Andrea Sanow
When Funding Surges: 5 Steps to Stay Grounded and Organized
When funding increases—often in response to crisis or heightened visibility—it brings both opportunity and complexity. This practical guide from John Skillings outlines five steps nonprofit leaders can take to stay organized, strengthen systems, and manage growth with confidence. From tracking funding requirements to aligning teams and planning for data complexity, these insights help organizations turn short-term surges into long-term sustainability.
Building Trust with Funders: Four Practices Nonprofit Leaders Can’t Afford to Overlook
Building strong, trust-based relationships with funders takes more than great proposals—it requires openness, consistency, and a willingness to share both successes and challenges. In this blog, Propel outlines four practical ways nonprofit leaders can strengthen trust with funders, from communicating candidly to engaging funders as partners in the work. These practices can help shift relationships from transactional to collaborative—supporting more sustainable funding and deeper impact.
Introducing Propel’s FY27–FY29 Strategic Plan
Rooted in a year of listening, learning, and collaboration with our board, staff, and community partners, we are excited to launch our FY27 – FY29 Strategic Plan. It brings greater alignment to our programs, strengthens how we invest our resources, and deepens our role as a trusted ecosystem partner.
A Day of Learning, Connection, and Financial Leadership
The 2026 Nonprofit Finance Conference, hosted by Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and sponsored by Propel Nonprofits was filled with practical learning, honest conversations, and shared commitment to building financially resilient organizations. Thanks to the presenters, partners, and attendees who made it a great day!
2025 in Review: Program data & survey findings
Themes from program data and Propel’s 2025 Nonprofit Check-In client survey.
The Work Will Continue
We can’t start each year running on empty. s hard as it is to hear, especially in this moment, your well-being matters as much as the pursuit of justice. By caring for yourself, you honor those who came before us, and you create space to enjoy life fully, not just to work tirelessly for a mission.
Support Emerging Orgs on GTMD25!
This year, seven fiscally sponsored organizations supported by Propel are participating in Give to the Max Day!
From One CFO to Another: Protecting your money and peace of mind
As a Chief Financial Officer, it is my job to ensure the safety and security of Propel’s financial assets, and I wanted to share some insights into the internal practices and external services I rely on to protect our financial assets.
Building a Culture of Data Security in Nonprofits
Cybersecurity is a journey, not a destination. By building a culture of security, investing in training, and leveraging community resources, nonprofits can better protect their data, their people, and their missions.
Nonprofit Check-In 2025
We are conducting a short survey to better understand your experiences so we can show up in the best way possible, elevate critical needs and nonprofit trends to philanthropic partners, and respond quickly to the ever-changing landscape.