You Are Not Lucky to be Funded
The Funder-Fundee power dynamic isn’t as true as you think it is.
In every workshop I’ve led, I’ve said this:
Funders want to create impact. But without you, they can’t.
They bring the funding, yes. But you bring the vision and the boots-on-the-ground brilliance. You are the one doing the work and showing up for community every single day.
You bring the proximity and the lived, often hard-won, wisdom of what real change actually takes. And yet…
So many organizations approach funders like they’re the saviour. Like the work you do only exists because of them. Where you feel lucky to be at the table at all or grateful to get a meeting with them.
This makes you afraid to ask for what you really need and then you modify your programs to fit the funder narrative, leaving behind the people you actually mean to serve.
I want you to understand
Your work is not an afterthought.
Your organization is not “lucky” to be funded.
You are the reason any of this matters.
I saw a quote the other day that nailed it:
“Stop fundraising with a 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 for the funder’s money and start communicating like it’s a 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘬𝘦 between allies.”
Because this is not charity.
This is just one part of the impact ecosystem.
We have to shift the narrative from power talks to partnerships… and that starts with how you lead.
The way you think about funding isn’t just a mindset shift, it’s a leadership shift (and no you don’t need to be an ED to lead the charge here). If you continue to center the funder and mould and modify your programs to meet what you think they want, your mission will always come second.
But when you own your expertise, clarify your vision and treat your funding conversations like a strategic conversation… What do you think would shift?
Everything. Everything shifts.
This is why I do what I do.
Strategic grant support isn’t just about writing better proposals.
It’s about reclaiming the impact of your mission and placing it at the forefront.
It’s about making sure your organization and programs are fundable and rooted in alignment, without begging and sacrificing what your organization truly needs.
So next time you think about applying for funding, ask yourself:
Am I leading this relationship… or shrinking inside it?
The sector doesn’t need more passivity.
It needs more powerful, clear, unapologetic leadership.
Starting with you.
Your mission isn’t optional.
So let’s stop acting like your funding is a favor.
Looking for more support and guidance?
At Circles of Impact we help you grow your knowledge and capacity to write stronger, more concise and successful funding proposals. Together we can fine-tune your applications that will stand out to funders and increase your chance of receiving funds. Check out our services page to learn more.
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I’m Sara (she/her), the leader behind this mission, and I want you to believe in your power to make a difference. Just as a circle has no end and no beginning you too have the infinite potential to evolve, transform, and create change in your community and I want to help you achieve it.
