For a long time, I struggled with my work as a grant professional. Don’t get me wrong. I loved tackling a challenging federal grant proposal. And I loved it even more when we got an…
Posts Published byFundraising HayDay
How to Rebound from a Grant Writing Rejection
Having raised more than $101 million “the hard way” through 90% private foundation and individual fundraising over the last 20+ years, I have experienced my share of rejections. What I mean is that this total…
Dear Private Funders, Take a Cue from the Feds, Pretty Please
I do not claim to have all the answers, but after two decades of grant writing, I know a thing or two about how funders operate. And like most grant professionals, I have thoughts and…
What Can a Grant Professional Do to Further DEI? A lot, actually…
I took the helm as President of the Grant Professionals Association on January 1, 2020. Our membership was climbing. Our annual conference was selling out often. The educational offerings provided by the organization were growing,…
What Does True Collaboration Look Like?
Collaboration is one of those words that gets thrown around a lot, especially in the grant world. We all like to think we collaborate with our fellow nonprofits, local governments, and other neighbors, but do…
Summer Reading and Federal RFPs
One of my favorite things about the summer is the free time. I do not have to cart my kids around to practice, help with homework, or stick to the school year’s schedule. That extra…
How to Work Best with Your Grant Consultant
Many agencies hire a grant consultant to start or help grow their grant portfolio. And while that may seem like a simple solution to your grant woes, a they do not magically appear and take…
Grant Trainers – Who’s the Expert?
Years ago, the Grant Professionals Association started the Conference Navigators Program as part of their annual conference. They pair regular attendees with first-timers a month or two before the conference. Conference navigators typically email first-timers…
Perfection is the Enemy of Successful Grant Writing
Back in the aughts, I was a newly hired manager of corporate and foundation relations at a food bank with the directive to aggressively grow grant funding—by at least 25% in my first year. The…
Where in the Organization Chart Does Your Grant Professional Belong?
Where do you belong in your organization? Who do you report to? And does your boss even understand the world of grants? The answers vary with every grant professional. We bring in funding for…