Financial Strategy Planning

Guiding Nonprofits to a Sustainable Funding Model

Virtually all nonprofits have significant financial issues. As the priorities of a organization’s traditional funders change, many nonprofits find themselves scrambling to find replacement funding. And even when replacement grantmakers are found, few of those provide permanent support for individual nonprofits and their grants are limited to a specific program.

Nonprofits know they need to diversify their funding. They are uncomfortable with reliance on a few unpredictable funding sources, but many are not successful in making the transition to long-term financial sustainability. This problem is especially acute for smaller nonprofits

The funders are not “at fault” here. A community flourishes when funding organizations sow seeds throughout their areas of interest. Funders need the flexibility to launch worthy nonprofit programs and then transfer support to new priorities. In some cases this may mean the demise of the nonprofit or merger with another entity. But when the nonprofit deserves to be continued and is unprepared for a funding transfer, the results can be lethal for the nonprofit and an undesirable public relations challenge for the funder.

How we can help
Fieldstone Alliance assists grantmakers and nonprofits by developing a range of financing and organizational options to ensure viable exit strategies for funders and financial sustainability for grantees. Our in-depth assessment and planning process identifies opportunities for revenue stabilization and diversification. We employ a unique set of tools that help nonprofits understand their financial environment and assess new options. Typically, we also assist our nonprofit clients with organizational change recommendations such as market realignment, quality improvement, skill enhancement, strategic planning, or staff changes.

Who we work with
• Funders who want to help their grantees with financial planning as their funding ends
• Nonprofits who need strategic financial planning to ensure future success

Related resources

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For more information, please contact Tom Triplett at 651.556.4504 or email him at TTriplett@FieldstoneAlliance.org