One Word: Leverage
The goal here is to figure out how the investment could make the biggest impact for your nonprofit. Instead of starting with a long list of needs, think about what opportunities are levers: In other words, which investment would strengthen multiple parts of your work at the same time?
For example, the right staff hire, system, or program expansion might help your team reach more people, improve outcomes, and free up time for fundraising.
One investment → several positive outcomes.
When you can clearly identify those opportunities, it becomes much easier to talk to donors about how their support can help your mission grow.
Questions to Help You Identify Your Biggest Levers
So, how do you actually figure out the answer to that $1 million question? Start by asking yourself a few reflection questions about your organization’s work.
Question #1: Where does your team consistently run into capacity limits?
Sometimes the biggest lever is solving the bottleneck that slows everything else down. That might be staffing, technology, or systems.
💡 Example: A new operations hire or improved donor database might free up hours of staff time each week.
Question #2: Which program or initiative is already producing strong results but hasn’t been able to grow yet?
Often, there's something in your organization that is clearly working. The challenge isn't impact. It's scale.
💡Example: Additional funding might allow you to bring a successful pilot program to more schools, neighborhoods, or communities.
Question #3: What investment would allow you to serve more people without doubling your workload?
Sometimes the most powerful investments improve efficiency. The right system, role, or partnership can help your organization grow without burning out the team.
💡Example: New technology or partnerships might allow you to serve twice as many participants without doubling staff hours.
How to Communicate These Levers to Donors
This is where a lot of nonprofits get stuck. It can feel uncomfortable to talk about major funding needs -- But when you’re clear about what would unlock progress for your mission, it becomes much easier to invite donors into the solution.
Here are a few simple ways to communicate those opportunities:
- Connect the investment to the outcome.
Donors are more inspired when they understand what their support will make possible. Instead of saying "we need funding for a new staff role," try: "A program coordinator would allow us to serve 200 more families next year."
- Show how one investment strengthens multiple things at once.
For example, investing in a new system might improve program tracking, strengthen donor reporting, and save staff hours each week.
- Keep it focused.
Instead of a long list of needs, highlight one or two key investments that could move the mission forward. This helps donors see exactly where their support makes a difference.
Try it this week 🚀
Pick one investment that feels like a true leverage point for your nonprofit and write down what it would unlock for your programs, team, or community. Then bring that idea into your next leadership or board conversation to brainstorm fundraising opportunities around it.
You might be surprised at what comes out of that conversation!
