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Volume
7, Issue 3 - May 2005 |
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"I
love your newsletter! It's refreshing, fun
and filled with helpful hints"
Toni Paglia,
Director of Development, The ARC
Syracuse, New York |
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So Much Information - So Little
Space -
The Grant Writer's Dilemma |
The cover article this month is submitted by Maddie Zeigler, a grant
consultant. Learn more about Maddie at the end of the
article.
You’ve done your homework and found a funder that appears to be a good match.
That is, they fund in your geographic area, they fund organizations and programs
similar to yours, and they fund at the level your project requires. Now you’re
ready to start writing, but where to begin? The guidelines state that the first
step in the application process is submitting a Letter of Inquiry, which should
be a maximum of three pages in length.
So, how do you convince a funder that your program deserves consideration in
only three pages? Your first thought might be to use a size 6 font, but you
realize that’s not possible. Don’t despair, it is a doable task! The first
and foremost thing to keep in mind is the general mantra for grant writing: to
be concise and clear. Begin by introducing your organization (mission and
whom you serve), state that you’re requesting funds for a particular project,
and tie your project to the interests and priorities of the funder.
Next, you might state the need or problem your project addresses, and
possibly include key statistics to provide support and credibility. End this
paragraph with a brief and clear statement of how your project will address the
need or problem that you stated.
Now you’re ready to describe your plan. Include your goals/objectives,
followed by a brief description of your activities and timeline. Continue by
pointing out why your organization is suited to carry out the project,
highlighting your qualifications (experience and resources). Indicate if this is
a model program that can be replicated.
Specify the amount you’re requesting through this LOI and the total
amount of the project (if different). Close by thanking the potential funder for
considering your proposal and provide name and contact information. Be sure to
include any attachments requested by the funder, such as your organization’s
fact sheet, IRS determination letter, budget, or other financial information.
Before submitting the letter and required attachments, reread and revise
and ask someone else (preferably unfamiliar with the project) to read the letter
for clarity. Be sure that you have reviewed and checked off all requirements
listed by the potential funder.
Some funders base their funding decisions on the Letter of Inquiry and others
use it to determine who will be invited to submit a full proposal. Either way,
make your LOI as compelling and convincing as possible. Some ideas for
personalizing your LOI are to incorporate client quotes or provide short
“testimonials” as indented text. Another tip is to use the same language as your
funder. For example, if their literature includes phrases such as “needs of
underprivileged children” and “emotional and physical well-being of low-income
children,” use the same phrases when describing your program and services.
Finally, don’t be afraid to invite the funder to become a partner in “helping to
improve the lives of children in YOUR CITY whose lives are filled with turmoil
through no fault of their own” or whatever your area of service might be.
About the Contributor
Maddie Zeigler is a grant consultant specializing in developing federal
and foundation proposals. Her clients benefit from her 16 years of experience in
proposal development, program development, and conducting grant writing
workshops. She provide services such as: Comprehensive funding searches, Grant
proposal writing, Critiquing and editing grant proposal drafts,
Training/Mentoring staff in grant development, Grant budget development, and
Evaluation logic model development. Her experiences in grant reviewing, grant
development, and grant administration give her a well-rounded perspective as a
grant professional.
If you’d like to receive Maddie’s “Tips for New Grant Writers” or “List of
Documents to Keep in Your Attachment File,” you may contact her at
or 505-385-9637.
Back to Table of
Contents
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Effects
of Sarbanes-Oxley Act on Nonprofits
|
You have probably heard about the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and its
effect on for profit corporations. But did you know that certain parts of the
Act relate to your nonprofit?
In a report published in late 2003, BoardSource and the
Independent Sector recommend that nonprofits voluntarily incorporate
certain provisions of the Act that make good governance sense.
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Insider Transactions and Conflicts of Interest. Nonprofit organizations should
not provide personal loans to directors or executives. If loans are provided,
all terms should be disclosed and approved by the Board.
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Certified Financial Statements. The CEO and CFO and Board of Directors of a
nonprofit should review the Form 990 or 990-PF before it is submitted to the IRS
to ensure that it is accurate, complete and filed on time.
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Independent and Competent Audit Committee. All nonprofits that conduct outside
audits should have separate audit and finance committees.
While the majority of the provisions in the Act apply only to publicly traded
corporations, the following provisions are applicable to all corporations
(nonprofit and for profit).
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Whistle Blower Protection. Nonprofits should develop, adopt and disclose a
formal process to deal with complaints and prevent retaliation. Nonprofit
leaders must investigate employee complaints and correct any problems or explain
why corrections are not necessary.
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Document Destruction. Nonprofits should have a written, mandatory document
retention and periodic destruction policy, which includes guidelines for
electronic files and voicemail. If an official investigation is underway or even
suspected, nonprofit management must avoid any document purging in order to
avoid criminal obstruction.
