When Sandra and I sat down to plan our first live workshop, one question guided us: What do the organizations we work with still struggle with most, especially when it comes to funding?
Over more than twenty years of writing proposals, reviewing applications, and helping leaders build partnerships and revenue streams, some truths kept surfacing again and again.
1. Great ideas are not enough.
We have watched brilliant organizations with strong missions hit the same wall. Their ideas mattered, the team was passionate, the work had impact, but when it came time to submit a proposal, something in the approach, framing, or positioning held them back.
It was not always obvious. Many felt confident the proposal was good and still did not get selected. We realized that the difference between good and winning often comes down to a handful of avoidable mistakes.
2. The funding landscape has changed, and so must the strategy.
Competition is higher than ever. Decision makers are looking for more than a solid project. They want proposals that connect to strategy, show scalability, demonstrate partnership capacity, and articulate revenue or sustainability models.
Funders are asking questions that many teams cannot see until it is too late. Our workshop begins with the most common mistakes we have seen, not because they are dramatic, but because they are subtle and persistent.
3. We want to move from one-off wins to consistent revenue.
Too many organizations feel like they are stuck in apply, hope, repeat mode. We believe a better path exists, one where you build revenue that can be reliable, meaningful, and aligned to your mission.
This is why our first topic is not just about how to apply. It is about why applications fail and how to structure them so they win. That shift is essential for moving from chasing opportunities to creating outcome driven growth.
Why now?
We kept hearing the same stories.
"We missed it by a few points." "We realized too late our partner did not fit." "We wrote every word but we were not clear why funders should care."
If these words sound familiar, you are not alone, and this workshop is designed for you.
What you will walk away with:
- A clearer understanding of the three proposal mistakes we see most often and how to sidestep them.
- Insight into how to present your work so decision makers understand its value, scalability, and relevance.
- A mindset shift from one time wins to a repeatable, sustainable funding approach.
In short
We chose this topic first because it matters most.
It affects teams at every size, from start ups to long standing organizations.