How a $10M Mindset Can Break the "Who You Know" Funding Barrier (with Josh Gryniewicz and Marc Moorghen)

Finding the right funding for new ideas is challenging, especially when traditional philanthropy often favors established connections. However, open-call grant models are leveling the playing field, encouraging organizations to propose big, bold solutions that might otherwise stay under a funder's radar. In today's episode, host Josh Gryniewicz interviews Marc Moorghen from Lever for Change about the ways open calls are reshaping access to philanthropic funding. You'll learn the value of approaching major grant applications as learning opportunities, how to use expert and peer feedback to strengthen your case for support, and ways to leverage strategic storytelling to move funders to action. Want to suggest a topic, guest, or nonprofit organization for an upcoming episode? Send an email with the subject "NPFX suggestion" to [email protected]. Additional Resources Lever for Change Bold Solutions Network https://leverforchange.org/bold-solutions-network Larsen Lam ICONIQ Impact Award https://leverforchange.org/open-calls/larsen-lam-iconiq-impact-award Resourcing Refugee Leadership Initiative https://www.refugeeslead.org "Something 'Amazing' Happened" (NEST360 story) https://leverforchange.org/article/impact-story/something-amazing-happened [NPFX] Authentic, Ethical, and Effective Messaging — From Theory to Practice https://www.ipmadvancement.com/npfx/authentic-ethical-and-effective-messaging-from-theory-to-practice [NPFX] How to Measure the Impact of Your Narrative Change Strategy https://www.ipmadvancement.com/npfx/how-to-measure-the-impact-of-your-narrative-change-strategy Guest Marc Moorghen serves as Vice President, Marketing Communications at Lever for Change, a nonprofit affiliate of the MacArthur Foundation. He leads strategic communications that help promote large-scale philanthropic investments to address global challenges. Since its founding, Lever for Change has influenced over $2.5 billion in grants and provided support to more than 500 organizations. In his role, Marc works closely with staff and donor partners to develop and implement mission-driven strategies that elevate issues, expand engagement, and support a growing global network of outstanding nonprofits. He also provides counsel to funders, helping shape messaging that amplifies their investments and drive long-term impact. Before joining Lever for Change, Marc founded and led On Message Communications, a consulting firm focused on strategic marketing and communications for cutting-edge nonprofits and philanthropists. Marc holds a bachelor's degree from Southampton University in the United Kingdom and master's degrees from the University of Leuven in Belgium and the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. https://www.linkedin.com/in/moorghen/ https://leverforchange.org/ Interview Host Josh Gryniewicz is the founder and Chief Narrative Strategist at Odd Duck, a storytelling-for-social-change creative consultancy focused on impact-driven organizations. Josh is the co-author of the award-winning national bestseller, Interrupting Violence. For over a decade, he has worked in nonprofit communication. In 2018, he founded Odd Duck to combine his passions for storytelling and social change. The agency's Navigating Misinformation for Community Health framework has been shared with over a thousand community health organizations. Odd Duck has worked with nearly a hundred change-making organizations and advised hundreds more, including the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the Harvard School of Public Health, and the White House. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgryniewicz/ https://oddduck.io/ https://www.interruptingviolence.com/ Connect with NPFX LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/npfx/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/npfxpodcast Instagram https://www.instagram.com/npfx_podcast/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@ipmadvancement