Nonprofits looking to strengthen how they communicate with donors can now apply for a new grant designed to improve fundraising narratives and support long-term sustainability. The Communication Foundation has launched the Donor Proposition Review Grant, which will provide selected organisations with a free communications assessment valued at €2,500.
The initiative aims to help NGOs better present their impact to donors, addressing a common challenge across the nonprofit sector. Many organisations carry out important development work but find it difficult to translate complex programmes into clear and compelling stories that inspire financial support. Limited budgets and competing priorities often mean communication strategies are underdeveloped or overlooked, even though effective messaging is increasingly critical for attracting and retaining donors.
Through the Donor Proposition Review, selected organisations will receive a detailed assessment of their existing donor materials, including reports and other communication assets. The review will provide tailored and practical recommendations on how organisations can turn standard content into stronger narratives that clearly highlight their impact and the urgency of their work. By offering this service as a grant, the foundation aims to remove financial barriers that often prevent NGOs from investing in professional communication support.
This grant is part of a broader set of initiatives from the Communication Foundation focused on strengthening nonprofit communications. In addition to the Donor Proposition Review, the foundation offers other review programmes that help organisations improve their online presence, storytelling, audiovisual content, and visual identity. These initiatives are designed to help nonprofits engage audiences more effectively and maximise their overall impact through better communication strategies.
The importance of this support is growing as funding becomes more competitive and unpredictable. For many organisations, particularly smaller NGOs, the challenge is not a lack of impact but the difficulty of clearly demonstrating that impact to donors. Strong donor communication helps organisations build trust, attract attention from funders, and develop more sustainable funding relationships rather than relying on one-time grants.
The grant also helps create a more level playing field within the sector. Grassroots and community-based organisations often lack the resources to access professional communications advice. By removing the cost barrier, the initiative allows these organisations to strengthen their messaging and compete more effectively for funding opportunities.
More broadly, the programme reflects a shift within the development sector, where storytelling, transparency, and strategic communication are becoming essential components of organisational success. As the sector evolves, organisations that can clearly articulate their mission, results, and value are more likely to grow, adapt, and maintain long-term support.
Applications for the grant are open from March 18 to April 8, 2026. Interested organisations need to complete an online application form and provide a short overview of their work, including how the review would improve their donor communications. Selected applicants will be notified after the review process is completed. For further details and application instructions, organisations can visit the Communication Foundation’s website.
