Not nearly so bad, but still troubling, is trying to find new funders for specific small projects — rather than matching prospects with projects that will interest them. It’s a subtle distinction, but I think organizations waste a lot of time when they search for a brand new funder for a low-budget-item they don’t want to support with general funds. Usually that time could be much better used deepening relationships with existing funders or finding ways to engage promising prospects in what those prospects are interested in. And in my experience the small project rarely excites a brand new funder.