Too many nonprofits spend hours sending cold grant proposals that go nowhere. The truth? The strongest funder relationships are built before the grant is written through genuine connection, alignment, and meaningful conversations that set you up for long-term success.
Join Caitlin McBride, CFRE, for a practical, results-focused session that will shift how you approach funding from pitching to partnering.
What you’ll learn:
- Start relationships the right way: Find the right contact, craft intro emails that get responses, and have conversations that open doors.
- Assess true alignment: Determine whether a funder is the right fit for your mission because funding is a two-way street.
- Strengthen partnerships before you apply: Use insights from early conversations to frame your proposal for maximum impact.
- Turn rejections into opportunities: Discover how a “$10K no” became an “$80K yes” through active listening and relationship-building.
- Steward funders for long-term success: Go beyond reports and thank-you notes to create partnerships that lead to renewed funding.
You’ll walk away with a clear framework for starting confident funder conversations, uncovering true alignment, and turning every interaction (whether it ends in a “yes” or a “not yet”) into lasting opportunity.
Save your spot today and start building better funder relationships.
Speakers
Caitlin McBride, CFRE
Senior Consultant, Further Together
Caitlin is a Certified Fund Raising Executive with over a decade of experience across large nonprofits in the UK and grassroots charities in Canada. She is known for building authentic, values-driven donor relationships and developing sustainable systems that deepen the donor experience. A published writer with a post-graduate diploma in Professional Communications, Caitlin also serves as vice-chair of the board at New Westminster Family Place in British Columbia.
