Nonprofit Blog Carnival

Joanne Fritz has collected advice from nine fundraising experts about how to deal with the current fundraising climate and beyond. Her Nonprofit Blog Carnival offers insights for everything from appeals and grant writing to budgeting and donor segmentation.

Joanne Fritz has worked in the nonprofit world for most of her 30-year career beginning with teaching at the secondary, college, and university levels. She has also held senior management positions at two national nonprofits and two universities. Fritz has served on numerous nonprofit boards and was chosen to participate in leadership programs in two cities. Learn more about Joanne and her About.com Guide to Nonprofits

Be sure to visit the Nonprofit Blog Carnival and start following these great fundraising experts!

Thanks to Joanne for including Grant Savvy on the list!

~Cheers!

50 Tips for Improving Your Chances of Winning a Grant

From "The Only Grant-Writing Book You'll Ever Need", Ellen Karsh and Arlen Sue Fox provide a solid list of not ten, but 50 tips for improving your chances of winning a grant!! Take note, these are great tips that we often forget in the rush to complete a grant application on time. More details are found in "The Only Grant-Writing Book You'll Ever Need"  add this book to your library today!

1. Take stock of your own organization. Know what your organization can manage when it comes to grants and grant size.
   



2. Incorporate as a tax-exempt organization.
   


3. If you're not a 501 (c)(3), link up now!
   


4. Find the Foundation Center Library
   


5. Get online. Have a website, publish your annual report and financials, and tell people who you are!
   


6. Find the right funding opportunity. Don't submit something that isn't a good fit. It's a waste of your time and the funder's.
   


7. Read the guidelines.
   


8. Do your homework. Study up on the foundation through their 990s, guidelines, past giving, etc.
   


9. Read the instructions. Don't skim or give half-answers to questions.
   


10. Get organized! Have documents ready to submit in a file system that works best for your organization.
    


11. Give yourself time to prepare.
    


12. Bring partners into the project development as early as possible.
    


13. Speak with the program officer.
    


14. Call for technical assistance during preparation of government proposal. Ask for help!
    


15. Don't use acronyms!
    


16. Watch your language. Be sensitive to other community groups, cultures, individuals or organizations.
    


17. Use the grantmaker's language. Incorporate their language from guidelines or website when it fits.
    


18. Repeat yourself when you have to. Don't go overboard, but emphasize your important points.
    


19. Give proposal reviewers a break! Don't write pages and pages of narrative. Make it interesting and include charts, graphs and quotes.
    


20. Create a checklist. This is important for attachments, budgets, financials, etc. that may come from several different people.
    


21. Be sure each section of the proposal is consistent with the others.
    


22. Use the application topics as headings in your proposal. This will make it easier to show the reader you are addressing their issues.
    


23. When designing your program objectives, be realistic.
    


24. Know how you will recognize success. Explain how you will know you reached your goals.
    


25. Read the instructions!
    


26. Get consulting for the evaluation section of the proposal. Involve them early to get feedback.
    


27. Make sure your budget is reasonable.
    


28. Computer your budget figures carefully.
    


29. Think about sustainability.
    


30. Include a timeline in your proposal.
    


31. Write your abstract or executive summary two days before you submit the proposal—no sooner, no later. By then you'll understand exactly what you are submitting.
    


32. Don't stuff the appendix. Be thoughtful on attachments. Don't send more than they ask for.
    


33. For a gov't. proposal, include a letter from your elected official. For a foundation proposal, don't.
    


34. When in doubt, ask the grantmaker questions before submitting.
    


35. Think about the final report. Can this be measured and implemented successfully.
    


36. Use spell-check and colleagues for proofreading help.
    


37. Use your own reviewers. Ask different people for help during different phases of the process.
    


38. Save your most trusted, courageous "reviewer" to read the final draft.
    


39. Get involved with advocacy groups.
    


40. Get on mailing lists. Make sure you know about available funding.
    


41. Clip magazine and newspaper articles.
    


42. Get to know your elected officials.
    


43. Don't ask gov't. or foundation program officers to change guidelines for you. (No comment on this one…!?!?)
    


44. Do discuss unmet needs and potential new funding directions.
    


45. If you don't get funded, go back to the proposal. If there are issues, ask to discuss it with the funder.
    


46. If you get turned down for funding, find out why and how you can do better next time. Politely.
    


47. Wait until next year.
    


48. Keep the funders informed.
    


49. Get on the funders' radar.
    


50. Read the instructions.

~Cheers!

