The organization is less established or growing (less than 3 years as a nonprofit or operating with fiscal sponsor).

You are launching a new program/initiative that has its own identity and structure 

You do not yet have multiple years of financial history or regular full-time staff.

You need capacity-building funding to move from grassroots to stable operations.

You want 3 years of general operating support with free consulting (grant writing, budgeting, HR).

The organization has 2–3+ years of consistent programming and operations.

Already has staff, structured governance, and stable annual budgets.

Seeks funding based on an established track record, not a new initiative.

Typically applies to more mature organizations with proven community impact.