Articles by CharityChannel Members
CharityChannel members who have years of experience in their field may apply to join a Contributor's Panel. Once accepted to a panel by the panel's editor, the member will work with the editor to determine article topics and to prepare an article that is ready for publication. With tens of thousands of colleagues in the CharityChannel professional community, this is a key opportunity to give back to your profession by sharing your hard-won expertise and wisdom.
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Do you know how to value your grant office? Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverThursday, November 29, 2012 (165 days ago)
For many of us (including me), our grant offices secure far more in financial resources than those raised by our foundation counterparts. And typically, we do it with far fewer staff member. So inquiring minds would like to know why general fund developers and foundation staff members receive the overwhelming majority of internal and public kudos. I think that the answer is relatively simple. Most grant professionals haven’t learned to toot their own horns. So let’s explore ways that you can quantify and qualify your achievements beyond simply the dollar value of new grant funds raised each year....
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What You Should Know If You Are Going to Submit an NSF Grant Application Through Grants.gov Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, August 22, 2012 (264 days ago)
This great nation of ours sent men to the moon. We have astronauts on the Space Station. We explore the universe. We are a nation of great inventors–including Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs. So why can’t our government computer geeks find a way to make the federal Grants.gov submission process compatible with the National Science Foundation (NSF) FastLane system?
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No More GPC Pen and Paper Exams Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, June 20, 2012 (327 days ago)
For those of us that had to allocate hundreds of dollars for airfare and hotel rooms, this week’s official announcement by the
Grant Professional Certification Institute (GPCI) was good news. Well, perhaps it was better news for those grant professionals that haven’t yet set for the exam. Either way – it was good news all around. So what was the good news you wonder? The GPCI announced the end of pen and paper exams!
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Reputations ‘R’ Us Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, June 06, 2012 (341 days ago)
Recently while speaking with a trusted colleague, the conversation turned in a direction that most grant professionals seldom publicly discuss—our professional reputations. As we spoke, I could not help but reflect on the hundreds of conversations that I have had with trusted and respected grant colleagues regarding the mistakes that they, their employers, and their clients have made. But seldom have I heard any one mention a fear that any of these mistakes could ruin their reputation.
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Be the Bearer of Your Own Bad News Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, May 30, 2012 (348 days ago)
Key to being a great grant professional are three values: honesty, integrity, and truthfulness.
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Try, Try, Try Again Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, May 09, 2012 (1 years 4 days ago)
Yesterday was “one of those days” for me. Our office received another rejection of our National Science Foundation grant application.
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What every grant professional should know before they become involved in a multi-partner federal grant Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, May 02, 2012 (1 years 11 days ago)
Once a new fangled idea, grant partnerships are fast becoming the norm—and not the exception.
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What can we do to make the grant professional more appealing to young career seekers? Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, April 25, 2012 (1 years 18 days ago)
Why aren’t recent graduates entering the grant field? I think that there are many reasons – some out of the control of current professionals, others that we can certainly address.
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Should You Submit the Same Proposal to More than One Funder – at the Same Time? Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, March 14, 2012 (1 years 60 days ago)
If your organization is planning to submit the same proposal to multiple funding sources at the same time, planning for the possiblity of receiving two awards is important.
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Challenges Bring Forth Teachable Moments Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, February 01, 2012 (1 years 102 days ago)
Today was a challenging day. In fact, this past month has been challenging. But challenges and disappointments can lead to very valuable teachable moments.
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Finding Grants for Those Difficult to Fund Support Services – Part Two Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, December 14, 2011 (1 years 151 days ago)
Having discussed in part one the importance of reviewing your agency's strategic plan, using it as a tool in support of your grant applications, creating a multi-year grant calendar, and encouraging in-house and outside collaborative relationships, I would like to address the early preparation of draft proposals and how to best prepared "blended" proposals.
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Finding Grants for Those Difficult to Fund Support Services – Part One Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, December 07, 2011 (1 years 158 days ago)
As I prepared a PowerPoint presentation for a webinar recently, I realized that I really do approach the problem of securing funds for support services differently than most of my colleagues.
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How Do You Tell Your Board That You Didn’t Raise As Much Money This Year? Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, October 26, 2011 (1 years 200 days ago)
Did the title of this article give you hope that there are acceptable strategies for telling your board of directors that you didn’t meet the dollar goal that you had mutually set? If so, I think that you will be pleased to consider the solutions that I have decided upon.