Grant Savvy on Twitter!

Lots of grant writing and not so many blog posts have inspired me to launch Grant Savvy on Twitter! Join Grant Savvy on Twitter for simple, quick grant writing tips, quotes and links to other great resources! Don't worry, more blog posts to come in the future...

~Cheers!

Tips on Getting Training as a Grant Writer

I came across an older "Hotline" article (June 12, 2008) from the Chronicle of Philanthropy filled with advice for becoming a grant writer. I'm sharing it here for all Savvy readers, but especially those who are new to the field or are considering grant writing as a career.

The Chronicle's Philanthropy Careers section asks its readers to submit questions about job hunting, recruiting, and management challenges in the nonprofit world. In their advice column, they respond to some of those inquiries with tips about resources and suggestions from experts.

Q. I am interested in writing grant proposals. How can I get some guidance in getting started?

A. Plenty of resources are available to help you, says Gail Vertz, executive director of the American Association of Grant Professionals, in Kansas City, Kan. With such a wide range of tools, you can tailor your approach to fit your time or financial limitations.

Ms. Vertz suggests Grant Writing for Dummies, by Beverly Browning, a grant-proposal writing consultant in Buckeye, Ariz. Beginners can also check out The Complete Idiot's Guide to Grant Writing: An Essential Resource for Securing the Funds You Need, by Waddy Thompson, development director for Symphony Space, a nonprofit performing-arts center in New York.

Other resources are available online, says Mr. Thompson. He recommends checking the Foundation Center's Web site for online tutorials and courses on grant-proposal writing and links to sample proposals.

More books and online resources can be found via The Chronicle's Nonprofit Handbook, available on the newspaper's Web site.

If you're looking for a classroom experience, Ms. Vertz suggests starting local. She says your town's United Way, Salvation Army, or community foundation will often "offer a one-day or a half-day training from a grant professional in the community, and those types of workshops are really invaluable, because they not only give training on proposal writing, but they also provide an opportunity for networking."

She adds that universities and colleges offer grant-proposal writing courses as well. For those interested in a more intense experience, Ms. Vertz recommends the five-day workshops led by the Grantsmanship Center, of Los Angeles, which are hosted by nonprofit groups throughout the country.

"It's a very in-depth class," she says, adding that the center will even provide you with a post-workshop review of the grant proposal you develop during the course.

Though there are many books to read and classes to attend, nothing beats learning by doing, says Mr. Thompson.

"What I recommend to a lot of people is that they look for volunteer opportunities, because there are PTA's, community choruses, kids' soccer teams — all kinds of grass-roots organizations for which there is grant money out there in the world, and they need someone who can write," he says. "So if a person is a good writer, and they've done their research by reading one of these books and looking at examples [of proposals] on Web sites, then I think they can get some good experience doing grants as a volunteer."

Courtesy of The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Previous editions of Hotline are available at http://philanthropycareers.com/. Send your questions about job hunting, recruiting, or managing in the nonprofit world to hotline@philanthropy.com.

~Cheers!

Grant Savvy Books: The Foundation

The Foundation: A Great American Secret

By Joel L. Fleishman

Review from Publishers Weekly

"In his first book, law professor and philanthropist Fleishman has created a thoughtful, engrossing, comprehensive guide to the origins, initiatives, successes and failures among the largely unsung 68,000 private foundations in America, which together grant over 32.2 billion tax-exempt dollars per year.

Tracing the history of this distinctly American institution, Fleishman considers the philanthropy of such financial titans as Andrew Carnegie, George Soros, Warren Buffett, Michael Milken and Bill Gates. Fleishman's view of the foundation is distinctly favorable: foundations serve a vital social function by providing seed funding to innovative initiatives, having led to such benefits as the 911 emergency response system, the development of the Pap smear, the alleviation of poverty in Bangladesh and the establishment of Johns Hopkins and Carnegie Mellon Universities.

