Elbert Innovative Solutions
Glossary
Grant & Fundraising Glossary
Your complete reference for grant writing, fundraising, and advancement terminology.
77 terms11 categories18 letters
- AbstractGrant Writing
- A brief summary of a grant proposal, typically 1–2 paragraphs, highlighting the project purpose, goals, and requested amount.
- Annual FundFundraising
- A yearly fundraising campaign that provides unrestricted operating support for an organization.
- BequestAdvancement
- A gift left to a nonprofit through a donor's will or estate plan.
- BoilerplateGrant Writing
- Standard, reusable text describing an organization's mission, history, and programs used across multiple grant applications.
- Budget NarrativeGrant Writing
- A written explanation of each line item in a grant budget, justifying costs and linking them to project activities.
- Capacity BuildingGrants
- Funding or activities that strengthen an organization's infrastructure, systems, or staff capabilities rather than direct program delivery.
- Capital CampaignFundraising
- A time-limited, intensive fundraising effort to raise a specific amount for a major project such as a building or endowment.
- Challenge GrantGrants
- A grant that requires the recipient to raise matching funds from other sources before the grant is released.
- Community FoundationFunders
- A public charity that manages charitable funds and makes grants to nonprofits in a specific geographic area.
- Competitive GrantGrants
- A grant awarded through a merit-based review process where multiple applicants compete for limited funding.
- ContractContracts
- An agreement in which an organization is paid to deliver specific services or products, unlike a grant which is a gift.
- Corporate FoundationFunders
- A private foundation established and funded by a for-profit corporation to make charitable grants.
- CultivationAdvancement
- The process of building relationships with prospective donors or funders before making a formal ask.
- DeliverablesGrant Writing
- Specific, measurable outputs or outcomes that a grantee agrees to produce as part of a funded project.
- Direct CostsFinance
- Expenses that can be specifically attributed to a grant-funded project, such as staff salaries and supplies.
- Discretionary GrantGrants
- A grant awarded at the discretion of a program officer or board, not through a competitive process.
- Donor StewardshipAdvancement
- Ongoing relationship management with donors to express gratitude, report impact, and encourage future giving.
- EINCompliance
- Employer Identification Number — a federal tax ID number required for nonprofits to receive grants and conduct financial transactions.
- EndowmentFinance
- A fund where the principal is invested and only the interest/earnings are used, providing long-term financial stability.
- Evaluation PlanGrant Writing
- A description of how a project's success will be measured, including methods, data collection, and reporting.
- Family FoundationFunders
- A private foundation funded and often governed by members of a single family.
- Feasibility StudyFundraising
- Research conducted before a capital campaign to assess donor readiness and the likelihood of reaching a fundraising goal.
- Fiscal SponsorshipCompliance
- An arrangement where an established nonprofit extends its tax-exempt status to a project or group that lacks its own 501(c)(3) status.→ See where your organization stands — take the readiness assessment
- Formula GrantGrants
- A grant distributed according to a set formula, often based on population, poverty rate, or other data.
- FunderFunders
- An organization or individual that provides financial support through grants, contracts, or donations.
- General Operating SupportGrants
- Unrestricted funding that can be used for any organizational expense, including overhead, staff, or administration.
- Gift Range ChartFundraising
- A table used in campaign planning that shows the number and size of gifts needed at each level to reach a fundraising goal.
- Grant CycleProcess
- The recurring process a funder uses to accept, review, and award grants, typically on annual or quarterly schedules.
- Grant ManagementProcess
- The process of tracking, reporting, and complying with requirements associated with awarded grant funds.
- GranteeProcess
- The organization or individual that receives grant funding.
- GrantorProcess
- The organization or individual that awards grant funding.
- Impact MetricsGrant Writing
- Quantitative and qualitative measures used to demonstrate the outcomes and effectiveness of a program.
- In-Kind ContributionFinance
- Non-cash support such as donated goods, services, or volunteer time that can count toward a match requirement.→ See where your organization stands — take the readiness assessment
- Indirect CostsFinance
- Overhead expenses shared across multiple projects, such as rent, utilities, and administrative salaries.
- Institutional FunderFunders
- A foundation, government agency, or corporation that awards grants, as opposed to an individual donor.
- Invitational GrantGrants
- A grant where an organization must be invited by the funder to submit a proposal.
- LGBTQ+ Affirming FunderEquity
- A funder that explicitly supports organizations serving LGBTQ+ communities or led by LGBTQ+ individuals.