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It’s Time To Think Frugally! Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, September 14, 2011 (1 years 242 days ago)
When financial resources are scarce, non-profit administrators and staff must think long and hard before investing scarce dollars in resources with little immediate or short-term return on investment.
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It’s Time to Remember that 'No' Doesn’t Always Mean 'Never' Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, August 17, 2011 (1 years 270 days ago)
In recent months, I have noticed an increasing trend among grant professionals to assume that there will be very limited funding available from any sources. Yes, they have mentioned repeatedly that the ARRA federal dollars are gone, state funds are shrinking or have disappeared, and foundation awards are diminishing before their very eyes.
But succumbing to this negativity is counterproductive in my opinion....
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Am I Wasting Time or Gathering Information? Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, August 03, 2011 (1 years 284 days ago)
Many years ago, after about six months into my first full-time grant development position, my supervisor called me into her office. She told me that I “talk too much.” Months later, my grant proposals won federal, state, and United Way contracts – big contracts, in fact. She wanted to know how I did it....
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Congressional Investigation Needed Into U.S. Department of Education Trio/Talent Search Grant Competition Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, July 13, 2011 (1 years 305 days ago)
In my opinion, this 2011 U.S. Department of Education Trio/Talent Search grant competition was neither fair nor unbiased. It was fraught with inside pressure and political motives. The reviewers were simply pawns in the U.S. Department of Education’s game. And whatever awards will be made will most certainly be reflective of the Department’s plans – not the fair and equitable opinions of the reviewers that the public and applicants believe made unbiased and untainted scoring decisions. A Congressional investigation is needed.
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Should You Share Your Grant Proposals? Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverTuesday, May 10, 2011 (2 years 4 days ago)
Recently, a colleague inquired as to the appropriateness of sharing complete copies of successfully-funded grant proposals with others via the Internet. The inquiring colleague was interested in what policies others in the grant field had developed for their institutions. ...I cautioned her that....
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What I Learned as a Reviewer for a Federal Agency - Part 3 Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, March 23, 2011 (2 years 52 days ago)
As a reviewer for the first time in many years, I was amazed at the mistakes that so many applicants for federal funds make....
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What I Learned as a Reviewer for a Federal Agency - Part 2 Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, March 16, 2011 (2 years 59 days ago)
Apparently, whatever an applicant writes in their budget and its correlating narrative is of no real consequence to the review process. As a reviewer, I was told that since all budgets are reviewed and ultimately approved by a program officer, budgets are given very little if any attention in the review process. We were instructed to award full points to the budget section except in very extreme cases. This remains quite dismaying to me....
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What I Learned as a Reviewer for a Federal Agency - Part 1 Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, March 09, 2011 (2 years 66 days ago)
Have you ever wondered how the federal government scores your grant applications? Or what the process really encompasses? Well, join the club! All too often, I have wondered how one agency’s reviewers can simply love my proposals, and another one can score my applications so low. Well, I think that I have found the answer (or at least part of it).
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Getting the Most From Your Millennial Grants Professional Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, February 09, 2011 (2 years 94 days ago)
A few years ago at a conference, a grants professional explained to me that grant seeking was difficult for him because of an “incompetent 24-year-old kid” in his office who assisted with their grant efforts. He said he did not think that young people had the skills to be successful grants professionals. I have heard echoes of similar frustrations from other grants professionals more than once since that day.
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It’s New Year Resolution Time! Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, January 12, 2011 (2 years 122 days ago)
It’s that time of year when we all promise to do better, to eat better, to be better in our personal lives. Well, why not reflect upon how we could all do better in our professional lives?
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I'm the Grant Director but... Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, October 20, 2010 (2 years 206 days ago)
I’m the grant director but staff don’t listen to me. Now what?
We’ve all been there. Despite all the requests, gentle prodding, bribes, threats, and desperate pleading, your program staff members simply do not cooperate. They don’t get you the documents, information, or data that you need to complete a grant -- and that deadline is looming.
Or you find the perfect grant opportunity. The focus matches your organization’s mission. The match requirement can be met. The desired outcomes match your program exactly. And yet, program staff are uninterested or find reasons not to pursue the grant opportunity.
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Have you ever dreamed of being a published author? Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, September 22, 2010 (2 years 234 days ago)
Do you love working in the grant field? Do you know a lot about how to do your job? Do others seek you out for advice and guidance regarding grant functions? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be one of the people that Grants and Foundation Review is looking for!
As a reader of our articles, you know that our contributing authors voluntarily share their knowledge and expertise with others in our field – all with the goal of promoting higher standards and greater degrees of professionalism among grant writers, developers, and administrators.
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Before You Return Funds or Terminate a Grant Contract, There Are Several Issues to Consider Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, September 08, 2010 (2 years 248 days ago)
Earlier this year, the Council for Resource Development’s listserv was abuzz with the discussion of whether a colleague’s college should return a grant award for a program whose outcomes they simply weren’t achieving. It was a US Department of Education grant award and the original poster was quite concern that if they returned the funds, her college might be placed on a “black list” of sorts by the US Department of Education.
I know that many of my colleagues were thrilled to know that they had never been placed in such an awkward and questionable position by their agency and its program directors. However, I have in the past found myself in just such a place so I was eagerly looking forward to reading the advice that other listserv members would have to offer our distressed colleague. Respondent’s opinions varied at times; but, nearly all gave advice quite similar to that which I would have given...
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What Are We Really Saying? Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, September 01, 2010 (2 years 255 days ago)
Seldom do I chuckle out loud as I read the newspaper — especially one that focuses upon higher education issues. But as I read David Galef’s “Translation of the Last Department Meeting,” I found myself giggling and tearing up with laughter. (Inside Higher Ed, 03-12-2010.) His translations were insightful and funny. As I read through his list of common phrases and comments heard at faculty meetings, the faces of several of my colleagues floated through my mind as I thought about their words, and the hidden meaning behind them.
As most of you know, grant writers aren’t necessarily known for their humor. We are typically very serious professionals that focus upon facts, figures, outcomes, and implementation plans. But we all know that to survive in the grant field, we must develop a sense of humor.
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Ten Ways I De-stress My Work Life Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, August 11, 2010 (2 years 276 days ago)
We all know co-workers who are never happy. I know that I do. These folks never seem to be having a good day. They have permanent frown lines etched across their faces and furrowed brows that are only fertile ground for growing more unhappiness....
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Letters of Interest Lead to New Funding Opportunities Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, July 21, 2010 (2 years 297 days ago)
As a new grant writer, I was always uncertain what to include in a letter of interest (or what many of my colleagues refer to as a pre-proposal letter). With such limited space, there never seemed to be enough room to list all the information that I thought necessary to persuade the grant officers to request a full proposal from my organization. Thus after dropping each envelope into the mailbox, all I could do was hope and pray that my words would convince them that my agency was deserving of a chance to tell our full story. Sadly, more often than not, I was disappointed.
I finally came to realize that the funders had a different reason for requesting a letter of interest from me than I had for writing one. I needed to adjust my thinking and writing to address their needs – because after all, they have the money!
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Collaborations: Myths or Predictions? Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, June 16, 2010 (2 years 332 days ago)
Recently, the Council for Resource Development’s listserv was abuzz with a discussion focused upon what appeared at first glance a routine topic. A CRD member had read a blog posting by Isaac Seliger of Seliger + Associates. On his blog, Seliger (a grant consultant) had posted his views regarding mandated collaborative partnerships imposed by funders through published guidelines. The posting was entitled, “What Exactly Is the Point of Collaboration in Grant Proposals? The Department of Labor Community-Based Job Training (CBJT) Program is a Case in Point.” (Isaac Seliger, Seliger + Associates, 04-05-10, blog).
Seliger shared with his readers that collaborations between nonprofits are as “unlikely” to succeed as one would expect from a “collaboration between McDonald’s and Burger King.” In fact, he pointed out that there are federal laws that oftentimes prevent, to help maintain beneficial competitions, for-profit companies from forming partnerships. So, why should nonprofit agencies be allowed or forced to do so?
Frankly, I only need one reason to disagree with nearly every statement that he made—lying is wrong....
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Positive Thinking - A Grant Writer's Most Valuable Asset Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, May 26, 2010 (2 years 353 days ago)
Any proposal writer that has been in the business for more than a few years knows that emotions can run deep when a much wanted (and needed) grant application is rejected. We feel a wide range of conflicting feelings. We ask ourselves if the reviewers’ were biased in some way. We incessantly review the narrative in our mind. What should we have done differently? How can we improve it for the next submission opportunity? Is it our fault that clients will go without needed services?
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I Think It’s Time to Take an OJP Program Officer to Lunch Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, March 31, 2010 (3 years 44 days ago)
Those of us that work as grant consultants are well aware that at times foundations and government agencies don’t always view us in the most positive light. But just in case we weren’t fully aware of their commonly held misperceptions, the U.S. Department of Justice has printed their viewpoint for all to see in their “Guide to Grants – FY10 Edition.” In it the Department states....
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Beatitudes for Friends of Grant Writers Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, February 03, 2010 (3 years 100 days ago)
So often as grant professionals, we bemoan the fact that those outside our field don’t understand our work, our passion, our challenges, and our frustrations. But recently as I reflected on just who my grant team members really are, I was reminded that countless others contribute to my success.
With many kudos coming my way in recent months, I am blessed to have the support of many other dedicated professionals. The following is dedicated to the unsung “heroes” that continue to make my success possible.
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Is Your Story Worth Buying? Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverThursday, January 21, 2010 (3 years 113 days ago)
Every grant professional that I know loves to read. And I’m sure that we can all agree, no one likes reading long, boring, and repetitive stories. Rather a short story or a full link novel, we want excitement in our books. And most of us are long past reading formula novels such as Nancy Drew mysteries and the Adventures of the Hardy Boy. We want our novels to be just that, novel. Interesting and exciting. Unpredictable and thrilling.
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Projections Should Be Based on Facts Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, January 13, 2010 (3 years 121 days ago)
From the start of my grant writing career, setting performance objectives has always been one of the most difficult challenges I faced with each new proposal writing assignment. As a grant professional, many of the staff and administrators assumed that I would know what figures to insert. But as every grant writer knows, the typical Request for Proposal does not indicate how many clients the funder would like its grantees to serve, nor does it indicate specific outcome measurements or success indicators. These are left to the discretion of applicants.
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If You Nearly Missed Your Last Grant Deadline, You Need to Read This! Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, November 18, 2009 (3 years 177 days ago)
We’ve all heard nightmare stories of colleagues that worked diligently to complete a complex federal grant application only to have its submission derailed by an uncooperative administrator or staff member. As friends, we commiserate with each other about the lack of respect and appreciation shown to grant professionals by other agency personnel when they refuse to cooperate. All too often their lack of commitment to the grant process results in missed deadlines, wasted effort, and lost grant funds.
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A Grant Contract Isn’t a Suggestion! Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, October 07, 2009 (3 years 219 days ago)
Throughout my career I have noted that far too often, program staff and administrators discuss and debate the meaning of the words "grant contract." What does this term really mean? Is it really a binding contract? Why can’t we buy that new computer we need? After all, we have grant funds left over.
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How Many Grants Can a Grant Writer Write, If a Grant Writer Could Write Grants? Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, August 19, 2009 (3 years 268 days ago)
As children, I’m sure we all asked a thousand times, “How much wood could a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood?” And of course, we drove our parents crazy repeating this ditty over and over. Apparently the times haven’t changed much. Only now, it’s the board of directors, agency administrators, and CEOs that seem to be asking the question. So…how many grants
can a grant writer write, if a grant writer could write grants?
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Program Sustainability - A Personal and Professional Obligation Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, June 10, 2009 (3 years 338 days ago)
With years of experience in the social service, youth development, and higher education fields, it seems to me that too many proposal writers don’t give serious consideration to program sustainability when they are reaching for that next grant check. As a result of such short sightedness, many good programs are lost and promises are broken to clients and the community.
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A Frumpy Grantwriter Who's Rooting for Susan Boyle Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, May 13, 2009 (4 years 1 days ago)
Every job has its frustrations. Grant writing is certainly no exception. This article is written by a grant writer. It is for and about grant writers everywhere — in recognition that we are the least praised members of fund development teams.
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Overcoming Your Grant Writing Fears - Thirteen Needless Worries Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, May 06, 2009 (4 years 8 days ago)
When I was a neophyte to the world of grants, I was terrified to confront the first, blank page of each new grant application. What would I write? Would I find the “right” words? Would my proposal be compelling and persuasive enough to win a grant award? And if not, would I be considered a failure and lose my colleagues’ respect — or worse my job?
