication professional, respectful and relevant. Don’t overwhelm them with emails, but don’t disappear either.

When you do have an opportunity to meet, focus less on asking for money and more on sharing stories of change. Explain the problem you’re addressing, the difference your organisation is making, and why the work matters.

People remember stories more than statistics.

When the funder already understands your work and believes in your leadership, the proposal simply provides the details they need to make a decision.

Relationships built on trust are far stronger than relationships built only around funding.

EM Solutions offers facilitation and coaching to NPOs. Do you need some support in your storytelling and communication? Give us a call so we can help you share your NPO’s potential confidently.

Not every funder is the right fit for your organisation.

One of the biggest fundraising mistakes is sending the same proposal to dozens of funders. This approach rarely works and wastes valuable time.

Instead, focus on finding funders whose interests match your mission.

Create a simple list of potential funders and research each one. Look for:

• Their funding priorities
• Geographic areas they support
• Typical grant size
• Application deadlines
• Whether they accept unsolicited proposals

If your organisation works in youth development, don’t spend time approaching funders that only support environmental projects.

Quality is far more important than quantity.

Once you’ve identified a good match, spend time learning about the funder before applying. Follow their news, read about projects they’ve supported, and engage with their public events where possible.

When your proposal eventually arrives, it should feel like the next step in an ongoing conversation—not an introduction.

Fundraising becomes much more effective when every approach is intentional.

Do you feel like you’re floundering in the fundraising seas? EM Solutions can help you strategically build your funder list so that you have a starting point for intentional connection.

Have you spent weeks writing funding proposals to have them ready to send as soon as you find a potential funder? Unfortunately, that’soften the wrong place to start.

Funders invest in organisations they trust. A proposal is simply the final step in a much longer relationship.

So how does fundraising start? Begin by identifying funders whose priorities match your work. Read their website, annual reports and recent grants. Check out their social media to see what they are
advocating for. Then ask:

• What issues do they care about?
• Where do they fund?
• Do they support organisations like ours?

Once you’ve done your homework, look for opportunities to connect. Attend networking events, webinars or community meetings where funders may be present. If you have a mutual contact, ask for an introduction.

When you do make contact, don’t immediately ask for funding. Instead, ask about their organisation, goals, and priorities. When you introduce your organisation, share your mission, share some stories of
hope, and then ask questions about their funding priorities.

The goal is to build a genuine connection. Listen carefully. Show that you understand their goals as much as your own.

A proposal sent to someone who already knows you and remembers your organisation is far more likely to receive attention than one sent cold.

Strong fundraising begins long before the application is submitted.