Revitalizing Grant Applications Through Data-Driven Storytelling

Solutions Grant management Impact storytelling Grant strategy & proposal development

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Challenge

CrossRoads Corporation was experiencing stagnation in their grants program, with difficulty in increasing giving from existing funders or establishing productive relationships with new ones.Their applications were heartfelt and mission-driven, but relied heavily on the pathos of emotional appeals and lacked the logos and ethos that showed their expertise and the impact their work in the community was making. In an increasingly competitive grants landscape, this approach failed to make their case to funders who were looking to make the most of their philanthropic dollars. This resulted in rejections from funders who should have been a perfect match and limited grant dollars from those who did make grants.

Solution

I worked with CrossRoads Corporation to deeply examine how we could measure the sometimes-nebulous work of “community development” in a low-income, underserved community. Using the assessment tools they were already utilizing, such as income, educational, and health data, and comparing that to public data the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County were already providing on an annual basis, the organization is now able to quantify the upward trajectory of the clients they engage in programming and communicate that to funders to show the value of their investment. For each funder, we tailored the data and research presented to directly address their specific priorities and funding guidelines, demonstrating a clear understanding of their mission.

Implementation & Results

The integration of data and research led to a significant improvement in CrossRoads Corporation's grant application success in the first year.

• Foundation for the Carolina’s Foundation for Black Philanthropy - In spite of CrossRoads Corporation’s Executive Director’s relationship with the managers of this fund, the past four applications for support were declined. Our 2025 application focused on the data and research that showed the application’s project was both needed and effective, rather than on stories of individuals in the community who had been served by the project as had been done in past applications. This resulted in a win, with the Foundation For Black Philanthropy funding 25% of the project’s budget.

• Women’s Impact Fund - Similarly, CrossRoads Corporation had been a frequent unsuccessful applicant to the highly competitive Women’s Impact Fund. Though they were not fully funded, CrossRoads advanced to the final round of selection for the first time ever and received a $1,000 honorarium from the Fund in recognition of their time, efford, and work in the community.

• Ally Bank - Ally Bank has been a longtime funder of CrossRoads Corporation at the $25,000 level, and repeated attempts to increase that amount have failed to move the needle. We approached our 2024 application with this new data-driven strategy, updated the logic model to reflect it, and submitted an end-of-year report that showed they either met or exceeded all of the goals established in that application. A few months later, an invitation was extended to apply for 2025 funding at double the previous level, or $50,000 in general operating support.