28 Jan Denied and Denied Again by: Kellie Brungard, GPC
Posted at 18:00h
in Competency Eight, Funder Relations, Kellie Brunguard, Organizational Development, Relationships, Strategy
Denial can be challenging, especially when your grant proposals seem to be on a losing streak. Before you start rethinking your grant strategy or wondering if you’re doing something wrong, there may be other proactive steps and factors to take into consideration. Grant funding is complex. There are a multitude of funding streams, networks and relationships, and preferences involved—most of which are beyond your control. And while you can do your best to present an aligned, impactful proposal, sometimes you will never know the reason a proposal is denied. Sometimes, a string of denials prompts a self-evaluation to evaluate how you could do better, or you take the rejection personally. While self-awareness is important, so is understanding the factors that are beyond your control in an application.
21 Jan Applying the Stages of Group Development to Grants By: Shauna O’Toole, MA, CFRE, GPC
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.
11 Jan Grant Stewardship: Beyond “Thank You” by Megan Campbell, MPA, GPC
Posted at 18:00h
in Competency Eight, Competency Six, Funder Relations, GPC, Grant Reporting, Grants Management, Megan Campbell, MPA, Relationships
Congratulations! You have received notice that a local foundation will gladly support your organization and/or program during the coming year. The foundation board or staff are excited about your mission, your plans, and helping serve your community. You record the amount in your donor and accounting software, generate a letter acknowledging the gift, and move on to managing the implementation of program activities. Right? Well, no.
06 Jan Rest and Reset: Strategies for anti-burnout by Kellie Brungard, GPC
Burnout. That’s another buzzword like quiet quitting or hustle culture, right? Actually, burnout has been around for a long while, recognized in the healthcare and social service industries. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes burnout as an occupational phenomenon (though it’s not recognized as a medical condition). WHO defines burnout as “a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It’s characterized by feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion, increased mental distance from one’s job or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; and reduced professional efficacy.” In 2020, three grant professionals (Bachman, Planton, and Rodgers) set out to identify the prevalence of burnout among the grant profession. Their findings were published in the Fall 2020 Journal of the Grant Professionals Association, showing a gap in available information as well as initial research indicating more than three in four grant professionals experience physical symptoms, socio-emotional symptoms, or both, of burnout.03 Jan Ready for Reset? So Is Your Grant Strategy by Tracey Diefenbach, GPC
Posted at 19:02h
in Competency Eight, Competency Seven, Competency Two, Grant Calendar, Relationships, Strategy, Tracey Diefenbach, GPC
It’s January. Are you ready for a reset? Better yet, is your grant strategy ready for a reset? I am just hunching here, but I think the answer may be “yes!”
29 Nov A Grant Professional’s Gift Guide by Kellie Brungard, GPC
I do not know what it is about curated lists of themed items, but I am a sucker for a good gift guide. Do I need more cozy socks? What about a trio of scented candles? If you are gift-giving for fellow writers or want to send a subtle hint to someone, here is a list of items to surround yourself with to create the perfect grant-writing atmosphere.26 Nov Did You Know? Nonprofits are Accountable for Impact Measurement by Roxanne Jensen, Ed.S., GPC
Posted at 20:09h
in Competency Two, Logic Models, Organizational Development, Program Design, Roxanne Jensen, ED. SPEC., Strategy
“When the money keeps rolling out, you don’t keep books. You can tell you’ve done well by the happy, grateful looks. Accountants only slow things down, figures get in the way.” – Evita by Andrew Llyod Weber.
In actuality, did you know that nonprofits are accountable for impact measurement?
Impact measurement is a critical process for nonprofits to assess their effectiveness in achieving their mission and making a positive difference in the communities they serve. By measuring and evaluating their impact, nonprofits can determine whether their programs and initiatives are successful and identify areas for improvement. Impact measurement is a critical aspect of nonprofit management. This aspect involves assessing and quantifying the outcomes and effectiveness of a nonprofit's programs and initiatives in relation to its stated mission and goals. By measuring the impact of their work, nonprofits can demonstrate accountability to their stakeholders, including donors, beneficiaries, partners, and the public.
13 Nov What I Gained by Attending GrantSummit in Person By: Shauna O’Toole, MA, CFRE, GPC
“Will I see you at GrantSummit?” This year, for the first time, my answer was “Yes.” In early November 2023, I attended GrantSummit (formerly known as the Grant Professionals Association (GPA) Annual Conference) in Kansas City, Missouri. This multi-day conference is the premier professional development event for grant professionals in the U.S. I have attended this conference before as a virtual attendee, but this year was my first experience traveling to the event. I have three key takeaways from my in-person experience: