By Hank Lewis on May 22, 2012
The following is the first part of an email exchange with a reader: “My partner and I are creating a non-profit organization, and we will serve as Executive Director (me) and Deputy Director (my partner) as well as, of course, founders.” Executive Director and Deputy Director are titles of functioning roles. Founder is a description [...]
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By Lynn deLearie on May 17, 2012
Neither of these questions is easy to answer, so I did a little research before writing this post. When I Googled “grant win rate,” I came up with a lot of grant writing consultants that advertized win rates of 75 – 95%. I also came up with a post by Jayme Sokolow, contributor on this [...]
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By Hank Lewis on May 15, 2012
Well… actually you can, if you’re asking your friends and relatives; but, if you ask foundations, corporations, major donors or the general public, you’d likely be wasting your time and resources. Sometimes, especially with new nonprofits, people don’t realize that the mere existence of an organization is not sufficient justification to ask others for money. [...]
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By Jayme Sokolow on May 10, 2012
My previous posting discussed the planning and organizing processes. This time, we will address steps three and four – writing, reviewing and rewriting. Write the first draft quickly • Work from your notes and worksheet. • Write heading and subheadings first and use them as a guide. • Begin with the easiest parts of your [...]
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By Hank Lewis on May 8, 2012
Some time ago, I got a note from a reader asking, pretty much, that question: My question to you is — I have donated to a small organization, for a year, in my town to help poor children. I have never received an explanation on how the money is used. Should I expect that and [...]
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By Bill Huddleston on May 3, 2012
It’s now spring, which is an interesting time for charities in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), because this is when the overlap of getting the results from the fall campaign and preparing for this fall’s solicitation period occurs. Even though the CFC solicitation periods occur each fall, the books on one year’s campaign don’t close [...]
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By Tony Poderis on May 1, 2012
I once was not even remotely considered as a candidate for a fundraising development job with a hospital. I came from another non-profit background, and no matter my credentials, I did not even get an interview. The hospital’s “call for resumes” had an explicit condition that anyone applying for the job, “Must have at least [...]
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By Lynn deLearie on April 26, 2012
Just as grade school friendships don’t usually last forever, neither do relationships between nonprofit organizations and their foundation funders. Most grant makers don’t want to provide ongoing operating support; i.e. – they don’t want to be your BFF (Best Funder Forever). Many foundations don’t make grants to the same organization every year. They may allow [...]
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By Hank Lewis on April 24, 2012
Last week I went off on “professional fund raisers,” and, in passing, referred to Fundraising Professionals. I think I made it clear that I was opposed to the use of the vast majority of those “professional fund raisers” who raise the money for you. And, now, to clarify the differences between the two, and the [...]
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By Jayme Sokolow on April 19, 2012
Government grant proposals should go through a five-step writing process: Plan: Think through your proposal sections. Organize: Use the grant guidelines as your outlining guide. Write: Write in a free-flowing manner. Examine: Walk away from your writing and review it later while letting others review it too. Revise: Emphasize clarity, conciseness, correctness, and persuasiveness. This [...]
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Hank Lewis with Development Consultant Associates has over thirty years as a fundraising consultant and is a specialist in Board and Leadership Development, Capital Campaign, Bequest Program and Major Gifts. [Read more ...]