Haiti Relief Efforts

The devastation in Haiti has touched people around the world and once again, brought together all types of groups and organizations to help their fellow man. As someone who has first-hand experience bringing disaster relief to those in need and raising money to provide ongoing support, the intense fundraising efforts and overwhelming need for relief are incredibly personal.

As Savvy readers, you too, are involved in efforts, whether directly or indirectly, to help people in need—every day. I hope you will find your own way to support the relief efforts in Haiti during the coming days, weeks, and months. I will continue to add ‘Haiti Relief’ links for reputable organizations, to my blog for reference today and in the future.

Please visit the American Red Cross and the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) to learn more about their international relief efforts and Yele Haiti to learn how you can help organizations that are bringing lifesaving aid to the country. Both organizations are doing a phenomenal job of building collaborative partnerships and getting immediate help to the Haitian people.

How to Make a Donation via Text Message:

SMS text "HAITI" to 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross IRF

SMS text "YELE" to 501501 to donate $5 to Yele Haiti's Earthquake Relief Fund

Blessings and love…

Photos: Courtesy of The Associated Press

Proposal Rejection: "We Wish You Luck...

A letter from a funder with the words: "We regret to inform you..." OR "We had many worthy requests, but did not have the funds to help everyone..." OR "We wish you luck in your future fundraising endeavors...", can feel like a knife in the heart. There is no worse feeling for a grant writer than working long hours with program managers to write a compelling case with solid measureables and then have it rejected in a five-line letter. Ouch.

It hurts and it's a rough scratch across your ego, but it doesn't spell complete disaster when you have a rejection letter fall on your desk. Well, it shouldn't spell D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R, if you have a plan for action. If the funder does have likeminded interests, don't give up and don't let them forget about you.

1. Have an upbeat, grateful and well-written thank you letter ready for your rejections. There is nothing more gracious than for a denied grant seeker to say "thank you".

2. Put the funder on your calendar for the following year.

3. If you have a relationship with the funder, ask for the chance to further discuss your denial whether via phone or email. Program officers WANT to find good organizations to partner with, but don't always have the time to learn about them in a meaningful way.

4. Share your feedback with your own program managers and leadership. A quick update through email or in a staff meeting can be appropriate. Don't let program managers feel like their hard work on the grant (on top of their "real" job) wasn't worth it---keep them motivated to try again!

5. Invite your funder for a site visit. This can be informal through an event or a regular tour that you already offer. However, rolling out a little red carpet for a private visit might be a better fit for funders who need one-on-one time. Know what makes your funder happy!

The bottom line is that there is no need to tuck your tail between your legs if you have a good funding fit. We are working in a challenging and ever-changing landscape of grantmaking. Being creative with your stewardship shouldn't be overlooked.

Try incorporating this type of action plan into your 2010 grant process and see what results you get! If you keep up with your relationship-building when times are tough, you'll be better prepared when the economy turns around!

~Cheers!

Pardon Our Dust!

Grant Savvy is cleaning house to make our blog content bigger and better. Please be patient while we take the week to create Grant Savvy 2.0!

~Cheers!

Be SMART for 2010 Grant Success!

Near the end of last year I shared ways to get organized for 2010 and start the year off on the right foot. I think it's a good time to share my go-to mental organizer. When I get overwhelmed (some months this happens a lot), I try to stay SMART!

When I'm writing several proposals at once or taking on a variety of topics within a short time frame, my brain can short-circuit. If I stay SMART, I've noticed that my proposal are sharper, cleaner and require less editing. Here is how it works!

Specific means that you can pinpoint and describe exactly what you are trying to achieve. Be clear, concise and crisp. If you can't explain it, your funder won't understand it.

Measureable means that your objectives can be measured to show your impact in the community or with your intended audience.

Attainable means that what you want to achieve can realistically happen. If you shoot for the moon, make sure you can make it there. It should be a goal that is reasonable to assume you can achieve.

Realistic means that you can afford to make it to the moon. All of the factors that make something realistic to achieve should be considered (i.e. cost, personnel, facilities, etc.).

Time-Specific means that you will make it to the moon when you say you will. You should always talk about the time frame for your proposed project. If you aren't planning for timely implementation then your funder won't be interested.

