So let’s get straight to it.

If you have ever found yourself chasing grant deadlines, wondering where your next revenue source is coming from, or feeling stressed about month to month cash flow, then you are not alone. 

One of the biggest blind spots for both entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders is the belief that grant funding = stability. I am here to tell you that grants are vital but it’s only a fraction of what creates long‑lasting financial stability.

The most resilient and impactful ventures I have seen and worked with integrate multiple revenue streams that creates predictable income, deepens stakeholder engagement, and shows credibility to funders and partners. 

Today, we are going to unpack what those revenue streams look like, why they matter so much, and how they can elevate your mission or business in ways few people think about.

Evidence shows that relying on a single revenue source leaves organizations and businesses vulnerable to shifts in the economy, donor behavior, and funding priorities. 

Diversification is not just safety. It is strategic growth. 

And research indicates that organizations with diversified revenue are better equipped to weather downturns and seize opportunities when they arise. 

For nonprofits, for example, a diversified funding base helps guard against the instability that occurs when a grant ends or a major donor pauses support. 

When multiple income streams work together you can plan ahead with confidence. 

So let us start with entrepreneurs.

Revenue Streams for Entrepreneurs

1. Earned Revenue from Services or Products

This is the bread and butter for many entrepreneurs. You sell something people are willing to pay for.

What it looks like
A business coach sells one‑on‑one coaching, group programs, or hourly consulting. A digital agency charges monthly retainer fees for ongoing services. A boutique brand or e-commerce company sells physical products online.

Example
A creative agency brings in revenue by offering monthly social media management services to five clients at $2,000 per month.

Why funders find this intriguing
Earned revenue demonstrates that your business has traction and customer demand. Funders and investors like to see that customers are willing to pay for the value you provide. Recurring or repeat income shows sustainability.

2. Digital Products and Online Resources

This is revenue that can scale well and reduce dependency on time‑for‑money arrangements.

What it looks like
Courses, downloadable templates, toolkits, paid subscriptions, and online training programs.

Example
An entrepreneur packages their signature framework on financial investing into a $299 online course and sells it on their website. Over time this becomes a predictable stream of income that’s separate from client work.

Why funders find this intriguing
Digital products often come with low delivery costs and can generate high profit margins. They also provide a way to reach a broader audience and cultivate a loyal community who may later purchase higher ticket services.

3. Partnerships and Strategic Alliances

Revenue earned through collaboration, and not by transactions alone.

What it looks like
Joint ventures, affiliate revenue, co‑branded products, referral partnerships, and revenue split agreements.

Example
A business partners with a software company and receives a portion of recurring subscription revenue for every referral that converts.

Why funders find this intriguing
Partnerships demonstrate that your business is not operating in isolation. It shows that other entities see value in your work and are willing to financially tie their growth to yours. That kind of network effect is powerful evidence of market relevance and strategic positioning.

4. Contracts

This is revenue that’s more structured and predictable than project work.

What it looks like
Long‑term agreements with companies, government or institutions to provide ongoing services or deliverables.

Example
A consulting firm secures a 12‑month contract with their city to provide program evaluation services for $5,000 per month.

Why funders find this intriguing
Contracts provide revenue predictability and show that your services are valued over time. Unlike one‑time offers, multi‑month contracts prove retained trust and can be tied to your business’s ability to scale in operations.

5. Grants for Entrepreneurs

Yes, entrepreneurs can access grant funding too. Social entrepreneurs, innovation grantees, and industry challenge competitors all fall here.

What it looks like
Business grants, pitch competitions, accelerator funding, or government small business awards.

Example
A clean energy startup wins a $50,000 innovation grant that offsets R&D costs and validates the idea in the eyes of future investors.

Why funders find this intriguing
Grants signal validation from external reviewers and often elevate credibility. Even winning a grant can influence future investment, partnerships, and client acquisition.

Now, let us look at nonprofits.

Revenue Streams for Nonprofit Organizations

Nonprofit leaders often think that grants and donations are the only ways to finance their impact in the community. While significant and experienced nonprofit leaders know that a robust revenue model combines several streams to reduce risk and expand capacity.

1. Earned Revenue (Program Fees, Services, Products)

This is income generated from goods or services your organization provides. Stop offering your programs for free to the public, unless it is income based. 

What it looks like
A community arts nonprofit sells tickets to workshops. A service provider charges fees for educational seminars.

Example
A youth nonprofit charges a small monthly fee for their career coaching programs, bringing in revenue while advancing mission objectives.

Why funders find this intriguing
Earned income demonstrates that your mission translates into tangible value that participants will pay for. It shows sustainability beyond philanthropy and encourages long‑term self‑support.

2. Individual Donations

This includes one‑time gifts, recurring gifts, major giving, and planned gifts.

What it looks like
Supporters contribute through online giving, direct mail campaigns, or recurring donor programs.

Example
A self‑sustaining monthly donor program where supporters give $25 per month contributes predictable revenue.

Why funders find this intriguing
Individual giving is often the largest single source of charitable revenue. Donors who give regularly tend to give more over time and are significantly more loyal than one‑time givers. 

3. Fundraising Events and Campaigns

These can create revenue and community engagement.

What it looks like
Gala dinners, benefit concerts, auctions, crowdfunding drives, Giving Tuesday, peer‑to‑peer fundraising events.

Example
A nonprofit launches an annual fundraising challenge on Giving Tuesday that mobilizes supporters and profited $100,000 last year through peer‑to‑peer campaigns.

Why funders find this intriguing
Effective fundraising demonstrates strong community engagement and builds visibility. Funders appreciate organizations that mobilize their audience because it shows support and active participation in the mission.

4. Corporate Giving and Sponsorships

Partnership income from businesses in exchange for visibility, impact alignment, co‑branded initiatives, or community partnership.

