Fundraising looks very different from what it did even a few years ago. Donor behavior is shifting. Grant competition is tighter. And nonprofits are feeling real pressure to build revenue streams that can actually last.
That is exactly why we expanded Catchafire’s fundraising product and nonprofit capacity building options.
We’ve created a focused set of projects designed to help nonprofits strengthen revenue from every angle, whether that’s earned income or traditional philanthropic fundraising. The goal is simple: give organizations practical, expert support that helps them grow with confidence.
At the heart of this work are two priorities. First, building strong earned income strategies. Second, expanding overall fundraising capacity to enable teams to operate more strategically and effectively.
Earned income support helps nonprofits explore new revenue opportunities beyond traditional funding. That might mean validating a social enterprise idea, developing fee-based services, or launching a product. At the same time, our capacity building projects strengthen the internal systems and strategies that make fundraising sustainable, from donor engagement to grant writing to campaign planning.
Diversifying revenue is no longer a nice-to-have. For many nonprofits, earned income is becoming a critical piece of long-term stability. These projects help organizations test ideas, build smart models, and move forward with clarity.
Before investing significant time and resources, nonprofits need to know whether an idea is viable. Through an Earned Income Market Validation project, skilled volunteers can conduct market research, analyze competitors, and validate demand.
The outcome is clear, actionable insight about whether the concept makes sense and what adjustments may be needed.
Once an idea is validated, structure matters. An Earned Income Business Plan project helps transform a promising concept into a detailed roadmap, including revenue projections, cost structure, and growth strategy.
This turns vision into something concrete and sustainable.
Even the strongest offering needs visibility. An Earned Income Marketing Plan project supports nonprofits in defining target customers, building outreach strategies, and developing a thoughtful launch plan.
The result is an initiative that is positioned for strong market entry and continued growth.
While earned income is growing in importance, grant funding and individual giving remain essential. These projects help nonprofits strengthen their readiness, improve efficiency, and increase revenue from their most valuable supporters.
A Grant Readiness Assessment evaluates whether an organization is fully prepared to pursue funding and identifies gaps in financial documentation, impact measurement, or organizational infrastructure.
Nonprofits leave with a practical plan to strengthen their position before applying.
Rather than chasing every opportunity, a Grant Prospect Research project helps nonprofits identify foundations that truly align with their mission. Volunteers analyze giving history and prioritize high-fit prospects.
This saves time and increases the likelihood of success.
Grant writing can be time-consuming and stressful. A Grant Proposal Template Development project creates reusable narrative frameworks, compelling impact language, and standardized data sections.
This builds long-term efficiency and consistency across submissions.
Sometimes the difference between a near miss and an award is clarity and alignment. A Grant Application Review provides strategic feedback, flow edits, and checks for alignment with funder priorities.
Individual donors are a powerful source of sustainable revenue when engaged thoughtfully.
An Individual Giving Plan Assessment reviews current strategy and identifies opportunities to improve retention, strengthen donor journeys, and grow recurring giving.
Not all donors engage the same way. A Donor Segmentation and Messaging Strategy project helps nonprofits group donors by behavior and giving patterns, then craft messaging that resonates with their motivations.
This leads to stronger engagement and increased lifetime value.
Consistency drives results. A Giving Campaign Calendar project helps organizations map annual timelines, coordinate outreach, and build integrated fundraising moments that sustain momentum throughout the year.
Data tells a story. Through a Donor Data Analysis project, volunteers examine records to uncover retention trends, upgrade opportunities, and strategies to re-engage lapsed donors.
The result is smarter, more informed decision-making that supports sustainable growth.
Taken together, these projects give nonprofits access to specialized expertise across the full fundraising lifecycle. From validating new earned income ideas to strengthening grant strategy and optimizing donor engagement, the support is practical and actionable.
By expanding this menu, Catchafire continues its commitment to building nonprofit capacity in meaningful ways, ensuring organizations are not just supported today but positioned to thrive in the long haul.
If you want to put your expertise to work in a meaningful way, these projects are a powerful place to start. Nonprofits are actively looking for support with strategy, research, marketing, grant writing, and data analysis. You can explore current opportunities and sign up to help at catchafire.org/volunteer.
If you’re a nonprofit reading this and thinking, we could really use this kind of support, we would love to connect. If you are not yet part of Catchafire, you can learn how it works and how to access skilled volunteers.
And if you are already a Catchafire partner, simply log in to your account and start posting a project. Expert support may be just a few clicks away.