Articles by CharityChannel Members
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Tips for Grantwriting for National Organizations Contributed by:
Susan SchaeferWednesday, April 02, 2008 (5 years 42 days ago)
The fundamental challenge of writing grants for national nonprofits is taking an organization’s vast set of issues, programs and stakeholders and making them seem familiar to a funder who may be thousands of miles away. How do you take a national story and give it a local resonance?
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I Must Be Dreaming: Ten Great Things Sprung from Relationships with Program Officers Contributed by:
Susan SchaeferWednesday, June 13, 2007 (5 years 336 days ago)
Given the increasing competition for foundation grants, the most coveted thing a program officer can deliver is a check. Yet if you develop real bonds with your foundation contacts, the relationships may yield well more than a gift to your annual coffers. Savvy development planning includes ways in which to replace perfunctory calls about application deadlines and program marketing with tasks leading to meaningful, long-term relationships with your funders.
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Give Your Proposal the Winning Edge Contributed by:
Susan SchaeferThursday, January 13, 2005 (8 years 122 days ago)
You've tweaked the text, finalized the supporting data and compiled pages of required attachments. If you've been attentive - and lucky - enough to finish your proposal with time to spare, how might you make your document stand out above the pack?
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Foundation and Individual Giving: A Moving Line Contributed by:
Susan SchaeferWednesday, June 02, 2004 (8 years 347 days ago)
In the good old days, grantwriters worked with foundations and major gifts officers worked with individual donors. Increasingly, the line between these specialties is blurred. As the number of foundations has exploded in recent years, foundation directories have become a who's who of high net worth individuals.
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The Grantseeking Board Contributed by:
Susan SchaeferTuesday, January 13, 2004 (9 years 123 days ago)
When it comes to board members' involvement in fundraising, trustees are most often associated with their contributions to individual giving. But they can also be valuable assets in the grantseeking effort. While some tasks, such as grantwriting, are ideally suited for those directors well-versed in fundraising, most can be assumed by anyone with a passion to get involved.
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Economizing Grantwriting in the New Economy Contributed by:
Susan SchaeferTuesday, July 15, 2003 (9 years 305 days ago)
If we believe what we're reading these days, an upturn in the economy will not provide a panacea for nonprofits' current financial woes. It appears that we were spoiled by the roaring late 90's and now need to find long-term strategic ways to secure funders. We must be more tactical, more informed and more patient. We must do more research, more cultivation and be more knowledgeable about our own organizations. Yet, while we're working harder than ever, many of us have been asked to compensate for staff and resource reductions. How best to proceed?
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Planning to Plan (Part 2) Contributed by:
Susan SchaeferWednesday, March 19, 2003 (10 years 58 days ago)
Last week's article outlined some fairly simple steps that should help prepare you to write your development plan. Once you sit down to write, the elements that make up the final plan can vary drastically, depending upon your preferences, or those of your boss. The level of detail depends upon the size of your operation, the number of prospects involved, and your personal style. Most importantly, think about who will be looking at the plan and the amount of information that would be most useful to that group.
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Planning to Plan (Part 1) Contributed by:
Susan SchaeferThursday, March 13, 2003 (10 years 64 days ago)
With tax season in full swing, many of us are dreading the weeks ahead. The regulations, calculations and fine print can be a bear. But when it comes right down to it, one of the most arduous tasks involves information collection -- rifling through stacks of paper to uncover needed documents -- unless, of course, you have devised a solid plan to keep your paperwork organized throughout the year.
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Program Officers' Wish List Contributed by:
Susan SchaeferTuesday, November 26, 2002 (10 years 171 days ago)
'Tis the season to begin making lists of things for which we are thankful and those that could make life just a little better. Program officers inevitably recognize pieces of their jobs for which they are grateful, and like most of us, they undoubtedly see aspects of the daily grind that drive them crazy.
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The Challenge of Challenge Gifts Contributed by:
Susan SchaeferTuesday, August 20, 2002 (10 years 269 days ago)
Challenge grants can be a simple way to give your fundraising program a boost, and yet they can be...well, challenging. They offer an opportunity for your organization to grow its support base, increase giving across a particular donor segment, and increase gift amounts. However, they are not a tool to be taken lightly...
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Happily Ever After -- Creating Lasting Relationships with Funders Contributed by:
Susan SchaeferTuesday, June 18, 2002 (10 years 332 days ago)
Ever go to a conference attended by both grantseekers and grantmakers? Foundation staff are often mobbed like celebrities. It's not exactly the best place to get to know a program officer. The mail is no easier -- foundation mailboxes overflow with grantseekers' newsletters, annual reports, and event invitations. So how can you truly stand out from the crowd and develop a meaningful relationship with a funder?
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Cracking the Community Foundation Contributed by:
Susan SchaeferTuesday, March 26, 2002 (11 years 51 days ago)
We've all read about the community foundation boom in recent years--giving by community foundations has more than doubled since 1995--but how can you maximize this new stream of potential income for your organization? The character of community foundations differs dramatically from one to the next. They range from progressive to conservative, from straightforward to enigmatic. Their similarities lie in their commitment to the communities in which they serve, be they a city, county, region, or state.
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