Beyond Satire: Fixing What’s Broken in Grant Funding
- Eleanor Cotter
- Mar 3
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 4
Seven years ago, the Human Services Council released a now-classic video imagining what it would look like if neighborhood pizza shops were funded the way human service nonprofits are.
The satire was funny because it was painfully accurate—pizza shop owners forced to change their offerings to the funders preference, submit endless paperwork for reimbursement, and operate without enough cash on hand to keep the ovens on.
Seven years later, the punchline still lands.
In that time, nonprofits have weathered a global pandemic, political instability, a steady decline in philanthropic giving, the rise of AI, and massive shifts in public policy and government funding. Through all of it, many of the same “crappy funding practices” the video skewered remain stubbornly in place: reimbursement contracts that strain cash flow, overly complex applications, irrational reporting requirements, and grants that don’t cover the true costs of implementation.
To be fair, there has been movement. Some foundations have streamlined applications, offered more unrestricted funding, and rethought reporting requirements. But there is still a persistent disconnect between what we know makes funding effective and what many funders actually require. Nonprofits are urged to collaborate, and then forced to compete. They are asked to innovate, while restricted to tightly defined budget line items. They are expected to measure impact, without support for evaluation costs.
So what can we do?
First, know your goals and your impact inside and out. Clarity is power. When you can describe your outcomes in language that resonates across funders, you reduce friction and strengthen your case.
Second, rethink how you measure success. Performance measures don’t have to be onerous. Look for practical, right-sized ways to capture the difference your work makes. Impact measurement should inform your strategy—not overwhelm your staff.
Third, think about how each grant fits into your bigger sustainability picture. No single award should make or break your organization. Diversification isn’t just chasing another grant or big donor—it’s about looking at your full mix of costs and revenues, spotting your strengths, and building a foundation that can carry your impact for the long haul.
Finally, talk it through with a trusted advisor. Responding to funder requirements while staying true to your mission is hard. Having someone who understands both sides of the table can make the process less isolating—and far more strategic.
We’re all waiting (and advocating, and pleading) for the funding ecosystem to improve. Until it does, GPS can help nonprofits strengthen their grant strategies and craft proposals that are clear, compelling, and aligned with long-term sustainability.
And if you’re a grantmaker looking to design programs that truly advance impact while maintaining accountability, we can help you build funding processes that are thoughtful, effective, and respectful of grantees’ time and capacity.
Because better funding design isn’t just possible — it’s necessary for real, sustainable impact.
