28 Jul Cheers to Twenty Years by Megan Campbell, MPA, GPC
When the email from the Grant Professionals Association (GPA) came at the beginning of 2024 congratulating me on twenty years of membership, I called one of my fellow Gen-X colleagues and joked, “I don’t know whether to feel exuberant about a career milestone or join the AARP.” In many ways, 2004 doesn’t feel so very long ago. In other ways, twenty years feels like two hundred. Since 2004, I’ve experienced learning to balance marriage, motherhood, graduate school (twice, because I’m a glutton for punishment), and countless career ups and downs. I’ve been part of creative teams, navigated ever-changing technology, learned valuable leadership skills, and taken professional paths that “2004 me” would never have imagined. I’ve witnessed civic unrest, a new age of social activism, and survived a global pandemic. And I’ve seen the nonprofit sector and philanthropy step up and evolve to continue to meet the community’s needs.
I became a grants professional the way many of my colleagues did – by accident. In 2002, I was managing a grant-funded violence prevention program at a small-ish nonprofit organization in the Kansas City metropolitan area. The organization’s grant writer (who was so much more than a writer) was always asking for things like outcomes. I remember thinking, “Ugh! Why?! I have program tasks and schools to visit!” Instead of admonishing me for my inexperience and poor attitude, she invited me into her space and showed me the grant that funded my program. She let me read the application, the award letter, and the reporting and management requirements. She loved her job, and it showed as she explained every intricate piece to me so that I could understand “why.” In time, I learned to love her job, too. She was the best mentor. I realized then that I didn’t have to be in direct service to change the world. I could be just like her. And that’s when I became a grants professional.
As a budding grants professional, I joined GPA in 2004 to connect with other grant writers and gain access to the learning opportunities that membership provided. Back then, GPA was still a fairly new organization, having contracted its first Executive Director in 2004 with 700 members and just a handful of chapters. I was fortunate to have been a part of founding the Heart of America Chapter, which has flourished over the years with the expertise of its new and continuing members. Today, GPA boasts 4,500 active members and over 60 chapters across the United States and Canada. Its membership has access to a wealth of on-demand and live learning opportunities, including the annual GrantSummit, a career center full of resources to connect talented individuals with opportunities across the country, affiliation with the nationally accredited grant certification program Grant Professionals Certification Institute (GPCI), and a variety of other professional benefits.
The learning opportunities and professional connections that GPA offers are just as relevant to me today as they were twenty years ago. While my career has brought me one amazing opportunity after another (and the AARP may have me in its sight), there is still so much to do and learn. I encourage any new or seasoned grant pro to check out the resources that GPA membership offers. You can also check out a variety of quality training opportunities available from AGS. Here’s to another twenty years of membership and another twenty years serving my community as a grants professional. Cheers!
If you are interested in grant services, federal review services, or are interested in our career opportunities, Julie Assel, CGMS, GPC, President/CEO, will be happy to talk with you about this opportunity and provide you with a quote for grant services.
This blog post is aligned with the Grant Professional Certification Institute’s Competencies and Skills.
Competency #7: Knowledge of practices and services that raise the level of professionalism of grant developers
Skill 01: Identify advantages of participating in professional organizations that offer grant developers growth opportunities and advance the profession