Blog Posts & Articles
Looking for more insights and thought leadership on effective community impact strategy? Follow along for the latest.
How to Start A Non-Profit: First Ask, Is This the Best Way to Create Social Change?
Non-profit organizations start because someone cares enough about a problem to do something about it. You likely are one of those people. You may have stumbled across this article because…
Write Winning Community Developments Grants in 2024: The Three Elements Your Proposal Must Have
Question: What is one of the key misconceptions about grant writing, especially in the early stages of pursuing funds? Answer: Because grants are funds that do not need to be…
Unlocking Grant Potential: Why Strategic Funding is Key to Your Organization’s Success
A Strategy for Community-Based Organizations: Maximizing Mission Impact Through Strategic Grant Planning According to Indiana University, foundations gave a combined $103 billion in 2024. The figure does not include individual…
Avoid Costly Mistakes: 5 Essential Tips for Hiring a Grant Writer
Qualified organizations doing great work need grant writers for a variety of reasons. The reasons include: There is no wrong reason or time to hire a grant writer. A…
Unlocking Grant Success: How Organizational Culture Can Make or Break Your Application
Leadership development is the number one most overlooked aspect of a successful grant application. In this context, leadership development means developing yourself as a self-aware leader who is intentional about…
Top 5 Mistakes Nonprofits and Businesses Commit in Writing State and Federal Economic and Community Development Grant Applications
Avoid common mistakes on your next funding application! A grant application takes a significant amount of time and attention. On average, a state or federal grant can take 120 hours…
Hope is Your Keyword for 2024
A reminder for the change-makers. Before I was a consultant, I was the Chief Executive Officer of a small CDFI credit union in Chicago. It was small enough that I…
Community Development Initiatives Need a Strategy
Intentional change doesn’t come from accidental success. Your leadership team has decided it wants to make a big impact on ‘the community.’ The project could range from launching a new…
Digital Equity in Everything: Four Principles that Matter
Your organization has a clear mission and vision, and solves a societal problem. So, you invest in accomplishing your organization’s mission by spending time, attention, and financial resources. Your organization…
Reckoning with Digital Inequity in Place-Based Community Revitalization
Abstract Place-based community development in America has a rich history. Practices and procedures for successful redevelopment are supported by lobbying efforts, public administration, policy, federal funding, and the efforts of…
A Rare Perspective on Representation
Yes, the person featured in all of the photos on the side of the building is me, Sarah Hope Marshall. The building is Biomarin Pharmaceutical’s headquarters in Novato, California. The…
What Business Can Learn From Social Movements
Chicago, Illinois is the place I call home. The Windy City is recognized for its hardball politics and organizing history. In the late 1800s, the Pullman Strike led to major…