Insights

Welcome to CFS's "Insights," your gateway into the world of competitive funding. Our blog is a one-stop shop for thought-provoking articles, engaging stories, and actionable advice. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a curious novice, our curated content provides unique expertise and resources to assist with the complexities of fundraising with clarity and confidence.

CFS Insights:

Reflections on Growth

October 10, 2024 | A reflection by President and CEO Becky Nictakis on Capitol Funding Solutions’ remarkable transformation and growth

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Best Practices for Building a Strong Grant Team

September 27, 2024 | Learn best practices for assembling a grant team that can effectively collaborate to secure funding and manage successful projects.

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Revisiting Your Proposal: How to Refresh and Resubmit

September 10, 2024 | Rejection of a grant application is not the end of the road. With the right approach, a well-prepared resubmission can lead to success.

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Letter of Commitment or Letter of Support? Demonstrate Your Project’s Value and Impact

August 27, 2024 | Explore the distinct roles of Letters of Support and Letters of Commitment, how to craft compelling letters that resonate with reviewers, and tips for securing strong letters from your partners.  

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State Funding 101: Identifying Competitive Opportunities

August 20, 2024 | Learn about the benefits of state-level funding and strategies for finding identifying relevant opportunities. 

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Developing a Comprehensive Nonprofit Fundraising Strategy

August 14, 2024 | Consider investing resources in these fundraising strategies to enhance your overall financial strength.

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Stop, Collaborate, and Listen:

Five Ways Partnerships Strengthen Your Proposals

July 30, 2024 | Learn about the benefits of collaborating with external stakeholders and how these partnerships can enhance your chances of success. 

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Community Benefits Plans:

Enhancing Community Impact with Agreements

This insight delves into the importance of Community Benefits Plans (CBPs) in securing funding under BIL and IRA, highlighting the significance of workforce and community agreements, and outlining application requirements and strategies.

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Reporting Your Environmental Impact: What, How, and Why

Learn about key environmental impacts and gain useful resources to help you accurately represent your project's environmental footprint.

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Alphabet Soup:

Highlighting Energy-Related Tax Credits from the IRA

Explore these available tax credit programs created by the IRA to spur clean energy investments.

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Registration - Part 4:

Portal Problems: What are they, how can they be avoided, and what are best practices?

Avoid these common missteps when using an online portal for your application submission process. 

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WEBINAR: 5/7/2024

Demystifying BEAD and Building an Expert Team to Tackle the Process

Hosted by the Fiber Broadband Association, this webinar outlines identifying optimal BEAD locations, navigating federal and state grant requirements, crafting compelling applications, and engaging with communities and stakeholders.

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Strategic Solutions:

Beginner’s Guide to Private Philanthropy Grant Research

Learn about crucial strategies that will enhance your organization's identification process for private funding. 

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Application Management:

Getting Organized for Success

So, you’ve found a funding opportunity that your organization would like to apply for - now what? This insight covers crucial project management practices that will set your application up for a successful submission.

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How Does a Government Shutdown Impact Federal Grant Programs?

Learn about the effects of a shutdown on Federal Agencies and their funding programs.

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Community Benefits Plans: 101

A CBP is an essential part of the application process for those seeking BIL and IRA funding. Here is a breakdown of what it is and why it is important for your projects and proposals. 

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2023 by the Numbers:

A Year in Review with Capitol Funding Solutions

Join us as we revisit the key highlights of 2023.

 

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Mastering Pre-Award Costs:

Strategies for Effective Budget Planning

Learn how to navigate tricky budget requirements and develop a strong financing plan for your projects.  

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Decoding the Federal Grant Application Process:

Is Your Organization Ready?

Considering applying for federal grants but finding the process overwhelming? Here are several reasons to consider federal funding and ways to navigate the application process effectively.

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Highlighting Changes to the Grants.Gov Platform

Discover the revamped grants.gov platform and learn about the enhanced features of the newly user-friendly platform for applicants. 

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Grant Writing Horrors: Conquering Your Worst Nightmares

Learn about these these five spooky scenarios and their solutions. 

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Registration - Part 3:

Managing Organization Roles in Grants.gov

Learn about the purpose of and how to manage roles in grants.gov - a crucial step in the registration process. 

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Is My Program Fundable?

6 Keys to Assess Grant Readiness

An overview of essential factors that will help determine how prepared you are to apply for competitive funding. 

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Strategic Solutions:

A Beginner's Guide to Federal Funding Research

With these strategies at your disposal, you can increase your success in identifying funding sources that align with your objectives and priorities.

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Registration Part 2: What? Where? How?

Grants.gov and Other Registrations

Found a funding opportunity? You need to register with grants.gov. Learn how in this step-by-step guide. 

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The Money Zone:

Budget Basics 2: The Budgeting

Created by our grant writing team, this series of articles provides guidance on the financial development and management processes of competitive funding.

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Building Relationships with Funders:

Why It’s Important & What Steps to Take

This insight highlights key components of developing relationships with grant makers, with input from Sarah Comerford, Grants Administrator for a Texas-based Foundation. 

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Transforming Ideas into Impact:

7 Reasons to Choose Capitol Funding Solutions

Applying for competitive funding can be a daunting task. Learn how CFS can help.

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What are Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP)?

The mission of these programs are to advance biomedical research and deliver healthcare solutions in response to the needs of Service Members, Veterans, and the American public.

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So You Want Federal Funding?

Registrations: How To Get Started

To pursue competitive federal funding, applicants must first complete several registrations to get started. This insight will explain how to register with SAM.gov. 

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The Money Zone:

Cost Sharing and Matching

Created by our grant writing team, this series provides guidance on the financial development and management processes of competitive funding.

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Capitol Funding Solutions

Highlights of 2022

Let's dive into the top moments of the year and celebrate all that we've accomplished together!

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Grants 101:

10 Keys to Winning Foundation Grants

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Capitol Funding Solutions:

Frequently Asked Questions

Have your questions about grant writing and CFS answered 

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The Money Zone:

Budget Basics

Created by our grant writing team, this series of articles provides guidance on the financial development and management processes of competitive funding.

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Project, Person, and Place:

The Three P’s of a Competitive Grant Proposal

Consider these objectives to craft a competitive proposal. 

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Grants 101:

The Grant Life Cycle

This article provides a breakdown of the federal funding timeline and process, from start to finish, to help guide you in preparing to apply and implement awarded competitive funding.

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Working with CFS:

What to Expect

Learn more about our services and expertise.

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SBIR/STTR Programs:

Programs for Small Businesses

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