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Who Are Grant Professionals and From Where Do They Come? Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, March 18, 2009 (4 years 57 days ago)
When I was a young child, I dreamt of many things. I imagined what career I would choose. I even hoped that I would travel the world. But the idea that I would become a grant professional never would have occurred to me. I had never met one and wouldn’t have known what their job responsibilities would entail if by chance I had encountered such a person. But here I am with nearly two decades of grant development and administrative experience.
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Centralized Grant Offices Protect Your Organization: Strengths Your CEO Needs To Know Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, March 11, 2009 (4 years 64 days ago)
During the course of my career, I have been asked on occasion why any agency needs a centralized grant office. Typically, the question comes from staff or faculty that believe each department should independently write and submit grant applications, complete funder required reports, or seek new funding opportunities. They suggest that departmental staff are the program experts and therefore are the most knowledgeable about their programs’ needs and performance outcomes.
However, my years of experience have shown me that an independent, centralized grant office is essential to the long-term success of any comprehensive fund development plan for many reasons — reasons that every CEO vested and compassionate about their organization’s long-term fund development success needs to know.
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If You Want a Job in My Grant Office, I Have Some Advice for You Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, November 12, 2008 (4 years 183 days ago)
I find myself once again immersed in a sea of job applications from seemingly qualified individuals that are expressing an interest in working for me in my college's grant office. But as a carefully review each and every application, I must wonder if most of them really want the job.
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How can our team win the game if everyone isn’t playing? Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, October 22, 2008 (4 years 204 days ago)
We need more teams — and not just any teams, we need enthusiastic and capable teams ready to take the field and win the grant game!
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Finding Success is Easier When One Knows How to Get There Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, August 13, 2008 (4 years 274 days ago)
Why is it that so many non-profit organizations and educational institutions choose to seek grant funds for whatever project is being touted by a funder, whether or not it will ultimately help them achieve their goals and mission?
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The Time Has Come For Educational Institutions To Focus Upon Developing Strong Grant Offices Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, February 13, 2008 (5 years 91 days ago)
I started my fund development career working for a federation of fourteen social service agencies in the early 1990s. At the time, United Way agencies nationwide were significantly cutting allocations. Officials warned member agencies to become better fundraisers because future reductions were planned. And as most development professionals now know, massive reductions in funding levels were made year after year by United Ways across the country.
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Don't You Hate the 'Easy' Grants? Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, October 24, 2007 (5 years 203 days ago)
Before I write another word, let me assure you that in reality there are
no easy grants. In fact, that is one of the few factors I am confident will never change in the world of fund development.
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Are They Really Serious? Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, August 01, 2007 (5 years 287 days ago)
As you've sat and listened to the myriad warnings that slap you up side the head at each and every federal grant workshop you've ever attended, have you ever said to yourself, "Yeah, right! If I believe there are
margin police employed by the federal government, I would believe in Santa Claus too!"
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Winning Support Letters Don't Just Happen Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, March 07, 2007 (6 years 69 days ago)
It's Friday afternoon. You're overwhelmed by the fact that the proposal staring back at you is due in just one week. As the calendar taunts, you realize that the guidelines require the inclusion of support letters from your partners; but you forgot to mention this to them during your monthly planning meetings. How can you possibly get the letters in time?
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A Walk Through 'The Wonderful World of Grants' Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverSaturday, February 17, 2007 (6 years 87 days ago)
Like most of my colleagues, through the years I have found that many of my immediate supervisors neither understood the complexity of grant application procedures nor the restrictive nature of contract implementation.
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Enticing Faculty & Staff to Become Involved with Grants Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, January 24, 2007 (6 years 111 days ago)
Not that many years ago, I worked for social services and youth development agencies where staff members clearly recognized that fund development was the responsibility of everyone. The organization's financial stability was dependent upon the acquisition of grant funds. If grant applications were not submitted and proposals were not funded, clients lost services (and positions were cut). Therefore, I was surrounded by trained professionals that wanted to be actively involved in the processes that secured grant funds.
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Are You Chasing Funding Dollars? Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverThursday, December 14, 2006 (6 years 152 days ago)
Have you ever noticed that some agencies offer programs that just don't seem quite appropriate given their mission statements? Unfortunately, you have most likely observed a common mistake that befalls many non-profit agencies that decide to chase funding dollars offered by well-meaning foundations and government agencies seeking to encourage pre-selected program strategies.