Sometimes I use the SMART process before I write because it helps me create a solid outline. Other times, when I am writing in a flurry, I use it in the review process as a checklist.

For more information about the SMART process, check out Grant Proposal Makeover: Transform Your Request from No to Yes by Cheryl A. Clarke and Susan P. Fox.

How do your proposals look under a SMART lens?

~Cheers!

Happy New Year & A Grant Savvy Thanks!

Happy New Year to all Grant Savvy readers!

Before I begin the 2010 Grant Savvy blog, I wanted to send many thanks to the Grant Savvy readers. This blog began as an experiment and a way to keep my ideas moving outside of my head. It is now something that is part of my daily work (expect during the month of December---ugh!) and my writing process.

I am humbled and energized by the people who I have met because of Grant Savvy. I have found great comfort and motivation in the work of the "underground grant writing world" and can honestly share how much fun it has brought to my ever-evolving professional career.

My biggest thanks to Melanie Negrin at For Grantwriters Only for being such an awesome inspiration and leader of a remarkable online grant writers social network. Please support her and utilize all of her priceless resources. Thanks, Melanie!

Thank you all for 'being Savvy'. I look forward to learning and sharing during 2010!

Grant Savvy is back and ready to roll!

Keys for Successful Grant Research

Planning for 2010 requires researching new funders to add to your submission list. Listed below are 10 elements of grant research that will guide you towards maintaining a strong research process. These are also useful parameters for overall donor research.

1. Identify prospects including your own donors. Research their background and history and find appropriate ways to approach them.

2. Resources are available and need to be read under the fundraising lens. Press releases, annual reports, directories, internet searches, files and fundraising databases are some examples.

3. Manage and update your information on a regular basis. You want to be able to identify links between donors, organizations and giving history.

4. Database. You should a have a solid, reliable database that can be used for research and analysis of giving and soliciting. It can be a spreadsheet to begin...anything that captures your data.

5. Find prospects through your own "6 Degrees of Separation". Each donor can open up new avenues and ways to turn prospects into donors

6. New prospects can be found through your research to find new groups or funders who are aligned with your organization's interests.

7. Match prospect interests with your own and your work. Do not force the fit. Do your research.

8. Personal intelligence gathering and experience to confirm your research, find out new details, names and other bits of information, but beware of GOSSIP! Don't assume anything.

9. Approach strategies define preliminary approach plans, revise your angles for asking and always look for the best 'ask' based upon your research.

10. Supporting donor development by growing relationships and through support of your own donors. This includes capturing information about how they like to be approached, how to keep them informed and how you can improve the relationship in the future.

Adapted from: "Prospecting Strategies for Online Research" JMG Solutions, Inc.

~Cheers!

Hiring a Freelance Grant Writer

As organizations begin to plan for 2010 or the second half of their fiscal year, talk of hiring a fundraising consultant or in particular, a freelance grant writer can find its way into a development office. Below are some pros and cons of hiring a freelance grant writer--courtesy of the Minnesota Council on Foundations.

There are plenty of freelance grantwriters in most communities who write proposals for a fee. (Most experienced writers will remind you that it is unethical to work on commission.) There are both good and bad reasons to hire a freelancer:

Good Reasons to Hire a Freelance Grant Writer

1. To write a good, basic proposal — the "mother proposal" — that your group can then adapt to suit different circumstances. After a year or so, however, you should be able to write this on your own.

2. To search grantmaker directories and databases and identify likely funding sources. Again, your organization should soon develop these skills internally.

3. Because you have five proposals due in one week.

Bad Reasons to Hire a Freelance Grant Writer

1. Because your group wants grant money but neither your volunteers nor your staff want to "dirty their hands" by asking for money. Seeking money is a core activity for most nonprofits. Learn to live with it.

2. Because a freelance fund raiser promises he can get you a lot of money through his "connections." Particularly with major funders, projects are generally funded because of their worth, not due to connections.

3. Because your organization has never tried to raise money before and suddenly wants a large amount of money for a big capital project. Alas, big money tends to go to groups with a long track record and solid funding base. There are exceptions, but don’t count on being one of them.

If you decide to hire a freelance grantwriter, be sure to look at some writing samples. And ask for the names and phone numbers of past clients who work in your field.

~Cheers!