Learn more about the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. A good article is found at
www.wiggin.com/pubs/articles_abstract.asp?ID=10124712162004. Another source
is
www.bdo.com/about/publications/industry/np_apr_03/article1.asp.
Back to Table of
Contents
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Other
Grant Writing Dos and Don'ts
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A recent dialogue on CharityChannel.com revealed the following Dos and
Don’ts from Jane Savitt Tennen, Director, NYU George H. Heyman Center for
Philanthropy and Fundraising. Jane notes that these points apply to
private-sector individuals and foundations, not government and not
marketing-based corporate giving.
“If you’re doing the relationship thing right, it’s possible to get a
grant with a terrible proposal. If you’re not doing it right, a proposal
written by Shakespeare or Hemingway wouldn’t get you funded.
The proposal comes about 65% of the way through the
cultivation/application process. There should be few surprises for the
reader, therefore, in the written document.
A proposal is not a manual or directory. It is, in essence, a sales piece
whose purpose is to get a meeting with or a site visit by the funder. Don’t
lie or mislead, but don’t give the funder a reason to say no before s/he’s
even seen the program in action.
Don’t promise what your organization cannot deliver. If you cannot
deliver what the funder wants to fund, don’t apply for the grant.
Every budget tells a story. Be sure yours tells the story you mean it to
tell.
Be sure in the budget (and your own thinking/planning) to account for
indirect costs, even if they aren’t part of your dollar ask.”
I would add one final tip. I recommend that you begin the grant process
by calling the grantor in advance of the proposal to establish what exactly
the funder is looking for to determine whether you should even put pen to
paper!
Back to Table of
Contents
A
great magazine you might want to subscribe to is Fundraising Success. I have
enjoyed their practical approach to every day fundraising issues. Visit their
site at
www.fundraisingsuccessmag.com.
In light of Sarbanes-Oxley, you might want to develop a Code of Ethics
for your organization. The Illinois Institute of Technology Center for the
Study of Ethics in the Professions can give you some guidelines and examples
at
ethics.iit.edu/codes/.
Remember, if you are not devoting at least one hour every week to
Internet research, you are leaving money and opportunity on the table!
Lots of the sites I’ve found are hot linked from my web site. Of course, from
time to time, organizations and sites disappear, so if you find a broken link on
the site, please send me an email () and let me know. Thanks!
Back to Table of
Contents
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Back to Table of
Contents
HOW CAN I HELP YOU?
TAKE THIS QUICKIE QUIZ
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Please give me a call if you want to turn any NO into a YES. I can help
with:
- turning your Board into a dynamic group of volunteers,
- facilitating a strategic planning session,
- analyzing your current fundraising and suggesting some new ideas, and
- training volunteers and staff in becoming more effective fundraisers.
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Here is what people have said about my training and facilitation:
“You certainly shifted my paradigm. After hearing you last
Friday, it is the first time in 11 years as an ED that I was excited abut
fund development. And you got my Board members to that point as well. “
Kay
Hopper
RDC for Children, Richardson, TX
“Your seminar in Dallas was the best I ever attended. You
are wise and hilarious.”
Mary Jo Dorn
Catholic Charities of Dallas
"Jean conducted an extremely well
organized and productive [Board] retreat, one that I can
say with confidence that our members count as the finest
ever conducted for us. Jean's follow-up report was
in-depth and meaty, and both Board and staff have
referred to it time and again. The knowledge of
boardsmanship the members took with them has made a
remarkable difference in their levels of commitment and
support."
Eileen Cook, Executive Director
Casa Esperanza
"Jean Block is a powerhouse in the
Non-Profit world. You don't move about these circles long before her name is
prominent in the conversation. Her commitment to training, fundraising,
motivating, and cultivation is unsurpassed. To say she is an influence is
to miss the point. She gives new meaning to the word enthusiasm! You don't
know Jean, you experience her! She is a force unlike any other I have every
met."
Randy Gleason
Randy
Gleason Consulting, Inc.
“Your training was invaluable to me. I dreaded doing this
because I couldn’t even sell someone a candy bar in the past but I was
inspired by your advice to try. I raised about $377,000!
Joan Shepack
Keystone Botanical Garden, El Paso,
TX
"I attended the Corporate Sponsorship Workshop - WOW! You
were amazing! What an OPPORTUNITY for me!
Your presentation style was EXCELLENT. By far the best
workshop I've been to in a long time (content and style both!)."
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Kopplin
Epilepsy
Foundation of Minnesota
"As a senior-level development officer, I have a hard time
finding useful workshops. Jean's programs should be required for even us old
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Visiting Nurse Association,
Dallas, TX
Jean Block
Consulting, Inc.
7915 Cliff Road NW
Albuquerque NM 87120
(505) 899-1520
Fax (505) 890-5285
Email:
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"I
love your newsletter! It's refreshing, fun
and filled with helpful hints"
Toni Paglia,
Director of Development, The ARCRC
Syracuse, New York |
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