When it comes to writing a competitive grant application, many nonprofit professionals wonder: “How much data will be needed?”
The answer depends on the funder’s guidelines; but it is always a good idea to be ready to tell your story with data.
October’s Data Institute 2020 hosted by Good Measure and produced by Mission Capital, effectively helped nonprofit professionals see how insights, trends and other data can help increase social impact.
Here are some of the tips I shared as a presenter at this virtual conference. I hope you find them useful in your social impact work.
Some say your life’s purpose something you’d do for free. If that were true, why do so many feel burned out by purpose-driven work? Plus consider that the front-lines of these professions (nonprofits, NGOs, social impact, human services, advocacy…) are highly populated by women. Let’s talk about this! A meet-up is bring proposed for SXSW 2020 to do just that.
The proposed meet-up is titled Women changemakers – let’s talk self-care. And we need you, the public, to show your support for this idea during the community voting period (Aug. 5 – Aug. 23, 2019). Please go to panelpicker.sxsw.com , log in and vote-up and comment on this proposal if you’d like to see it at the next SXSW. Here is a video about it:
Do you have an idea for the next innovation in education and wonder if it could win a grant? A panel is being proposed for SXSW EDU 2020 that would help education practitioners, administrators and nonprofits who are searching for project funding.
The proposed panel is titled Get that Grant: Tips and Trends from Philanthropists. And we need you, the public, to show your support for this idea during the community voting period (Aug. 5 – Aug. 23, 2019). Please go to panelpicker.sxsw.com , log in and vote-up and comment on this proposal if you’d like to see it at the next SXSW EDU.
One very exciting bit of news is three very strong and knowledgeable philanthropists have already committed to participating! Their perspective and information will prove to be indispensable to grant-seekers. The grantmakers who have committed are:
The Moody Foundation. Bernice Torregrossa, Regional Grants Director, Central & Grants Analyst;
These philanthropists will demystify the grant funding process during this proposed panel. They will describe what makes a successful project and how to make your grant request shine. You’ll learn what innovations today’s education funders are looking for, how to propose your project ideas and what you need to do to Get that Grant!
Please take a look at the video describing the details; and vote and comment here. Thank you very much, and we hope to see you at SXSW EDU.
Andrew Stevens of Twin Liquors Marketplace at Hill Country Galleria (Store #60) teaches a class on French Wine
A headline like that needs an explanation, doesn’t it?
Well, networking and socializing are key activities for development officers and other nonprofit professionals. Recognizing this, the Texas Grants Resource Centerand the Grant Professionals Association – Austin Chapter partnered to bring an essential (and fun) event to their members: French Wine 101 – a primer for nonprofit events and fundraisers.
The attendees got a chance to learn about and taste wines from France. And the group also learned wine essentials like how to decant wine and how to increase your vocabulary of taste descriptions (hint: taste, smell and savor various natural items – like during a visit to a farmer’s market). But folks also took the opportunity to socialize, win prizes and have some holiday cheer.
Special and heart-felt thanks goes to the skillful presenter Andrew Stevens and the Twin Liquors Store #60Manager, Andrew Zemites.
Andrew Stevens lead the group on an exciting and educational virtual journey through French wine country. Attendees learned not just about how wines are made and what to look for when enjoying them, but they learned the history and social aspects of the French regions as well. Andrew Zemites kindly set the whole experience up and created a very welcoming environment.
If anyone has questions about any wines or other spirits, the team at Twin Liquors Marketplace at Hill Country Galleria (Store #60), 3925 Market St, Bee Cave, TX have proven they will give you kind and knowledgeable service. You can find the store next to Dick’s Sporting Goods and behind the Verizon store at the Hill Country Galleria.
And by the way, here are the wonderful wines that were covered in the class:
Get ready to look at grant writing in a new way – and energize your fundraising efforts! We’ll cover the basics of applications that support nonprofit organizations; join us if your level is anywhere from beginner up to intermediate. We’ll cover:
Overview of grant funding
Your “success compass” – Top-line information about three key areas will point the way to a strong application. In this class we will focus on what you need to know and how to gather that information.
Know your organization
Know your potential funder
Know yourself (and your job)
The application journey – Once you have the facts above, you are ready to take the application journey. A strong application process will help you build a successful application. This class will teach the essential activities of going from step to step to step.
Step one: Our Nonprofit Organization has a Dream
Step two: We Have Found a Potential Grant Funder
Step three: We Have Turned in the Application
(Step four: Celebrate Success!)
Key tools for success – Now that you have the outline of what you need and how to proceed, this last section will give you practical tips, tools and hacks for crafting a successful application.
I am excited about helping nonprofits achieve their missions. I have been writing grant applications since the 1990s and have raised over $10 million in grant funds for recipient organizations. I also hold a master’s degree in Business with an Arts Administration (Nonprofit) specialization, and am Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE).
Here is the link for tickets. I hope you’ll join me to learn more about successful grant writing on Tuesday, December 4, 2018 from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM at ACC Highland Business Center, 5930 Middle Fiskville Rd, Austin, TX 78752.
On September 25th Veronica Peñaloza Wolfermann, Facebook Account Manager for nonprofits spoke to a group of nonprofit professionals from Texas Grants Resource Center
Social Media is a great way to get the word out about the work of your nonprofit organization. Facebookoffers so many options for nonprofits: from outreach to fundraising. On September 25th, 2018 Veronica Peñaloza Wolfermann, Facebook Account Manager for nonprofits spoke to a group of nonprofit professionals from Texas Grants Resource Centerabout how best to use Facebook for the good of the community.
Here is a selection of some of the info, tips and hacks that Veronica described:
There are currently 2 million nonprofit pages on Facebook
150 million people are connected to a nonprofit page on Facebook
If a nonprofit wants to get verified with Facebook this is the link to start: facebook.com/donate/signup
Also it would be wise for a nonprofit to be registered and up to date with GuideStar
Facebook will be participating in a coordinated effort for #GivingTuesday (this year it is November 27th)
100% of donations made through Facebook payments to nonprofits now go directly to those organizations
Suggestion: if you have an influencer who supports your nonprofit, ask that influencer to add a ‘donate’ button to a Facebook live video
If a nonprofit has a donate button on a Facebook live feed, there is 10 times more engagement than other “non video” donation posts.
Nonprofits can set up mentorships if their page has a group
When deciding what to post on your nonprofit’s page, always ask: “will this translate into donations, volunteers or other support?” If the subject is not aligned with the nonprofit’s mission, the post probably won’t help much (even if it gets a lot of likes).
Here is a link to some of the Facebook offerings that Veronica described. Here is a link to info about future Texas Grants Resource Center presentations.
Nonprofits: the point of this poem is to be a reminder that building community can take time. Start now. In the future, you will see the fruits of your labor – in the form of ‘future care’ and support from the community.
SXSW is for those who think, dream, move, and create. So are nonprofits! Bring your ideas and questions to this meet-up of nonprofiteers.
The people you meet here will have ideas, answers and most of all empathy and support for the hard work you do. We’ll provide a framework and activities for networking – to ensure you connect with those from around the globe who can help and inspire you as you strive to improve your communities.
Whether you call it working for nonprofits, charities, NGOs, CSOs, or social good – come be uplifted by people like you who are making the world a better place.
—
Meet Up: Educators who Tweet
(PanelPicker® application for SXSW EDU 2019)
Twitter can help you teach, learn and engage. Educators have used Twitter to connect with other teachers, as a learning network and as part of lesson plans. How have you used twitter? Let’s Meetup and exchange tweeting ideas and best practices. Got a hashtag or chat you love? Let’s share. Come, and you just might see someone in real life who you’ve met on Twitter.
Credits Video Images: Phelps, Explee, Rodman, Community Archives, Ioachim, Bibliothèque de Toulouse. Levy.
Erica Ekwurzel – Presenting at the Texas Grants Resource Center
On June 8th, 2018, The Texas Grants Resource Center’s Nonprofit Partner series featured Developing Donor Relationships with Family & Private Foundations, presented by Erica V. Ekwurzel, CFRE. Erica shared tips from her experience leading and supporting family and private grantmakers.
Here are some of the top take-aways from the TGRC session:
When it comes to applying for grants – don’t do “mission drift.” Don’t lose sight of your mission by chasing grant funding that reflects the ideas of others;
Review and proofread all applications;
If you know one foundation…well, you know one foundation.
Make sure that the application you send is purposeful and intentional;
Have data to support your proposal.
For more information on presentations by the Texas Grants Resource Center, visit Texasgrc.org.
The Texas Grants Resource Center’s May presentation was all about getting the best out of your nonprofit board. Long-time nonprofit consultant Tara Levy shared the top tips for leveraging your board to support your organization’s mission.
Tara is an experienced trainer and consultant on nonprofit leadership and management, including a decade assisting nonprofits at Mission Capital before launching her independent practice (Tara Levy Nonprofit Consulting). She has served nonprofits as a staff member, board member, and volunteer.
Here are just a few of Tara’s tips on board relations:
Mentor new board members (pair new members up with established members);
Have an annual board self-evaluation;
Do board succession planning (for example: consider having an Incoming Board President position);
Connect and enjoy each other as a team.
The TGRC provides events that will uplift, educate and connect in ways that make Austin’s nonprofit community even stronger. This program furthers the mission of the University of Texas at Austin’s Division of Diversity and Community Engagement (DDCE). The DDCE’s Community Engagement Center (CEC) houses this program.
The kinds of funders included: private, corporate, and community foundations. There were panel presentations and small group opportunities to ask questions one-on-one.
This year the themes and tips for nonprofits that kept coming up included:
Think of funders as partners;
Demonstrate there is a need that you will be able to solve together;
Funders want transparent communication;
Funders want to hear how their gifts and investments are touching the community;
Evaluation of activities is they key to sustainability;
Funders don’t want surprises.
It is conversations like these that help both service providers and funders support the community.
For Nonprofit Geeks, like me, who follow the excellent and super-funny blog about nonprofit life titled “Nonprofit with Balls” (NWB), you know that this week the “Nonprofit Poet Laureate of the Milky Way Galaxy” was crowned. Some background: NWB (written by Vu Le) had a nonprofit poetry contest this spring. Over 250 poems were submitted; 15 were picked for awards (and the top poet was deemed Nonprofit Poet Laureate of the Milky Way Galaxy). I encourage you to read the results. They truly are top-caliber; ready for a literary magazine or a liberal arts college poetry class or an emotional movie montage.
I entered the contest. Though I did not win, place or show – I will share the entry here. One note: a running joke in the NWB blog is that hummus is a staple at nonprofit events and functions. I thought by including a running joke, I would win favor with the judges. (Nope).
If you want to be inspired and moved, read the winning entries. Alternatively, read the poem below.
My Dog
My dog runs to greet me at the door when I come home.
Does he seem so happy because I submitted a 36-page grant application on time?
Or because I successfully executed a mail merge for a fundraising appeal?
Or because I typed the monthly board minutes in record speed?
Does my dog show me so much love because he knows I am trying to save the world?
No.
My dog knows not the cares of the nonprofit staffer.
He only knows that I feed him, I walk him…
And I smell like hummus.
-Susannah Erler
P.S. You should know that I don’t actually have a dog. Including a dog was another (unsuccessful) attempt to win favor with the judges.
greater good geek 