To get nonprofit funding, be fundable & findable.

Too many nonprofits are unseen, unheard, and underfunded.

Look at the sobering data. Only one in 1,000 nonprofits will grow beyond a small business. Even in the United States — where philanthropic foundations have more than a trillion dollars in the bank — 88% of nonprofits struggle on less than $500,000 USD annually.

Many of you feel like you don’t have the time, team, or tools to succeed in fundraising. Making matters tougher, most Executive Directors were not trained in business and leadership.

So you’re not alone in feeling overwhelmed and uncertain.

To break this nonprofit starvation cycle, we must tackle the problem differently. Of course you need to fundraise, eventually. But if your income has stalled, stop chasing donations. Gather your leadership team and do this instead:

Be fundable.
And be findable.

Here lies the secret.

Being fundable and findable is your brand. Your brand consists of your theory of change, strategic plan, positioning strategy, and marketing communications. And your brand — not just more fundraising — can fix your fundraising.

So remember:

Brand first, funding second.

Why subscribe?

You’ll receive:

1. FREE Friday newsletter in your email inbox

2. Actionable insights to maximize your funding

3. Templates and cheat sheets to build your brand

4. Critiques of injustices in international philanthropy

5. Insider sneak peeks at my (first) book-writing process

6. Weekly bonus unshared with my 66,000 LinkedIn followers

What readers say.

“Kevin L. Brown’s posts always hug me.” — Juliana Fedoce (Brazil)

“You are truly the Robin Hood of our international development arena.” — Cheikh Eteka Traore (Nigeria)

“I’m just in awe of your content. Thank you for seeing, and being a voice for the less-represented side.” — Kevin Matutu (Zimbabwe)

“If LinkedIn gave awards for meaningful content, Kevin L. Brown should win. So many gems for both funders and NGOs to glean from in every single post.” — Dana Doll (United States)

“I just found your content last week and I must say with full conviction that you are one of my favorite creators out there.” — Puneet Singh Singhal (India)

“You remind me of the Dan Pallotta next generation. Deeply admire all you put forward.” — Josh Goralski (United States)

“Your posts about the challenges of running an NPF are so affirming. I feel seen. It inspires me to keep striving to make a better world.” — Thea Stinear (Australia)

“Don’t know how to talk about your organization? Do what Kevin L. Brown says. That’s all.” — Anne Hager (United States)

“I am in awe of Kevin’s ability to simplify what could potentially be complex concepts, and to translate them into practical actions for emerging nonprofits.” — Sibongile Khumalo (South Africa)

About me.

I’m a social entrepreneur too. And I’ve sat where you are today.

I’m a Fellow in the Acumen East Africa community, alongside hundreds of nonprofit peers. In my career I’ve started or turned around four businesses. One that scaled to international acquisition, one that failed, and two solid successes.

Our own organization Mighty Ally is a thriving nonprofit hybrid funded by grantmakers like Cartier Philanthropy. And we’ve implemented this same Fundable/Findable Framework with 340 clients in 51 countries so far.

“As long as poverty, injustice, and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest.” — Nelson Mandela

I’m also going to bring you the perspective of the donor. I’m on the advisory board of two institutional donors: Roddenberry Foundation in the United States and Greenwood Place in the United Kingdom.

And finally, this work is my personal purpose. I’m the proud father of three girls from China and Uganda, born into the orphan crisis.

I’ve prioritized living and working in three different economic contexts on three continents — growing up in the States (high-income), moving to Uganda (low-income) for four years, and spending the past five years in South Africa, Mauritius, and Malaysia (middle-income).

And I’m motivated by an urgent vision where nobody faces poverty and injustice like my daughters once did.