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The Two Tones of Need Statements Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, October 25, 2006 (6 years 202 days ago)
In my many years of working for local social service, youth development and higher educational institutions, I have found that most proposal writers focus solely upon the deficits present in their organizations and/or communities. I believe that this can and often is a strategic and costly mistake. While need statements must contain evidence of deficiencies, it is important to use positive terms in describing data that illustrates the strengths of the community as well.
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Technology Can Improve Organizational Communication Beyond Email Messages Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, October 18, 2006 (6 years 209 days ago)
With the technological advances that made email and instant messaging possible, the world found that both personal and professional communication changed forever. And while some may lament the impersonal nature that has come to characterize many email transmissions today, no one wishes to turn back the hands of time to the days when business communication was dependent upon "snail" mail and carbon copies. Yet while most every organization has embraced email as a vital and necessary communication tool, few have ventured far beyond it.
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Program Logic Charts Are So Logical Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, June 07, 2006 (6 years 342 days ago)
I have learned that if the grant process doesn't begin with the creation of a program logic chart, not only will the task seem more arduous but invariably it will be more challenging!
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Top 10 Tips for Writing Effective Evaluations - Part 2 Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, April 26, 2006 (7 years 19 days ago)
... I have always been a strong proponent for writing simple but comprehensive evaluation plans. In fact, while many other proposal writers cringe as they near an application's evaluation section, I approach it with enthusiasm. For me, this is the section in which I get to share my institution's plan to document its success! What could be more exciting? So with a renewed sense of excitement for documenting your agency's effectiveness, join me in reviewing the final 6 of my Top 10 Tips for Writing Effective Evaluations.
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Top 10 Tips for Writing Effective Evaluations - Part 1 Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, April 19, 2006 (7 years 26 days ago)
... I have always been a strong proponent for writing simple but comprehensive evaluation plans. In fact, while many other proposal writers cringe as they near an application's evaluation section, I approach it with enthusiasm. For me, this is the section in which I get to share my institution's plan to document its success! What could be more exciting? So with a renewed sense of excitement for documenting your agency's effectiveness, join me in reviewing the first 4 of my Top 10 Tips for Writing Effective Evaluations.
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What Does 'No' Really Mean? Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, October 26, 2005 (7 years 201 days ago)
It always astonishes me the power that we give to the two little letters, n and o. All too often we assume that when combined they always mean "never," "refused," "not possible," or any one of the many other negative connotations associated with the word "no." As a professional proposal writer, I readily admit that I have heard these two small letters pronounced in unison all too often. Yet I seldom remain sad or overwhelmed by their power because I know that "no" has several meanings....
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Are Grants a Valued Member of Your Organization's "Fund" Family? Or an Unwanted Guest? Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, August 31, 2005 (7 years 257 days ago)
Why is it that often times the fund development "family" is split? Like bickering siblings arguing over who is more important or loved, grant developers often find themselves fending off the criticisms of other fundraisers.
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The Funder Doesn't Really Care About Your Organization's Needs Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, June 29, 2005 (7 years 320 days ago)
Did the title of this article shock you? Are you thinking, she can't possibly be referring to my organization's funders. Think again.
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Proposal Writing: A Leap of Faith Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, April 27, 2005 (8 years 18 days ago)
It has been my observation that successful proposal writers are always people of faith. It’s a pure and simple fact.
To be successful proposal writers, they must have faith in themselves, their organization, their programs, and their grant teams.______
Baseline Data - Don't Wait Until You're Writing a Proposal to Collect It! Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverWednesday, February 02, 2005 (8 years 102 days ago)
No one warned me about the cloud of doom and gloom that would descend upon me very shortly....
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Why Should We Collaborate? Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverMonday, October 18, 2004 (8 years 209 days ago)
If you've ever caught yourself (or a grant team member) questioning why your organization must collaborate with other community agencies, perhaps it is time to review the many reasons why we should all enthusiastically embrace collaborative partnerships.
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Is the Time Right for Adding Self-Funded Grant Positions? Contributed by:
Rebecca ShawverTuesday, May 18, 2004 (8 years 362 days ago)
Given the budgetary challenges confronting non-profit organizations throughout the nation, administrators may be planning the addition of self-funded grant positions. However, decision-makers should proceed cautiously. For many (if not most) organizations, it would be unrealistic to expect a grant writer to be self-funded within a short time-period.