What it looks like
A corporate sponsor underwrites a community program in exchange for recognition and shared messaging.

Example
A local business sponsors a nonprofit’s annual fair and contributes $25,000 while gaining brand visibility and structured community engagement.

Why funders find this intriguing
Corporate partners often bring networks, expertise, and extended reach in addition to capital. They signal community trust and can lead to deeper strategic alliances.

5. Grants

While this article is about revenue beyond grants, does remain as a cornerstone. We include it here to show that it functions best when paired with diversified income.

What it looks like
Foundation grants, corporate grants, and government grants.

Example
A grant to support recurring community services that also strengthens operational capacity.

Why funders find this intriguing
Funders see diversification as evidence of resilience and foresight. It shows that you are not living off charity alone but building a sustainable ecosystem of revenue.

What Happens When You Don’t Diversify? 

In 2022, a Black-owned vegan café in New Jersey had just opened its second location. They were community-loved, had great press, and relied heavily on a state-backed small business grant and a few corporate catering contracts with local offices. When remote work became permanent for many of their clients, their catering orders dried up. At the same time, the state budget shifted, and their grant wasn’t renewed. They didn’t have an online ordering system. No packaged product line. No subscription revenue. No merchandise. By the end of 2022, both locations ended up closing. Talent wasn’t the issue. Neither was their menu or the passion. It was a lack of revenue that could carry them when one stream dried up.

In early 2020, a small youth development nonprofit in the Midwest was thriving. They had just wrapped a successful summer camp from the year before, had three full-time staff members, and were serving over 200 youth and young adults every quarter through after-school programs. The bulk of their funding, over 85%, came from a multi-year foundation grant and a city contract tied to youth engagement outcomes.

When COVID hit, the city froze its funding and the foundation restructured its giving priorities to focus on emergency relief. Overnight, the nonprofit lost nearly all of its operating budget. They had no earned revenue model. No individual donor base. No digital products or virtual services to pivot into. Within three months, they laid off their staff, canceled the entire year’s programming, and ultimately shut their doors permanently the next year. They had a strong mission, doing amazing things for their community, but no financial foundation. And they’re not alone.

A 2023 report from the National Center for Charitable Statistics revealed that 28% of small nonprofits closed or became inactive between 2020 and 2022, with a major contributing factor being overreliance on a single revenue stream, which is particularly foundation grants or government contracts.

When one stream controls your survival, you don’t own your future.

Economic changes, policy shifts, funder priorities, and even global events can affect your cash flow. But when your business or organization has multiple ways to earn, serve, and receive support, you can shift and adapt instead of shut down.

And here’s the thing. Funders and investors are always watching. They’re asking:

• Can this business or organization survive if our money stops?

• What other funding is in place?

• Do they have community buy-in?

• Are they running a business or just chasing checks?

When you show that you’ve built a revenue system, not just a funding hope, you don’t just protect your future. You attract even more capital because you’ve proven that you know how to grow it. And nobody likes a beggar. 

Where to Start Building Revenue Streams

Now that you’ve got the knowledge, here’s how to put it into motion. Whether you're running a business or leading a nonprofit, you don’t need to build everything at once, but you do need to start with a strategy, some clarity, and confidence.

If You’re an Entrepreneur…

Start here:

1. Map Your Current Income

• Write down all the ways you currently bring in money (products, services, contracts, etc.).

• Circle what’s working and underline what’s inconsistent.
  

2. Choose ONE New Stream to Build First

• Example: If you already sell services, consider turning one into a digital product or training resource.

• If you have a client base, explore a monthly retainer model or long-term contract.
  

3. Build a Simple Revenue Goal

• Set a target like: Earning $2,000/month from digital product sales by Q3 or Converting 2 clients to 6-month retainers by June.
  

4. Create a Customer Pathway

• Ask: How will people hear about this stream? How will they buy or sign up?

• Use social media, an email list, or referral partnerships to drive more traffic and sales.
  

5. Track Progress Monthly

• Monitor what’s growing, what’s lagging, and what needs to be adjusted.
  

If You’re a Nonprofit Leader…

Start here:

1. Run a Revenue Health Check

• Review the past 12 months of income and categorize by source: earned revenue, individual giving, corporate sponsorships, grants, etc.

• Identify what percentage comes from each stream.
  

2. Choose ONE Revenue Stream to Strengthen

• Example: If 90% of your income is grants, focus on individual donors or program fees.

• Or if events are your strong suit, develop a signature campaign or annual fundraiser.
  

3. Create a Pilot Program

• Develop a small paid offering like a workshop or curriculum, aligned with your mission.

• Test pricing, audience interest, and delivery.
  

4. Activate Your Network

• Reach out to board members, partners, and existing supporters to share your new initiative and invite support.

• Build a simple communication plan with emails, social posts, and community conversations.
  

5. Build a Revenue Dashboard

• Track income by stream quarterly so you can see growth, gaps, and opportunities.

• Funders love organizations that monitor and improve their financial insights.
  

Bonus Tips for Both:

• Pick one core stream to grow for the next 90 days.

• Focus on systems, not stress. (You don’t need ten income sources, but you do need a few strong ones that actually convert.)

• Document everything. This becomes a powerful asset in grant applications and investor conversations.
  

Your ability to generate income outside of grants communicates the confidence you have. It shows that you know your audience, understand your value, and are building a sustainable path forward. 

Funders and investors are always paying attention to financial stability. A diversified set of income sources signals that you can deliver on commitments without depending on any one check.

Diversification sharpens your financial insight. 

It strengthens your negotiating power. 

It accelerates your growth.

That’s it for this week.

Keep showing up for yourself, for your business, and for your organization.

Laine Bradley