In this episode of Built for Good, host Kian Alavi sits down with Shannon Moe, founder of SMC Scribes. Shannon shares the evolution of SMC Scribes, a nonprofit consulting and grant writing organization focused on social justice nonprofits. The organization helps teams strengthen funding strategies, improve storytelling, and build sustainable infrastructure so they can better serve their communities. She discusses her background in frontline community work, including early experience with Haight-Ashbury Free Medical Clinics and later work in nonprofit leadership, activism, and hospitality through Revolution Cafe in San Francisco. These experiences shaped her approach to social impact work and her belief in grassroots, place-based organizing. A key focus of the conversation is how SMC Scribes operates as a team-based grant writing and strategy organization rather than a single consultant model. Shannon explains how the team breaks down RFPs, conducts research, performs equity reviews, and ensures that nonprofit language reflects the authentic voices of staff and program participants. The discussion also explores the growing crisis in nonprofit funding. With federal cuts, increased competition for foundation grants, and the rise of AI-generated applications, nonprofits are facing increasingly low success rates. Shannon emphasizes the importance of authenticity, relationships with funders, and leading with success rather than deficit-based narratives. A major theme is the disconnect between frontline staff and executive-level decision-making in nonprofits. Shannon highlights how misalignment often leads to unrealistic grant deliverables and operational strain, especially when program teams are not involved in funding design and proposals. The episode also covers the increasing importance of data infrastructure in nonprofits. Shannon discusses how many organizations struggle with fragmented spreadsheets, manual reporting systems, and lack of capacity for data management. She advocates for funders to invest in administrative infrastructure, not just program costs, to ensure real impact measurement is possible. Another key topic is collaboration within the nonprofit ecosystem. Shannon encourages organizations to move away from competition and instead form partnerships, co-apply for funding, and build shared strategies to strengthen collective impact.The episode closes with reflections on leadership, sustainability, and purpose. Shannon emphasizes the importance of staying mission-aligned, listening to communities, and building systems that center frontline knowledge and lived experience. This episode is especially valuable for nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, grant writers, and anyone interested in building stronger, more collaborative systems for social impact. Explore SMC Scribes: https://smcscribes.com/Explore Mazlo: https://mazlo.comAbout Mazlo: Mazlo helps fiscal sponsors automate fund management, enforce compliance, and reduce financial risk, all without disrupting your existing systems or workflows. Timestamped Overview00:00:29 Why moment and early work in frontline nonprofits 00:01:25 Activism culture and San Francisco influence 00:04:16 Revolution Cafe and transition into nonprofit work 00:05:27 Founding and evolution of SMC Scribes 00:05:54 Team-based grant writing model explained 00:08:13 Using authentic nonprofit voice in storytelling 00:10:01 Assessing funding history and donor ecosystems 00:11:55 Crisis in nonprofit funding and 2% success rates 00:12:50 Leading with success instead of deficit framing 00:14:04 Humanizing homelessness and lived experience stories 00:17:15 AI and the flood of grant applications 00:18:16 Rethinking grantmaking through relationships 00:19:27 Infrastructure gaps in nonprofit operations 00:21:47 Collaboration vs competition in nonprofit sector 00:23:00 “No systemic change without the frontline” 00:24:09 Disconnect between leadership and program staff 00:28:59 Executive director isolation and burnout 00:31:12 Why nonprofits are harder than traditional businesses 00:31:49 Importance of better data systems 00:33:16 AI tools for nonprofit reporting and operations 00:34:36 Funders need to support administrative costs 00:36:26 What separates thriving vs surviving nonprofits 00:37:31 Relationship building with funders 00:39:56 Reducing fear around AI in nonprofits 00:41:24 Advice to younger self 00:42:06 Community, purpose, and long-term fulfillment #nonprofit #socialimpact #fundraising #leadership #grantwriting #communitybuilding #philanthropy #socialjustice #impact #collaboration