marketing matters
THE HIDDEN MARKETING GOLDMINE:
HOW TO WRITE MARKETING INTO YOUR GRANT PROPOSAL
Most nonprofits treat marketing as an afterthought in their budgets— something to squeeze in after program costs and overhead. But what if your next grant could fund a complete communications overhaul? Smart nonprofits are discovering that professional marketing services can be strategically woven into grant proposals, creating sustainable funding for the visibility work that drives donor engagement and program success.
Why Funders Willingly Support Professional Marketing
Grant makers want their investments to succeed, and they understand that invisible programs can’ t create a measurable impact. When you frame professional marketing as“ community engagement infrastructure” or“ program visibility services,” funders see the direct connection between strategic outreach and program outcomes.
The reality: Organizations with professional marketing support report 23 % higher program participation rates and 31 % better donor retention than those managing communications internally.
Strategic Language to Secure Funding
Instead of listing“ Marketing Agency Services,” call it:
“ Professional Communications Strategy and Implementation”
“ Digital Infrastructure Development for Enhanced Program Delivery”
“ Community Outreach and Stakeholder Engagement Services”
Instead of listing“ Social Media Management,” call it:
“ Digital Community Building and Realtime Program Updates”
“ Geographic Targeting Technology for Underserved Population Outreach”
What Professional Marketing Services Can Be Grant-Funded
Direct Program Support: Website development for program enrollment, social media campaigns promoting community participation, video production documenting impact and email systems for participant communication. These services directly support program delivery and can be justified as essential infrastructure.
Organizational Capacity Building: Comprehensive digital marketing strategy, professional content creation, search engine optimization and analytics tracking. Many foundations offer capacity-building grants specifically for organizational improvement— professional marketing falls perfectly into this category.
Community Engagement Infrastructure: Event marketing for fundraising activities, donor communication systems, volunteer recruitment campaigns and partnership development through strategic online presence.
74 CentrAL Inc!