Fundraising HayDay

HowTo: LOI

From small family foundations to large corporation foundations, many funders ask potential grantees to submit an LOI. Do they mean a Letter of Intent or Letter of Interest? Do they want one page or three? What topics do they expect you to cover? The simple answer: it depends. Our cohosts are sharing the ins and outs of all aspects of an LOI in this “how to” episode.

More Than Grant Writers

Sure, your title may have “writer” in it, but we are more than grant writers. Grant professionals build capacity, develop programs, conduct research, work with clients, build budgets, and so much more. We also have a voice in philanthropy, because without nonprofits and other agencies to do all of its good works, foundations and government agencies would have money to give but not one to give it to. Our guests, Patrice Shumate and Liyen Chong, are two of the founding members of More Than Grant Writers, a collaborative community space for grant professionals to practice their unique collective power for social and environmental justice. Learn about More Than Grant Writers and how you can add your voice to the collective.

Critical Thinking Skills for Finding the Right Grant Fit

Grant funding is out there. In 2022, foundations gave $105.2 BILLION and corporations $29.5 BILLION. In Fiscal Year 2023, the federal government awarded $1.7 TRILLION in federal discretionary resources. So how do you wade through all those funding opportunities to find the right fit for your organization? We’re walking you through the process today.

If you are in need of resources to help conduct your grant prospect research, here are a few:

• S1, E7 Fundraising HayDay Podcast – Grant Prospect Research 
• S1, E13 Fundraising HayDay Podcast – Private Funding & How to Approach it 
• S1, E14 Fundraising HayDay Podcast – Public Funding & You 
• S4, E11 Fundraising HayDay Podcast – Prospect Research: What’s Old is New Again 
• HayDay Services Webinar – 5 Free Ways to Fine More Grants 

The Go/No Go Grant Decision Guide goes hand in hand with today’s episode. 

Professional Development Builds Leadership, Philanthropy, and More

During the 2023 #GrantSummit hosted by the Grant Professionals Association, our cohosts interviewed a variety of leaders in the grant field. They shared their experiences, insights, and words of wisdom related to a number of themes ranging from giving back to the profession, leadership, philanthropy, professionalism, volunteering, professional development, and more. Hear key takeaways from each of our esteemed guests:

Bernard Turner, GPC, Associate Professor of Social Entrepreneurship at Belmont University  

Cheryl Kester, CFRE, GPC, 2023 Distinguished Fellow Awardee and Owner of The Kester Group

Doris Shivers, GPC, Director of Grant Innovation and Management for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

Egondu Onuoha, GPC, President of the Grant Professionals Certification Institute and Vice President of Real Estate and Special Programs at the Brooklyn Hospital

Jess Pettitt, Emcee of #GrantSummit, Speaker at Good Enough Now

Johna Rodgers, GPC, Immediate Past President of the Grant Professionals Association and Owner of Johna Rodgers Consulting

Leilani Ocasio, Grant Professionals Association Board Member and Project Manager at M. Palmer Consulting

Mike Chamberlain, CAE, Chief Executive Office of the Grant Professionals Association

Pat Duboise, GPC, Chair of the Grant Professionals Association Mentoring Committee and Director at Grant Initiatives

Reagan Lynch, Immediate Past President of the Grant Professionals Foundation and Grant Policy Manager at Witt O’Brien’s

Scot Scala, GPC, 2023 Distinguished Fellow Awardee and President & Senior Consultant at Scala & Associates

Successful Grant Management for the Win!

So many people are focused on getting the grant. But then it’s awarded. Now what? Grant management is a key component to keeping your grant awards AND getting future grant awards. Join our conversation with Rachel Werner and Lucy Morgan of MyFedTrainer.com about all things grant management. We’re talking tips for good management, Uniform Guidance, advice for organizations who are new to federal grant funding, and more.

Breaking Down Silos Between Grants and Development

Grant writing, just like fundraising, is very relational. The truth is that people give to people. This is why we are talking to Kara D. Mostowy, CFRE, GPC, Chief Development Officer of The Watson Institutehttps://www.thewatsoninstitute.org/. We are working to break down the silos between fundraisers and grant professionals. The more we can work together, the better we can fund the good work of our organizations.

 

Grant Writing Pro Tips

With a combined 50+ years of grant writing experience, our cohosts know their way around a grant proposal. Today they are sharing writing tips based on lessons learned, sometimes the hard way. Whether you are new to the grant field or have been doing this a few decades yourself, we are covering a plethora of tips and tricks to help you effectively develop your grant proposals.

Productivity Tips From Your Nerdy Best Friend

Tech tools abound to make the lives and work of grant professionals easier. But some of the tools, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), can be scary and overwhelming. If you are not an early adopter of technology, then have we got the nerd who jumps in and figures it out for you, so you don’t have to. Today we are talking to Beth Z, Your Nerdy Best Friend. She’s got great advice and more to share. Listen and put something new to use today!

AI and Its Place in the Grant World

The use of artificial Intelligence tools for writing is a hot topic of discussion in the grant and fundraising community these days. Questions abound about the efficacy, ethical boundaries, and inherent bias associated with AI. Join our discussion with Philip Deng, Cofounder and CEO of Grantable, about how we can best use this tool in a way that makes sense for our work.

Top Ten Favorite Moments of Fundraising HayDay!

This year’s Top Ten list is a retrospective of our past 5 years of the podcast. We are taking a walk down memory, reminiscing about favorite moments, interviews, and topics that put a smile on our face.