Family foundations vary widely in their giving strategies. Always be proactive in asking potential funders about their processes and expectations to make sure you are a good fit for each other. Additionally, building strong relationships with your advocate within the family foundation is key. A lot of foundation philanthropy depends on emotional empathy. Your mission must resonate with the family and the board on a personal level, and appeal to their emotional interests. Creating a strong personal connection with your advocate will allow them to effectively convey that same emotional conviction to their board members.

Train your funder to use their network to your advantage. If you keep your funders updated on what your deepest needs are at all times, they can keep an eye out for other funders, resources, or opportunities that they could refer you to. Funders network with each other often. Don’t be afraid to ask your current funders to advocate for you or make an introduction.

While tech may be central to your work, it need not be the focus of your pitch. Explain the technology by walking through the user experience. Nonprofits should be selling an outcome: a future world in which the problem you are addressing is no longer an issue. Sell the story of that future first and foremost. The technology is the mechanism by which you achieve that better future at scale.

Read the source article at Fast Forward