Funders Want More Than Good Stories: A Guide to Communicating Outcomes That Build Trust and Drive Funding

Nonprofit organizations exist to make communities stronger, safer, and more equitable. You lead programs that change lives every day. But as funders become more data-driven and outcomes-focused, it’s no longer enough to simply tell inspiring stories about your work.

Funders – whether foundations, corporations, or government agencies – are asking harder questions:

What outcomes are you achieving? How do you know? Why should we trust you with this investment?

These are fair questions. Funders are under pressure, too. They must demonstrate accountability to boards, donors, and the public. In an environment of tightening budgets and heightened scrutiny, they are looking for partners who can provide clarity, evidence, and measurable results.

If your organization struggles to answer those questions with confidence, you’re not alone—and that’s exactly why we created our newest resource.

What Funders Want: The Ultimate Guide to Communicating Outcomes, Building Trust, and Securing Revenue

Why Funders Are Raising the Bar

The philanthropic landscape has shifted.

Funders are no longer content with output data like “number of meals served” or “number of students enrolled.” They want to understand what changed as a result. Did participants stay housed? Did students improve academically? Did families achieve stability?

Funders also need reliable data to defend their own decisions. When you can show outcomes clearly and consistently, you make their job easier—and make your proposal more compelling.

Our new ebook, What Funders Want: The Ultimate Guide to Communicating Outcomes, Building Trust, and Securing Revenue, unpacks exactly what today’s funders expect and how nonprofits can respond with confidence and clarity.

From Outputs to Outcomes: Speak Funders’ Language

The organizations that stand out in competitive funding environments are the ones that can prove, not just describe, their results.

The guide explains how to:

• Define and track the outcomes that matter most to funders

• Move beyond activity counts to show lasting change

• Use “cost per success” as a powerful, data-driven storytelling tool

• Align your outcome reporting with funders’ goals and accountability standards

When you frame your impact through outcomes – what changed, for whom, and at what cost – you position your organization as a results-oriented, trustworthy investment.

Budgeting for Measurement Isn’t Optional—It’s Expected

Many nonprofit leaders worry that including data collection or software costs in a proposal will make it less competitive. In reality, the opposite is true.

Funders increasingly view impact measurement as a core part of responsible program delivery. The guide explains how to confidently budget for:

• Outcome tracking systems

• Staff time for analysis and reporting

• Evaluation design and training

Building this capacity into your operations not only strengthens your proposals—it strengthens your programs.

Build Stronger Funder Relationships Through Better Questions

Strong funder relationships are not transactional; they’re collaborative. The ebook includes a practical checklist and conversation guide to help you move from one-time proposals to long-term partnerships.

You’ll learn how to ask questions like:

• What outcomes matter most to your board?

• How do you prefer to see results reported?

• What defines success from your perspective?

These discussions demonstrate alignment, curiosity, and a shared commitment to impact. These are qualities that funders value in trusted partners.

Free Download: What Funders Want

If you’ve ever wondered how to translate your impact data into funding conversations that resonate, this guide is for you.

Download What Funders Want: The Ultimate Guide to Communicating Outcomes, Building Trust, and Securing Revenue to learn:

• The six key questions every funder expects you to answer

• How to calculate and communicate your cost per success

• How to make data collection a seamless part of daily practice

• How to build stronger, more transparent relationships with funders

Your work is changing lives every day. Now, it’s time to communicate that change in ways funders will understand, trust, and support.

👉 Download the Guide Now.