Many $1M+ nonprofits lose eligibility to apply for the grants that helped them grow in the first place. Many funders interested in grassroots orgs exclude nonprofits with budgets above $1M (Beware: I\u2019ve also seen smaller cliffs at the $2M and $5M marks). While this is a great problem to have, it\u2019s still a problem if you don\u2019t have relationships with funders ready to make up the difference. With a more established org comes expectations of better data, often prioritizing outcomes over outputs. Don\u2019t just measure attendance and cite established research on the efficacy of your approach. Measure and track behavior, attitude, knowledge, and skill changes. Throw in a testimonial that shows that qualitative real-world impact, and you\u2019ve got data magic. Keep up strong data collection for multiple years and you start having primary evidence of long-term impact. Your financial audit is just one part of compliance you\u2019ll navigate as your grant program matures.\u00a0 As you grow, you may have more opportunities to take advantage of governmental grants and contracts, which may require more expertise to navigate than you have on hand. Even if you stay in the foundation world, larger grants from larger foundations can come with more intensive reporting requirements. Just because you may be big enough (by your budget or by impact) to apply for higher value grants doesn\u2019t mean you already have the capacity to succeed. What can today\u2019s grant request do to make your organization stronger tomorrow? When you\u2019re in the $1M range and you\u2019ve proven that you can deliver on what you promise, consider what capacity investments will help you level up. When you fund program and capacity line items, you make bigger impacts without stretching your team and resources thinner. About the Author: <\/strong>Victoria Flynn<\/a>\u00a0is the Owner and Principal of\u00a0Victoria Flynn Consulting<\/a>. She specializes in strategic grant services that increase nonprofit revenue through four service pillars proven to drive returns on investment. They deliver winning grant applications and compelling narrative reports while engaging long-term funding strategies, integrating mission-critical evaluation plans, and developing staff skills and resilience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Exceeding the $1M threshold is a nonprofit landmark, and you\u2019re likely tackling your first audit. By the time you reach the $1M mark, you\u2019ve likely got 1) established programs, 2) program and admin staff, and\/or 3) credibility in your community.\u00a0 At this phase, you\u2019re not just thinking about keeping the lights on, you\u2019re thinking about the big S words: scaling, sustainability, and stewardship. Here\u2019s a 10-minute strategy audit to ensure you\u2019re ready for what\u2019s to come.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15310,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[140],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12636","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog-posts"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nStrategy Audit<\/strong>: What prospects can remain in your pipeline once you hit $1M and which will fall away? How does that affect your total potential grant revenue?<\/p>\nOutcomes Not Outputs<\/strong><\/h6>\n
\nStrategy Audit<\/strong>: How does your data show that your program outputs have made a real, measurable difference?<\/p>\nCompliance is King<\/strong><\/h6>\n
\nStrategy Audit<\/strong>: Who on your team has the knowledge and expertise to navigate more complicated grant management and financial compliance requirements? How will you build or create that capacity if you don\u2019t have it already?<\/p>\nThe Strategic Ask<\/strong><\/h6>\n
\nStrategy Audit<\/strong>: What resources (e.g., fundraising, accounting, subject-matter expertise, technology) would make it easier, faster, cheaper to drive positive impact for the funder\u2019s mission?<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gc.gcdev3.com\/mcn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Screen-Shot-2026-02-19-at-12.25.08-PM-e1780335226836.png\")
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