Fleishman does not hestitate, however, to criticize foundations for arrogance, poor planning, unresponsiveness, waste and irresponsibility, using 12 case studies-Rockefeller's Population Council and the Children's Television Workshop among them-to set the stage for "Some Not So Modest Proposals," most of which involve increasing transparency and accountability. Fleishman's efforts prove an illuminating guide to a little-examined aspect of the American tradition.

Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition."

This book appear to give grant writers and those who work closely with foundations, an opportunity to gain knowledge about the inner-workings of this unique business model from an honest, witty and "tough love" perspective (as others have noted). I look forward to reading Fleishman's work and sharing thoughts with other Savvy readers.

~Cheers!

Charitable Giving Fell Last Year, But...

Guess what? Foundations are still giving money! While it was reported on NPR yesterday that giving did decline in 2008 (really?), it didn't take nearly the nose dive that was expected. Actually, charitable giving reached $300 billion for the second year in a row. How's that for a little motivation to put in your bucket?

Take the time to read and listen to NPR's Morning Edition article:

Charitable Giving Fell Last Year, But Didn't Dive by Pam Fessler.

~Cheers!

Grant Savvy Books: Giving-How Each of Us Can Change the World

Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World

by Bill Clinton

All political commentary aside, this is a good book to add to your mental library and even your bookshelves. It's a personal account of the global issues related to giving, philanthropy and the evolution of nonprofit organizations.

It includes inspiring stories and background about some of the largest foundations in the world. "Giving" is an easy read and complements any type of technical book you may have read on the subject. Don't let your politics keep you away. I've been in awe, welled up with tears and let out a giggle or two when reading this book.

While it is written from the author's perspective and published before our current economic doom and gloom, it's a brilliant time table for the birth of contemporary philanthropy. It's honest and wise. I recommend it wholeheartedly to my Savvy readers.

~Cheers

Working With a Freelance Grant Writer

I am thrilled to share with you a great article, "Working With a Freelance Grant Writer", from the May/June 2009 issue of AFP's Advancing Philanthropy!

Writer, Sarah S. Perkins, CFRE, puts the work of the freelance grant writer in a positive and realistic light and explains how organizations should take a team approach to including this person. A fantastic article for new grant writers, writers who are venturing into the freelance world and organizatons looking to hire a freelance writer.

"Think of grant writers as any other trade professionals, such as plumbers or electricians. They are experts in their field and can spot problems--and opportunities--much better than someone who does not know the business."

"Good grant writers are like matchmakers--it is their job to know not only the foundations in a particular funding area, but also how to match those foundations to the work of an organization."

Sarah S. Perkins, CFRE

Whether you are working as a freelance writer on contract or as an integrated member of the team, this article is a must-read. Enjoy!

If you would like more information about becoming a member of AFP and receiving your own subscription to Advancing Philanthropy, visit AFP online. It is one of the best investments you can make to support your career in fundraising.

~Cheers!

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Near the end of last week there was a great deal of chatter about the transparency of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

In an editorial, The Lancet medical journal accuses the Foundation of making too many gifts in “rich nations” and not focusing on their mission to help those with life-threatening health needs.

Transparency is crucial in nonprofit management, fundraising and especially grantmaking. Below is one of many articles written on this recent news. Grant writers need to be “in the know” about this type of information whether you have been awarded funding from the Gates Foundation or not.

Pudget Sound Business Journal: Medical journal scolds Gates Foundation

It is these displays of public attention that ultimately lead to changes in the way the nonprofit world functions and how grantmakers and grantees remain accountable to each other.

Get Savvy: Read the article and the comments for a snapshot of how others in our field are reacting. Then, “Google” your way to finding more articles, blogs and responses to this event. The discussions are enlightening and emotional.

It is also worth checking out the information on the Gates Foundation website and Press Room.

~Cheers!