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Ep. 44 | Grant Funding Secrets: Insights from Zach Hynek

In this episode of Beyond the Donation, host Matt Bitzegaio welcomes Zach Hynek from Cadenza, who serves as a board member of the Topfer Family Foundation. Zach delves into his journey within the nonprofit sector, sharing valuable insights on effective grant applications and the importance of aligning with giving pillars. He highlights common mistakes nonprofits make and provides actionable advice on data-driven storytelling, emphasizing the need for quantifiable metrics alongside emotional narratives. Zach also discusses the evolving trends in the grant funding space, encouraging nonprofits to build strong relationships with funders and leverage advanced AI technologies to streamline their processes. Tune in for practical strategies to enhance your fundraising efforts and build stronger donor connections.

00:25 Meet Zach Hynek: A Journey into the Nonprofit Sector

02:56 Understanding the Funder's Perspective

05:47 Common Mistakes in Grant Applications

11:05 The Importance of Data-Driven Storytelling

20:28 Trends in Grant Funding

23:00 Actionable Advice for Nonprofits

26:07 Connecting with Zach Hynek and Cadenza

27:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

To Connect with Zach Hynek:

Cadenza | LinkedIn | Topfer Family Foundation

To Connect with Beyond the Donation Podcast:

BTD Podcast | DonorDock LinkedIn | Matt LinkedIn

What is trust-based philanthropy and how does it affect grant strategy?

Trust-based philanthropy is a movement among funders to reduce reporting burden, offer more flexible (often general-operating) dollars, and treat grantee organizations as partners rather than vendors. Adoption is uneven — some institutions offer multi-year flexible support, others still want narrow project-restricted grants. Your strategy should ask for general-operating or multi-year support where the funder's norms allow, and have an outcome-specific Plan B ready otherwise.

Last updated

April 25, 2026

How do nonprofits keep funder relationships warm when budgets tighten?

Prioritize relationship continuity over net-new introductions. Send a quarterly one-screen "executive postcard" — one outcome, one short story, one milestone. Offer 20-minute standing check-ins with one-slide agendas. Right-size asks so a partner can fund something complete at a lower tier and add later. Match the funder's language exactly — if they say "workforce pathways," don't counter with "career readiness."

Last updated

April 25, 2026

Why is over-reliance on grants risky for nonprofits?

Over-reliance on grants creates four structural risks: unpredictability (most grants are time-limited and ending a cycle creates a budget cliff), restricted use (you might secure $50,000 but can't touch a penny for staff training or infrastructure), opportunity cost (writing grants pulls leadership away from direct mission work), and donor disconnect (you miss the chance to build authentic individual-donor relationships). A healthy fundraising mix builds individual-giving as a complementary leg of the stool — not as a replacement for grants, but as resilience.

Last updated

April 25, 2026

What tech grants are available for nonprofits?

Common nonprofit tech grants include Google Ad Grants ($10K/month in search ads), Microsoft for Nonprofits (donated and discounted Microsoft 365 and Azure), TechSoup (discounted software including Adobe, QuickBooks, and security tools), AWS Imagine Grants, Salesforce Power of Us, and regional foundation tech-capacity grants. Eligibility usually requires 501(c)(3) status and a verified mission. Apply early — most renew annually and have caps that fill quickly.

Last updated

April 28, 2026

Author

Sarah O'Brien

Marketing and Outreach Manager

Last updated:

April 28, 2026

Written by

Sarah O'Brien

Marketing and Outreach Manager

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