172: 3 Ways Your Nonprofit Can Inspire Greater Investment (Deepa Naik)SUMMARYHow do you make a successful case for funding given the increasing number of urgent needs in your community? Your donors certainly have many great causes to consider. In episode #172 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, we talk with Deepa Naik, a former fundraiser and consultant who now works with The Merancas Foundation, about what she sees as she reviews dozens of proposals. Have you ever wished you could ask funders, “How do I best prepare for an initial conversation?” Well, Deepa has some suggestions, and she’ll identify the top three strategies nonprofit leaders can use to inspire greater fund investment.   ABOUT DEEPADeepa loves building stakeholder relations, handling complex projects, creative thinking, and facing diverse challenges. Her personal and professional paths have been marked by a commitment to empower individuals and support equitable access. Deepa joined The Merancas Foundation as their Director of Philanthropy in May 2021, where she is responsible for distributing grant funds within greater Charlotte, NC, Trenton, NJ, and Atlanta, GA. Formerly, Deepa cultivated external relations for Upstream USA as a Regional Director of Partnerships, expanding contraceptive access across NC. Prior to Upstream, Deepa was a full-time nonprofit consultant, working with organizations of all sizes throughout the Carolinas to achieve strategic and development goals. Early in her career, Deepa gained knowledge and expertise from program and development work in a substance abuse treatment center and domestic violence organizations. Deepa enjoys traveling back to England to see her parents and extended family. She now lives in the suburbs of Charlotte with her husband, Jinesh, and two daughters, Anissa and Evie.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCES My Big Notebook: It’s About Me with a Little Help from My Friend JC by Carla CarlisleLearn more about Deepa and the Merancas Foundation hereTake our Podcast Survey and let us know what you want to hear!Check out Patton’s new book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector