Don't Let Grants Stress You Out
If you follow the Fundraising HayDay podcast and our social media accounts, you know that I am obsessed with the story of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos. Mostly, I’m floored by the number of people who didn’t bother to ask more questions, dig deeper, and demand to see some proof. From an impressive Board of Directors to an incredible lineup of donors, Elizabeth did not lack…
Grant Calendar A grant calendar, as we’ve talked about on our blog before (ICYMI: What is a Grant Calendar) is at its core, a visual representation of an action plan for the year, whether fiscal or calendar, for applying for and maintaining grants. It should contain all grant deadlines, relationship building efforts, and grant reporting/management work as well. A grant calendar should be visible/accessible…
When Aladdin rubbed the magic lamp, a genie granted him three wishes. “Click your heels together three times and say ‘There’s no place like home’” is straight from the iconic movie classic, “The Wizard of Oz.” Kicking back further in time, Ancient Romans were fond enough of the rule of three that they called it “omne trium perfectum,” which could suggest things that come in threes…
What is a grant writer? Does a grant writer “just” fill out forms all day? Or “just” spend their time writing all day? It is always an interesting conversation when someone has not met, worked with, or interacted with a grant professional before to explain to them what a grant writer or as many of us now prefer as members of the Grant Professionals Association,…
Growing up, my sister and I LOVED hearing stories from our parents’ childhoods. One story involved friendless siblings Scott and Laura. Dad said they would roam the neighborhood streets, holding hands, skipping, and chanting, “We ain’t got nobody to play with.” I can still repeat the chant today in the same sing-song voice, despite not hearing that story in decades. What made me think…
I was chatting with a colleague at an event and made a comment about “when I was a program officer” as part of my reasoning for the details of my reply. The colleague’s surprising response was, “I didn’t know you had been a program officer for a foundation!” Now, I am not implying that everyone should know everything about a colleague’s background, least alone mine….
For years, I kept my head down and did the work. I cranked out the grant applications. I followed the rules. I submitted reports on time. I sought permission, in writing, when changes were necessary for programs and budgets. I explained that grant money is not our money to my colleagues, bosses, and board members. I attended workshops. I built relationships with funders. Rinse and…
Researching grantmakers is an art that each individual grant professional creates a system for based on the variety of tools that they become comfortable with. Regardless of which tools you use to conduct your grant research, or whether you are focused more on government than foundation, or looking for funding to support one project or five, I find it helpful to approach grant research the…
It’s not the dog’s fault. The one that starts barking around 3 a.m. some nights and doesn’t stop until five or so. But still, I blame that dog barking just loud enough to invade my dreams. The piercing, rhythmic cry is not a warning to a wandering raccoon. Instead, it’s the canine equivalent of a bored or fretful child saying, “Mom. Mom. Mom. Mom…” …
We’re so excited to announce the 2021 Top Grant Writing Blogs to Follow It is the goal of DH Leonard Consulting & Grant Writing Services to assist nonprofit organizations with competitively researching, applying, and receiving grant funding to best serve our clients and have a significant impact in their communities, taking the stress out of grant writing. With this mission in mind, our team…