Flight Notes
April May June 2026
"You are the kiss between the cosmos and the earth."
— Eileen McKusick
The work of change-making is daunting. Federal funding is being slashed, budgets are stretched thin, and the people we serve are in crisis – yet we show up anyway. Every day, we navigate the tension between survival and vision, between what is and what can be.
But here’s the truth: You are the bridge. You are the hands that turn struggle into hope, scarcity into abundance, and abandonment into belonging. You don’t just fill gaps, you rebuild the foundation.
When was the last time you paused to recognize the impact you’ve made? The lives you’ve changed? The systems you’ve challenged, even as the odds stack against you?
At Paper Crane, we see you. We know the fight isn’t fair, but we also know this: Your work is sacred. You are advancing social justice, affordable housing, equitable healthcare, and neighborhoods where dignity, pride, and possibility thrive. You are creating the world we all deserve, one stubborn act of courage at a time.
So remember this: You are not just a worker, a fundraiser, or a problem-solver. You are the kiss between the cosmos and the earth. You are the connection between what has been and what is yet to come.
It’s time for you to take flight! The world needs what only you can give.
– Lynda Berge Disser
Chief Prosperity Officer
Welcome to our Newsletter!
Here, you’ll find encouragement for the vital work you do, practical tips to grow your funding, and inspiring stories from fellow trailblazers. Catch up on past issues in the Free Advice section of our website, or subscribe to get the latest delivered straight to your inbox.
Fund Development Calendar
This section will be dedicated to our suggested fund development actions for the upcoming quarter. Here’s what we recommend for April, May, and June:
Connect with Donors
Spring is a great time to connect with your donors in the context of your Annual Campaign. (Don’t have an Annual Campaign? Ask us how to get started!)
If you haven’t already, go through your mailing lists and clean them up so they’re up to date.
People are filing their taxes, reviewing their 2025 charitable giving, and thinking about where they want to direct their support this year. It’s the perfect moment to reach out and say, “Thank you. We appreciate your gift last year, and here’s what your generosity made possible—what we accomplished, where we stand today, and what we’re excited to take on next.”
Every donor touchpoint doesn’t need to be an ask. Sharing the impact they helped create is meaningful on its own, and donors consistently appreciate knowing the difference their support makes.
Events
If you have an event coming up in June…
By now:
- Your Event Committee is set, your theme finalized, and your venue/catering/speakers are booked
- You have event sponsors and have collected their donations
- You’ve sent out a Save the Date notification
- Invitations are ready to be sent at the end of March / beginning of April
- Any ticketing portal is ready to go live on your website
By end of April:
- Secure most of the items for an auction
- Prepare the venue collateral – menu, program, place cards, name tags
- Select those receiving an award and order plaques/certificates
- Confirm the entertainment
- Identify the final details, who will do them, and when they will be done
If these things aren’t already in place…
plan a Fall event!
We can help.
Grants - Federal and State Appropriations
Whew! You’ve just submitted your state and federal appropriations applications. Congratulations! Not sure what we’re talking about? Ask us!
Members of the U.S. House and Senate have an opportunity to recommend federal funding for projects in their districts through Community Project Funding (CPF) and Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS).
Take a well-deserved break for now, and then in the coming months, start to think about your next eligible project. Think it’s too soon? Successful projects are those that come up organically from the community. Talk with your partners about projects that will be ready to implement two years from now. Now is the time to be putting the project details together, drafting the budget, bringing your partners around the table, and talking with your elected officials and their staff.
Spread the word!
Know someone in the nonprofit, municipal, or volunteer world who’d benefit from this newsletter? Share it here or subscribe now.
Let’s keep building – together.
Client Spotlight: North Flint Food Market - Flint, Michigan.
After more than a decade of planning and perseverance, the
North Flint Food Market (NFFM) officially opened its doors in November 2025, celebrating together with the community and partners that made it possible. This community on the north side of Flint, Michigan, which has suffered disinvestment for many years, came together to reclaim access to fresh food after being abandoned by grocery chains.
The Market is not just a store, but a hub for encouragement, empowerment, and economic growth. It is part of the greater movement of the African principle of Ujamaa cooperative economics - promoting community self-reliance and economic cooperation, collective ownership and mutual support.
Key Results:
- Ended a food desert, giving residents local access to healthy groceries
- Created 30 full-time and part-time jobs, filled with local people
- Community-owned Co-operative, with member-owners shaping the store’s future
The North Flint Food Market’s success shows how community empowerment, leadership, and strategic investment can drive meaningful change, transform neighborhoods, and improve lives. Paper Crane Funding Solutions has been a partner in this project from the beginning, and we have been honored to help secure and manage some of the grant resources needed to open and sustain the Market.
“This store is a symbol of empowerment and unity,” said Reggie Flynn, Executive Director of the North Flint Reinvestment Corporation which founded the Market. “It’s proof that when a community believes in itself, anything is possible.”
Paper Crane is proud to support projects that make a lasting difference!
Paper Crane is welcoming new clients!
And you’re a great fit if:
You’re passionate about the work you’re doing in your community.- You have a solid Vision, Mission, and Goals (or are working with an organization development specialist to revise them).
- You’re ready to take your organization to the next level with additional funding.
- You’re ready to invest in a world-class team of experts in fund development to help you accomplish your funding goals.
Let’s talk! Click here for a 30-minute free consultation with us.