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Fast Build Friday

Fast Build Friday: Episode 26- The Connection Between Infrastructure and Saying No Part III

Nic has listened to and helped #nonprofit leaders tell compelling stories for more than a decade. Her work has shown her that there is a strong connection between a nonprofit’s ability to say, “No,” to a grant and compelling storytelling.

Today’s Fast Build Friday episode is about the connection between infrastructure and the ability to say, “No,” to a grant. It is the final installment in our three-part series that started with Fast Build Friday Episode 24.

Having structured grants to support communities in nearly every region of the world, Nic knows the power of a compelling story. And she appreciates the connection between story telling and infrastructure. When you do not have the ability to say, “No,” it indicates that you have no convictions about the way you work, the way you are structured, or the way you should be structured to provide sustained support to the communities you are working with. Without the ability to say, “No,” it is the story you risk telling.

How are you telling your story? How are you supporting other organizations to help them tell a compelling story? We would love to know in the comments!

You can watch Episode 26 below.

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Fast Build Friday: Episode 25- The Connection Between Infrastructure and Saying No Part II

Does it really matter how you build your infrastructure? Does how you build your infrastructure determine whether you can say, “No,” to a grant?

Today’s Fast Build Friday topic is again about the connection between infrastructure and the ability to say, “No,” to a grant. In it, Nic shares the second of three indicators of infrastructure strength that are connected to an organization’s ability to say, “No,” to funding – brave infrastructure building. It is the second part of a three-part series that started with last week’s Fast Build Friday Episode 24.

When you have the ability to say, “No,” it indicates that you are unapologetically building a strong foundation and infrastructure to support your work, which is what our communities need.

How do you build bravely? How does that building connect to your ability to say, “No,” to a grant? Let us know in the comments! 

You can watch Episode 25 below.

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Fast Build Friday: Episode 24- The Connection Between Infrastructure and Saying No

Would you ever say, “No,” to a grant? Nic has spent years working with #nonprofits around the world and she knows that the ability to say, “No,” is often an indicator of just how strong your infrastructure is. And she also knows that by saying, “No,” to certain funding, you are opening doors to diverse, revenue sources.

Today’s Fast Build Friday topic is the connection between infrastructure and the ability to say, “No,” to a grant. Nic shares the first of 3 indicators of infrastructure strength that are connected to an organization’s ability to say, “No,” to funding – revenue diversification. It is the first part of a three-part series.

Being terrified of even the thought of saying, “No,” to a sizable grant is often an indicator of a weakened infrastructure, namely insufficient revenue diversification. Revenue diversification feeds your sustainability. And your sustainability impacts the way you serve vulnerable communities.

Diversifying your revenue often strengthens both your ability to say, “No,” and your infrastructure.

Do you have the ability to say, “No”? How is that ability tied to your revenue diversification? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

You can watch Episode 24 below.

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Fast Build Friday: Episode 23- Critical Components of a Highly Effective Grant Agreement

Can you tell us the most important component of a grant agreement? Chances are, you probably have to think a bit more about it because you probably do not think about your grant agreement that often to begin with. Right?

What if we told you that your grant agreement can often hold many of the keys to your infrastructure? What would you do differently?

Today’s Fast Build Friday topic is about the critical components of a highly effective grant agreement. Nic shares the 4 critical components of these agreements. As in-house counsel and in her current practice, Nic has drafted and negotiated thousands of grant agreements for awards in countries and regions around the world and she knows highly effective grant agreements can be one of the fundamental pieces of your infrastructure.

If you only see a grant agreement as a technical tool, you are missing an opportunity to communicate with partners and better serve communities in need.

What will you do differently with your grant agreements going forward? Let us know in the comments!

You can watch Episode 23 below.

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Fast Build Friday: Episode 22- Infrastructure Considerations for Nonprofit Startups Part II

As a nonprofit or social-impact #startup, how much can you do with limited capacity? With no capacity? Do you want to find out or do you want to learn how to build your capacity almost immediately?

We can tell you that without capacity, your compelling programmatic vision and strategy do not matter. As a startup, it is therefore critical that you build capacity to support your vision and strategy.

Today’s Fast Build Friday topic is again about the fundamental infrastructure considerations for nonprofit or social-impact start-ups. In it, Nic shares the second of her two fundamental considerations – capacity – and discusses three ways to build capacity almost immediately. It is part two to last week’s Fast Build Friday Episode 21.

How are you thinking about #capacitybuilding in startups? Let us know in the comments!

You can watch Episode 22 below.

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