After two years of turmoil, pandemic, and reckoning, some funders are asking new questions. They want to know whether their grants will contribute to a better new normal, and whether the nonprofits they fund are resilient enough to withstand the blows of the past two years and the insecurity of the future.

But if guidelines don’t ask those questions, does that mean you should not address them? “Follow directions. Answer the questions you’re asked. Those rules have been sacrosanct for proposal writers,” according to Barbara Floersch, grants expert and author of You Have a Hammer: Building Grant Proposals for Social Change. “But business as usual is out the door. A grant proposal who doesn’t address the new reality leaves big, looming questions unanswered.”

Begin by taking a hard look at your organization and assessing its reactions to the myriad challenges and changes afoot. Be ruthlessly honest. Examine both strengths and weaknesses and chart a new course in areas where it’s lagging. Here are three area to consider:

Pandemic service pivots: If the pandemic required pivots in service provision, define those changes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines might have reduced the capacity of your shelter. School closures could have changed your tutoring services. Funders know the pandemic had a sweeping impact on services. The question is how your organization responded to challenges in committed, creative ways. Craft a truthful, informative statement and include it in the proposal section that addresses services and activities.

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI): Some funders ask nonprofits to explain how staff and board members reflect the community. Some ask about applicants’ JEDI policies and procedures. If your organization is lagging in this area, lay out a plan and get moving.

Like many nonprofit organizations currently, the Legacy Collective, a collective giving circle with an eye towards sustainable and innovative systemic solutions, and its co-founder, author Jen Hatmaker, recently have been contemplating how to build out their organization for greater impact. For the Legacy Collective, that meant a shift away from a Donor Advised Fund (housed within Pure Charity, a 501c3) towards an independent nonprofit.

Recently, I sat down via Zoom with Erin Arnheim, CEO of Legacy Collective, to discuss this move and what questions their team asked as they worked through this process. Their case study can provide insight for other groups navigating the complex landscape of the third sector.

First, Arnheim noted, they realized that their organization had outgrown its home within the DAF. Pure Charity had served as a needed incubator for Legacy Collective when it was first created, but now the DAF structure limited their ability to stretch and grow. For example, corporate sponsors couldn’t give in the way they would like because of the rules inherent in donor-advised funds.

“We were coming across companies and other DAFs that could not donate to us due to policies around not donating to DAFs,” Arnheim said. “Employee match programs were facing complications with our DAF status under another 501c3. And when we added up all of the funding opportunities we were missing, it was clear that we needed to move forward toward becoming our own nonprofit.”

The Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra is among 20 orchestras selected for the 2022 cohort of the Catalyst Fund Incubator from the League of American Orchestras. The national initiative is designed to promote greater equity, diversity, and inclusion. Read

Through the Elevation Grant Program, previously known as the Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program, the City of Indianapolis and The Indianapolis Foundation will invest $45 million in neighborhoods to address the root causes of violent crime through community building. Learn more and apply.

GANGGANG, a cultural development firm based in Indy, recently opened its headquarters in Broad Ripple in collaboration with IndyGo. GANGGANG has a mission to produce, promote, and preserve culture in cities by investing in the creative economy.

DONATION: Office equipment, including 2- and 4-drawer file cabinets, conference tables, wire frame plastic chairs, Xerox toner, HP and Epson ink cartridges and vertical storage cabinet. Must pick up from the second floor of a downtown building. Email Sarah Savage at sjs@msktd.com or call (317) 917-1190.

Marion County Commission on Youth is accepting requests for copies of the 2022 Youth Activity Directory, available in print or as a PDF. Browse hundreds of activities for youth, including summer camps, mentoring and after school programs. Visit

Keep up with latest nonprofit developments! Follow Charitable Advisors on Instagram 

The state of women in the workforce virtual panel discussion on April 14 at noon. The panelists will discuss statistics that show one of three women has considered leaving the workforce or downshifting their career in the past year, up from one in four in the first few months of the pandemic. Presented by Woman’s Fund of Central Indiana. Cost: Free. Register

The evolution of evaluation on April 15 from 2-4 p.m. at Indianapolis Public Library, 6201 N. Michigan Rd. A panel of evaluators will reflect on the trends in the field. Presented by Indiana Evaluation Association. Cost: Free. Register

Pivot, change and remain engaged as a team! on April 21 from 9 a.m.-noon at the Johnson County Armory. Learn how to engage employees whether they are onsite, remote or working hybrid. Presented by Leadership Johnson County. Cost: $59 general/$49 LJC, Aspire, Indy Chamber members and Franklin College alumni. Register

Is it time for a fundraising check-up? Unlock your philanthropic potential with a development audit webinar on April 21 at noon. A development audit can effectively measure your capabilities and help you strategize for success. Presented by Johnson, Grossnickle & Associates. Cost: Free. Register

Volunteer recruitment, retention, and more on April 21 from 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. at the Indianapolis Public Library/Central, 40 E. St. Clair St. Learn best practices and proven methods to recruit and retain volunteers. Register

Fearless asking: How to build an individual giving program on April 23 from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Indianapolis Public Library/Central, 40 E. St. Clair St. Learn about the current fundraising environment and how to overcome your fears in asking for support. Register

Find your stats in a flash on April 23 from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. at the Indianapolis Public Library/Central, 40 E. St. Clair St. Learn how to navigate Indiana State Data Center resources and gain insights about finding data for grant proposals. Register

Noble of Indiana is looking for volunteers to lead exercise, stretching or yoga classes, ideally at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. on weekdays. Learn more

Barnes Dennig Proposed retirement plan change

IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy Achieving Excellence in Fundraising, 5th edition is now released

Our sponsor marketplace serves to further connect our readers with our advertisers who are focused on serving nonprofits. To learn about each sponsor's nonprofit services, click on its logo.