Three Notch’d Insights
nonprofit noodling
on the things that drive
(and plague)
organizations.
advocacy arts arts education burnout business collaboration communications evaluation funding fundraising grants healing impact inspiration K-12 management marketing mental health museum nonprofit organization pandemic partnerships poetry programs reflection self-care social justice stress teaching
Five Mindfulness Practices for Nonprofit Teams During Year-End Stress
December in the nonprofit world is its own kind of marathon. End-of-year fundraising deadlines, donor stewardship, program reporting, grant submissions—all while navigating holiday…
Want to Win Over Funders? Start Before You Walk in the Room
Landing a meeting with a prospective funder is exciting—and often nerve-wracking. Whether you’re sitting down with a foundation program officer, a corporate giving manager, or…
Less Paperwork, More Partnership: Understanding Trust-Based Philanthropy
Have you noticed funders talking differently about their grants lately? Terms like “unrestricted giving,” “holistic support,” and “eliminating administrative burdens” are popping up…
The Funding Season Has Changed—Is Your Grant Language Ready?
Over the past several months, Three Notch’d has been talking a lot with our clients about language—specifically, how the political landscape might affect…
The Em Dash, Oxford Comma, and Other Things that Keep Us Up at Night
It was the question that swept the Internet. Were em dashes—those “weird long dashes” beloved by English majors, grammar nerds, and copywriters alike—a…
Graphic Design on a Budget: Tips for Nonprofit Professionals
In the nonprofit world, every dollar counts. You know that professionally designed assets are crucial for outreach, connecting with funders, and sharing your…
Mission As True North: Navigating Uncertain Times
The nonprofit sector is facing one of its most challenging periods in recent memory. Federal funding cuts, political uncertainty, and a growing climate…
The Faces Behind Three Notch’d
As we celebrate our fourth year in business at Three Notch’d Nonprofit Solutions, we want to take a moment to introduce (and reintroduce)…
4 Years in Business! {A Look Back at 2024}
Now that we are well into Q2 2025, we are taking a moment to look back at 2024, and our fourth year of…
5 Ways to Foster Warm Contacts with Funders
The best grant proposal is the one that a funder knows is coming. Sure, it’s tempting to shoot off as many applications as…
3 Years in Business! {A Look Back at 2023}
This month marks three years of consulting at Three Notch’d Nonprofit Solutions! In 2023, I refined the focus of my offerings, putting grants…
Finding Balance When You Need to Lean In
In the nonprofit sector, juggling a growing number of balls in the air is business as usual. The pace of work is set…
How to Navigate a “No” from a Grant Funder
Nobody likes getting rejected. But the reality is, especially in changing economic times, you may be hearing “no” more than you’re hearing “yes”…
5 Questions to Consider Before Working with a Grant Consultant
You’ve gotten the green light to work with a grant writing consultant and found a skilled professional to help your organization secure much…
2 Years in Business! {A Look Back at 2022}
This month marks two years of Three Notch’d Nonprofit Solutions! As I celebrate the continued growth of my business, I have immense gratitude…
Poetic Inspiration from Rita Dove
April is National Poetry month. I have often turned to poetry–both as a reader and writer–especially during those moments where I am seeking…
1 Year and 7 Nonprofits Later…
March 24th marks the 1-year anniversary of the launch of Three Notch’d Nonprofit Solutions! What began as a desire to tap more deeply…
For Teachers: Igniting Inquiry, Engagement, and Joy
I was honored to be a guest speaker on PEBC’s Phenomenal Teaching podcast, where I shared some nonprofit insights to K-12 teachers looking…
Lessons From My Mother
Last month marked one year since my mother’s passing from this earth. This past year has been marked by moments of heartache—for her…
Five Ways to Curb Burnout {Guest Post}
In the final post of the Burnout Blog Series, guest author Jamie Blackburn explores the causes of burnout and outlines practical tips for…
Finding Collaboration Among the Pieces of an Earth-Shattering Time
With COVID boosters scheduled and the kids’ vaccine around the corner, there’s hope that we may be rounding the corner of our collective…
Reflect, Resolve, Refine: Seeking Agency in a Time of Crisis {Guest Post}
In the third post in the Burnout Blog Series, guest author Charles Fulcher examines his own job loss during the pandemic and how…
Prepare Your Staff For Their Future Careers. {Guest Post}
I’m excited to bring you the first guest post in the Burnout Blog Series, exploring the importance of preparing your staff (and yourself!)…
When Museums Are Better At Preserving Objects Than Staff
Roughly one-fifth of museum workers do not expect to remain in the field in three years, according to the American Alliance of Museums…
The 1-2-3 of Annual Reports
If you’re the director of a nonprofit (especially an emerging one!), creating an annual report can seem like one more thing on your…
Holding Space: The Arts’ Relevance During Traumatic Times
It has become incredibly clichéd to say that this past year has been like no other. Between the pandemic outbreak, continued racial unrest…
I Am a Hunter for Words (a Roxanne Metaphor for Grant Writing)
There is a common metaphor that fundraising is like dating. The first step is identifying someone compatible. Courtship is key, and it’s important…
Beyond Counting: Setting Yourself Up to Tell Your Impact Story
Effectively demonstrating the impact of your organization not only builds awareness of the good, hard work you’re doing; it also builds trust and…
The Three C’s of Three Notch’d
Three Notch’d Nonprofit Solutions is grounded in 20 years of experience in the nonprofit world. I have had my hands in various pots…
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