Team Kat & Mouse-Breakthrough fund development training

09/01/2026

Dolly Parton passed away last week at age 80, and tributes have poured in from around the world. In our latest blog post, Ben Chambers writes about the quieter side of Dolly's legacy: what happens when a philanthropist shows up consistently, for decades, instead of writing one big check and walking away.

Ben's son Carson received free books every month through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, the program that has sent more than 150 million books to kids in five countries since 1995. That consistency helped spark a love of reading that Carson is carrying with him into kindergarten this year.
For those of us in nonprofit fundraising, there's a real lesson here. Dolly built the Imagination Library by partnering with local libraries, community organizations, and funders in every place it operates. She created infrastructure that other people and organizations could plug into and help sustain, the same trust based, community rooted approach we believe should sit at the center of good fundraising work.

Read Ben's full reflection on what Dolly Parton's example can teach nonprofit professionals about giving that lasts.

The last week was a big one for my family. After a summer spent at home serving as my Junior Consultant, my youngest son, Carson, started kindergarten. Sending him off to school with his Bluey backpack was exciting and more than a little emotional.More than just a life milestone, starting kindergart...

08/25/2026

Are you open to hearing about the challenges you haven't even thought of yet? Are you trying to biuld a network of support now for what might be ahead?

Keep an open mind and find resources who have travelled the path before you.

Every new adventure, whether at work or in your personal life, is going to have surprises. It's ok to ask for support. Who did you reach out to last time? Were they a good guide?

08/18/2026

A day outside. A table at a coffee shop. A change of scenery.
Sometimes, a new view is just what you need to think in a new way—and see things from a whole new point of view.

This week’s Team Kat & Mouse blog, written by Sharon H. Kitroser, explores how stepping away from the familiar can help us see things differently.

Because sometimes, changing your view can change your point of view.
Read the blog and find a little inspiration for your own new perspective. Read the Team Kat & Mouse Blog

My desk is wood, the walls are beige, and I sit in the same chair most every day.If you're like me, most of your daily steps are earne walking to refill your coffee or water, or maybe grab a snack. But sometimes, it's important to change your view. Literally. And sometimes, changing your view helps....

08/11/2026

We need more grants in the pipeline." It's the most common thing we hear from nonprofit leaders talking about their grant strategy. It sounds reasonable. More opportunities should mean more funding, right? Not necessarily.

One of the biggest risks we're seeing right now isn't a lack of grant activity. It's the wrong kind of grant activity. On paper, the pipeline looks full. In reality, it's fragile, and that fragility tends to show up at the worst possible time.

In this week's blog post, we break down five hidden risks that might be sitting in your pipeline right now, from over-reliance on a handful of funders, to "lottery ticket" grants that create volatile revenue, to pipelines that only look 3-6 months ahead.

A strong pipeline isn't built by how full it is. It's built by how intentional it is.

Read the full post here: https://www.teamkatandmouse.com/post/the-hidden-risk-in-your-grant-pipeline-right-now

If something about your grant strategy feels off, trust that instinct. We're here to help take a second look.

When I talk to nonprofit leaders about their grant strategy, the conversation usually starts the same way:“We need more grants in the pipeline.”It sounds reasonable. More opportunities should mean more funding, right?Not necessarily.In fact, one of the biggest risks I’m seeing right now isn’...

08/04/2026

A Team Kat & Mouse blog every week? Usually.

This week, we're taking a breather—and we hope you will too.

Have you used any PTO this summer? If not, consider this your reminder.

Before long, many nonprofit professionals will be immersed in fall fundraising events and all the work that makes a strong fourth quarter possible. The pace is about to pick up.

Take the time now to recharge. Spend time with family. Get the kids ready for school (can you believe it's time for that already?). Clear your desk. Read a book. Do whatever helps you return focused and energized.

The work will be waiting—but you'll be better prepared to tackle it after giving yourself a chance to reset.

And if you find yourself missing us this week, our past blogs are still here to keep you company: teamkatandmouse.com/blog.

How are you spending these final weeks of summer?

07/28/2026

Three years ago Sharon Kitroser couldn't find a "tuck" in barre class. More recently, I picked up Mahjong — and I'm just as lost as I was on day one of barre.

Same lesson, two rooms: proficiency isn't talent, it's repetition. Researchers Ericsson, Krampe, and Tesch-Römer studied this as "deliberate practice." Gladwell turned it into the 10,000-hour rule. Our moms just called it "practice makes perfect."

This weeks examines Mom’s favorite saying-practice Makes PERFECT! #

When we all finally crawled out of the haze of COVID lockdowns, I could not wait to get back into the gym. Working out has always been my go-to stress management tool, and I was ready to dive back in.The gym I joined had more options than I was used to. I started with old favorites spin and yoga. Th...

07/21/2026

Is your grant consultant a true strategic partner, or just someone who fills in the blanks?

After five years in grant consulting, Ben Chambers, CFRE has noticed the same pattern come up again and again: nonprofits settling into "autopilot mode" with their grant partners, pursuing the same funders with the same proposals year after year, while new opportunities go untapped.

In our latest blog post, Ben breaks down five questions every nonprofit should be asking when evaluating a grant consultant:

✅ Are they a strategic partner, not just a writer?

✅ How do they approach new technology like AI?

✅ Do they understand how grants fit into your broader fundraising strategy?

✅ Can they adapt quickly and help you find new opportunities?

✅ Do they communicate with you clearly and consistently?

Whether you're bringing on a new consultant or just want to check in on an existing partnership, these questions are worth revisiting regularly, not just at the start.

Read the full post here: https://www.teamkatandmouse.com/post/are-you-working-with-the-right-grant-consultant

Five years into working as a grant consultant, I still have to stop and pinch myself sometimes. I’ve gotten to meet incredible people, contribute to amazing causes, and do it all while taking care of my kids (thanks to everyone who’s been patient during those moments with a screaming child in th...

07/10/2026

Thank you to Nonprofits First for inviting Sharon & Amy to lead a session on BUILD AN ASK.

Thank you to Cultural Council for Palm Beach County for hosting....AND, THANK YOU to all joined us!!

07/07/2026

When I look back on my life, I can point to a handful of people who saw something in me that I couldn't yet see in myself. They encouraged me, challenged me, opened doors, and reminded me that I was capable of more.
That's what mentors do.

In this week's Team Kat & Mouse blog, we're talking about those extraordinary people who help shape our lives simply by believing in us.

Picture this…I was 8 months pregnant with my son and had a 3-year-old at home. I was Director of Sales for 8 radio stations. I had never worked a job from home in my life.Enter the man who would change my life forever.It started with a call from the VP of a company called Interep Radio, the nation...

06/30/2026

Agh - it's almost JULY!

Is your nonprofit preparing for the start of a new fiscal year.

Are you heading into the year with a fundraising calendar...or a true development plan?

A thoughtful development plan is more than a list of events and appeals—it's your roadmap for aligning strategy, priorities, and resources so you can reach your fundraising goals with intention.

In this week's Team Kat & Mouse blog, Amy Ma**er shares why a development plan is your fundraising GPS for the year ahead and what every organization should include.

https://www.teamkatandmouse.com/post/the-development-plan-your-fundraising-gps-for-the-year-ahead