- Logic ModelGrant Writing
- A visual framework showing the logical links between a program's inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes.→ See where your organization stands — take the readiness assessment
- LOI (Letter of Inquiry)Process
- A brief document submitted to a funder to gauge interest before submitting a full proposal.
- Major GiftFundraising
- A significant donation, the threshold for which varies by organization, typically requiring personalized cultivation and solicitation.
- Matching GrantGrants
- A grant that requires the recipient to raise equal or proportional funds from other sources.
- Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)Compliance
- A formal agreement between organizations outlining roles, responsibilities, and expectations in a partnership.
- Mission AlignmentStrategy
- The degree to which a grant opportunity's goals match the applicant organization's stated mission and work.
- Moves ManagementAdvancement
- A systematic approach to moving donors through stages of engagement — from identification to cultivation to solicitation to stewardship.
- NarrativeGrant Writing
- The written portion of a grant application that tells the story of an organization's need, plan, and capacity.
- Needs StatementGrant Writing
- A section of a grant proposal that documents the problem or need the project will address, supported by data.
- Non-Competing ContinuationProcess
- A renewal of grant funding that does not require recompetition, typically contingent on satisfactory progress.
- Nonprofit StatusCompliance
- A tax-exempt designation under IRS section 501(c)(3) allowing organizations to receive tax-deductible donations and most grants.
- ObjectivesGrant Writing
- Specific, measurable steps that will lead to achieving a project's broader goals.
- OverheadFinance
- Administrative and operational costs not directly tied to programs, including rent, utilities, and general staff.
- Pass-Through FundingGrants
- Federal or state funds distributed to subgrantees through an intermediary organization.
- Philanthropic InvestmentAdvancement
- Charitable giving viewed through the lens of expected social return rather than financial profit.
- Planned GivingAdvancement
- Charitable donations made through estate plans, trusts, or other deferred financial instruments.
- Private FoundationFunders
- A nonprofit funded primarily by a single source (individual, family, or corporation) that makes grants to public charities.
- Program OfficerProcess
- A staff member at a foundation who reviews applications, advises applicants, and recommends grants for approval.
- Program-Related Investment (PRI)Finance
- A loan or investment from a foundation used to advance its charitable mission, not counted against payout requirements.
- Project BudgetFinance
- A detailed financial plan showing all income and expenses for a grant-funded project.
- Prospect ResearchAdvancement
- The process of identifying and gathering information about potential donors or funders to assess giving capacity and interest.
- Public CharityCompliance
- A nonprofit that receives substantial funding from the public, government, or a variety of sources — eligible for most grants.
- Public FundGrants
- Money administered by a government agency or public institution and distributed through competitive or formula processes.
- Readiness AssessmentStrategy
- An evaluation of an organization's capacity, compliance, and documentation needed to successfully apply for and manage grants.→ See where your organization stands — take the readiness assessment
- Recurring GivingFundraising
- Automatic, scheduled donations made by supporters on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis.
- Reporting RequirementsProcess
- Funder-mandated updates and documentation demonstrating how grant funds were used and what was accomplished.
- Restricted FundsFinance
- Donations or grants that must be used for a specific purpose designated by the funder.
- RFP (Request for Proposals)Process
- A formal announcement by a funder inviting organizations to submit proposals for a specific funding opportunity.
- RFQ (Request for Qualifications)Contracts
- A solicitation asking organizations to demonstrate their qualifications before being invited to submit a full proposal or bid.
- Rolling DeadlineProcess
- A grant with no fixed deadline — applications are accepted and reviewed on an ongoing basis.
- Seed FundingGrants
- Initial grant funding provided to launch a new project, program, or organization.
- SMART GoalsGrant Writing
- Goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound — a standard framework in grant writing.
- Social Return on Investment (SROI)Strategy
- A framework for measuring the social, environmental, and economic value created by a program relative to its cost.
- SolicitationAdvancement
- A formal or informal request for a gift or grant, tailored to a specific donor or funder.
- Statement of NeedGrant Writing
- Another term for Needs Statement — evidence that a community problem exists and requires intervention.
- SubgrantGrants
- A grant awarded by a primary grantee to another organization to carry out part of the funded project.
- Sustainability PlanGrant Writing
- A description of how a project or program will continue to operate after grant funding ends.
- Theory of ChangeStrategy
- A detailed explanation of how and why a set of activities is expected to lead to desired long-term outcomes.
- Unrestricted FundsFinance
- Donations or grants with no designated purpose — the organization can use them for any legitimate expense.
- Work PlanGrant Writing
- A timeline and task list showing how and when grant-funded activities will be completed.