08 Dec

Posted at 18:00h in Competency Eight, Competency One, Competency Three, Competency Two, Funder Relations, Funding, Megan Campbell, Organizational Readiness, Relationships, Research
An organization's board of directors has overarching “fiduciary responsibility” for the organization. What does that mean? According to BoardSource, “the board [of directors] is responsible for ensuring that the organization is appropriately stewarding the resources entrusted to it and following all legal and ethical standards.” This commitment by an organization’s governing body is the crux of fiduciary responsibility. While board members play an important role in assuring agency finances and grant funds are treated ethically, they are also partially responsible for resource development – that is, ensuring their organization has the resources needed to fulfill its mission. An active and engaged board of directors can be vital to the success of your grant team.

02 Dec

Posted at 20:32h in Competency Eight, Competency Three, Competency Two, Relationships, Research, Roxanne Jensen, ED. SPEC., Strategy
Several years ago, I worked with a nonprofit client who had received funding from a particular foundation many times in the past. The client felt confident putting the funder on their own grant calendar for the upcoming year, allowing me to focus my time on another funding priority because they were sure that the foundation would continue its support. Despite my recommendation, the client did not want to approve any research time for current funders. However, when the rejection letter came, they were surprised. After reviewing the foundation’s recent priorities, it became clear that their focus had shifted, and the grant proposal they submitted no longer aligned with their new direction. That experience was a costly lesson for the client, reinforcing how critical it is to research every funder, even returning ones, before applying. This extra step can make the difference between receiving funding and being rejected.

17 Nov

Posted at 18:00h in Competency Six, Competency Three, Competency Two, Ethics, Organizational Development, Organizational Readiness, Program Design, Research, Roxanne Jensen, ED. SPEC.
It is challenging for many nonprofits to find the right grant opportunities. It can be tempting to go after every grant opportunity. However, being selective is important. Not every grant is going to be the best fit for your organization. Choosing the wrong grant opportunity can potentially waste organizational time and resources.

14 Jul

Posted at 18:00h in Ethics, Grants Management, Research, Writing
Ethics are moral principles that govern an individual’s or group’s behavior or activities. Within the grant profession, the Grant Professionals Association (GPA) has defined a clear code of ethics for members to abide by and establish boundaries within practice that uphold the integrity of the industry. Members of GPA or a professional association with defined codes of ethics need to understand and agree (or accept) the ethical boundaries the organization upholds. Members found to be in violation of the association’s ethics can be sanctioned with temporary or permanent suspension of membership or revocation of their credentials. While some ethical responses are intuitive, others are unclear. Below are three not-so-obvious ethical quandaries commonly encountered by organizations.

02 Jun

Posted at 18:00h in Competency One, Funding, Funding Opportunities, Industry News, Kellie Brunguard, Research
Federal prize competitions are a means for federal agencies to crowdsource ideas and engage public innovators to develop innovative ideas and solutions to societal problems (referred to as competitions, prize competitions, challenge, or competition). According to Challenge.gov, the primary platform for managing competitions, “Longitude and ship navigation, Lindbergh’s transatlantic flight, even initial designs for the U.S. Capitol and White House—all resulted from open prize competitions. Even those self-driving vehicles got their start in federal prize competitions too!” Other notable concepts derived from challenges include the “lunar loo” (space toilet), digital wallet interface, protections for fish from water infrastructure, opioid detection in the mail, and “getting out the count” for the most recent census. These competitions, organized by Federal agencies, encourage participation from individuals, businesses, and organizations, driving them to create groundbreaking solutions to complex problems. This blog post delves into the world of federal competitions, exploring their significance, impact, and considerations for interested organizations.

31 Mar

Posted at 18:00h in Competency Two, Funding, Kellie Brunguard, Organizational Development, Organizational Readiness, Research
March Madness is in full swing, and all this talk about competition and brackets makes me think about how grant writing relates. Grants, much like professional sports, are competitive, and increasingly so. We can’t come in on gameday and put together a proposal without any preparation and expect to win big. To be competitive, your grant team must train and prepare to advance through the rounds and win awards. So, while building out/reviewing your bracket for college basketball, consider how these strategies can help your grant team gain a competitive edge.

25 Feb

Posted at 18:00h in Competency One, Megan Campbell, Research, Strategy
Prospect research is the term commonly used for the process of identifying potential sources of funding for an organization or program. If your organization is a small or start-up nonprofit with limited staff or development support, the task of prospect research can feel both urgent and overwhelming. Fear not. Here are a few tips for beginning your prospect research process that will help start you on a path to success.

10 Feb

Posted at 10:32h in Culture, Grant Reporting, Program Development, Research
With increased focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion in recent years, more funders are asking for the specific demographics of the populations served by nonprofits. Funders want to know, for example, how many Black individuals or Hispanic families will benefit from the program. While there are many challenges in reporting demographic data, understanding and communicating the differences in race, ethnicity, and nationality is the first step.

24 Jul

Posted at 13:23h in Competency One, Research, Roxanne Jensen, ED. SPEC., Strategy
Did you know that while there are two main types of 501(c)(3) organizations, the IRS has set nine different activities to qualify as a 501(c)(3) organization? Organizations with 501(c)(3) status play a vital role in serving communities and advancing various charitable causes. Known for their tax-exempt status, they are eligible to receive tax-deductible donations, making them appealing avenues for philanthropy. While most of us are aware of these organizations' existence, there might be some intriguing facts yet to be uncovered. In this blog post, we will explore the two main types of 501(c)(3) organizations and delve into the nine different activities outlined by the IRS that qualify for 501(c)(3) status.