03 Nov

Posted at 22:57h in Competency Eight, Competency Five, Competency Four, Grants Management, Program Design, Relationships, Roxanne Jensen, ED. SPEC., Strategy, Uncategorized
In working with nonprofit organizations, I have been a part of numerous conversations with organizational leadership who have seen grants as the solution to all their revenue shortfalls. Grants are part of the revenue mix for many nonprofit organizations, providing a source of funding for various projects. However, grant recipients need to have a clear understanding of what grants can and cannot pay for as they build this revenue into their budgets. Let us explore the possibilities and limitations of grant funding.

20 Oct

Posted at 18:00h in Competency Eight, Competency Five, Competency Four, Funder Relations, Funding, Grants Management, Roxanne Jensen, ED. SPEC., Strategy
Too often, there is confusion between grants and donations in nonprofit organizations. When it comes to nonprofit funding, these two terms are often used interchangeably. Additional confusion can be found when major individual donors begin making donations in amounts similar to what an organization can expect to receive as a grant from a foundation. Nonprofit professionals know that both funding streams mean revenue for their organization but may only have a vague understanding of the distinct characteristics and requirements of each. Understanding the key differences between the two helps nonprofit professionals make informed decisions on funding strategies.

14 Oct

Posted at 18:00h in Budgets, Competency Eight, Competency Five, Competency Four, Funder Relations, Funding, Grant Reporting, Grants Management, Professional Development, Roxanne Jensen, ED. SPEC., Strategy
Before I began working as a grant consultant, I did not understand all the details and intricacies of grant budgets, including the difference between restricted and unrestricted funds. I remember working with one nonprofit that was thrilled to receive a significant grant for program staff salaries, only to realize later that they could not move those funds elsewhere when a staff member unexpectedly left the position, and it took three months to find a replacement. They could not use any of that money for other programming or general operating expenses, which made the organization feel they had missed out on money on which they previously budgeted. This experience taught both me and the nonprofit the benefits and challenges of having restricted funding in their budgets. If you are working with grants as a consultant, or even working as a grant professional within a nonprofit, getting a handle on the differences between restricted and unrestricted grants is going to make a big impact on how you approach funding and budget development.

29 Sep

Posted at 18:00h in AGS Staff, Competency Eight, Competency Five, Competency Four, Evaluation, Grant Reporting, Grants Management, Relationships
Many organizations lack the qualified staff to conduct a program evaluation. While some organizations do have the capacity and expertise, many need to contract with an external evaluator for one or several reasons. For instance, using an external evaluator can be more economical and efficient, can provide a more credible report due to objectivity, and is sometimes a grant requirement.

16 Jun

Posted at 21:59h in Competency Eight, Competency Five, Competency Four, Evaluation, Grant Reporting, Program Development, Relationships
Observation is a method to gather data by watching events or behaviors that can give information beyond what you can draw from numbers and is helpful in several situations:
  • To collect data that is unavailable through other methods. People are sometimes unable or unwilling to participate in surveys or interviews.
  • To understand an ongoing situation or process. For example, you want to identify efficiencies/inefficiencies in the process of college registration process as students meet with advisors to create a semester schedule.
  • To know more about a physical setting. For example, you want to determine if a residential rehabilitation center’s facilities are conducive to recovery.
  • To understand more about interactions. For example, you want to determine if a motivational guest speaker sparks interest in at-risk youth in a college preparatory program.

09 Jun

Posted at 18:00h in Competency Eight, Competency Five, Competency Four, Evaluation, Grants Management, Relationships
Have you been tasked with evaluating a program and don’t know where to begin? If so, you aren’t alone. Many people struggle with program evaluation. This new three-part series on evaluation will prepare you to design and implement a strong evaluation comprised of quantitative and qualitative data analysis. You will also understand how to secure a third-party evaluator, if you need one. This post focuses on how to conduct an environmental scan and needs assessment.

21 Jan

Posted at 18:00h in Competency Four, Competency Three, Competency Two, Culture, Organizational Development, Program Design, Relationships, Shauna O'Toole, Strategy
Have you encountered inefficiency, frustration, or even conflict when working with a group to develop a grant proposal? Take heart. This is normal. Most teams struggle and experience conflict before they begin performing at their peak. The Stages of Group Development framework, developed by Bruce Tuckman (1965) describes this process. This blog will briefly describe Tuckman’s framework and then apply these ideas to grant proposal development.

30 Oct

Posted at 23:34h in Competency Four, Competency Six, Consulting, Courses, Ethics, Ethics, GPCI Competencies, Grant Training Series, Grant Writing, How-To, Michele Ryan

    Grant Ethics: Creating Ethical Grant Budgets and Sustainability Plans Session 6 of the Ethics Series For many organizations, a federal grant will be a significant expansion to an existing program or the initial funding for a program that does not yet exist. This can make the creation...

12 Oct

Posted at 10:58h in Competency Four, Competency Six, Competency Three, Consulting, Courses, Ethics, Ethics, GPCI Competencies, Grant Training Series, Grant Writing, How-To, Leah Hyman

    Grant Ethics: Ethics for Grant Proposal Need Statements Session 4 of the Grant Ethics Series The way grant professionals describe the needs of their community is an important part of persuading reviewers and grant funders to award a grant. Which need is greatest and most aligned to...

02 Oct

Posted at 17:17h in Competency Four, Competency Three, Evaluation, Program Design, Program Development, Roxanne Jensen, ED. SPEC.
Grant writing evaluation is the systematic process of assessing the effectiveness and impact of your project or organization. Evaluation is not merely a formality but a critical aspect of the grant application process. Funders want to know that their investment will lead to positive outcomes and measurable results. Grantmaking organizations want assurance that their funds will be used wisely. A well-planned evaluation strategy showcases your commitment to being accountable for the resources you receive. While quantifiable metrics such as the number of people served are essential, they are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to grant evaluation.