Here-4-You Grant Consulting would like to announce the availability of federal government grant programs that may be applicable to your organization.
In 2010, we secured 5 out of 6 (86% success rate) federal grants submitted to the Drug-Free Communities Support Program and the DFC Mentoring Program awarding over $600,000 for each grant. Over the years we have secured this grant 12 out of the 14 times we applied.
Here-4-You Grant Consulting can help you understand this different programs, evaluate if it is appropriate for your organization, and apply to secure these funds for your coalition.
However, because of the stringent requirements and demanding nature of this application, we will only accept FIVE clients for the 2011 grant cycle.
Contact us today at 540-635-3518 to see how we can help!
Successful Drug-Free Community Program and DFC Mentoring Program grantees are awarded up to $125,000 per year for up to 5 years. Over 150 Grants were awarded in 2010.
This is a Federal Grant Program with very specific requirements and expectations. You will only get this one opportunity to get this right and secure over $600,000 in funding for your organization.
If you review my experience you will see that I am not just a successful grant writer.
• I am a substance abuse prevention expert with nationally recognized credentials.
• I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with a private practice focused on substance abusing adolescents.
• I am nationally recognized as a public speaker and trainer and have presented at the CADCA National Leadership Conference in Washington DC.
• I am a successful nonprofit executive with over a decade of experience working for Community Anti-Drug Coalitions.
• I am the Chair Emeritus of the Board of Directors for my local Community Anti-Drug Coalition (a 2 cycle DFC Grantee).
I would welcome the opportunity to work with your organization.
2010 DFC Packages and Pricing
We offer THREE levels of services for DFC Grant Development:
• Full Application Development: Approximately $3,999
• Outline, 3 Samples, Consultation (5 Hours), & Scoring Review: $1,499
• Outline, 3 Samples & Scoring Review: $599
The outline provided will be comprehensive and guide you in what specific information needs to be included in each section. The Samples will be actual grants that successfully scored funding through the DFC Program. The Scoring Review will score the application you develop using the exact scoring criteria the actual reviewers will use.
Contact us today to see how we can help!
The DFC Program follows a similar cycle each year for publishing the Request for Applications (RFA), application due date and the awarding of new grants. The 2010 RFA was made public in January of 2010. Applications were due in March 2010 and new grant awards were announced in August.
Please view the following PowerPoint related to the evidence required to establish your coalition as eligible to compete for DFC funding.
DFC grant funding is contingent Congressional appropriations.
Here-4-You Grant Consulting provides services based on a flat fee with fees based on a per service basis or based on an established contract for services. In keeping with accepted ethical standards, Here-4-You Consulting will NEVER work on a commission, percentage, or contingency basis.
URL: http://www.npfunds.com/dfc
Jeffrey J. Rodman is the founder, President, and CEO of Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting and Church Grant Writing providing consultation for grant writing and funding development nationally and internationally to Christian ministries and Churches. Mr. Rodman has a Master Degree in Education, is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), and is a Certified Grants Specialist (CGS). He is an experienced grant writer, nonprofit executive, and public speaker. Mr. Rodman has written hundreds of proposal to both government and private sources, has secured millions as a consultant, and has an 80% success rate in securing grants.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
Silly Nonprofits: Nonprofits can be so shortsighted when it comes to funding
Just recently, I was discussing grant writing services with a potential client. When I told him how much he would need to invest in the first year he said, “if I had $10,000 I would not need grant funding.”
What a silly thing to say. That would be like an unemployed person saying, “if I had $10,000 I would not need a job.”
Of course he would still need a job and of course the struggling nonprofit would still need funding even if they had a little money in the bank.
What we are essentially referring to is cash-flow management. It is common sense that when expenses exceed income, an organization is going to find itself in trouble. Due to the nature of nonprofit revenue sources, however, even if income matches expenses, the cash may not arrive in time to pay the bills.
Similarly, I hear many nonprofits say, “we do not need grant funding right now, but when we do we will give you a call.”
Again, that is just silly!
The Alliance for Nonprofit Management website puts it this way: “a cash shortage can be very disruptive to your ability to carry out your mission. To avoid disruptions of business or to take advantage of temporary cash surpluses, cash flow can and should be projected, monitored, and controlled.”
Invariably, when they do give me call—once they are needy enough—they will say, “if I had $10,000 I would not need grant funding.”
Again, The Alliance for Nonprofit Management website says, “Careful management of short-term cash balances can add to an organization's current income and provide the basis for an investment program which will benefit the organization in the future.”
Grant writing is an investment of time, money, and resources. To anticipate less would be, well, silly. To be successful you will need to invest in the future of your organization and understand that this investment will not pay off in the short term, but is a long-term investment.
According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics, foundation giving exceeded $45 billion in 2008. The grant funds exist and they are out there but, like all forms of revenue, grant writing involves work.
For those nonprofits that think they do not need any new funding and will wait until they do need it before they try and find it… more silliness. The time to develop funding is not when the need is already there but when finances are stable. Make the investment when there are reserve funds to invest and when there is not a pressing need to have new funds NOW.
Don’t be one of those silly nonprofits, invest wisely, plan for the future, and see your organization grow in wisdom, influence, and impact.
What a silly thing to say. That would be like an unemployed person saying, “if I had $10,000 I would not need a job.”
Of course he would still need a job and of course the struggling nonprofit would still need funding even if they had a little money in the bank.
What we are essentially referring to is cash-flow management. It is common sense that when expenses exceed income, an organization is going to find itself in trouble. Due to the nature of nonprofit revenue sources, however, even if income matches expenses, the cash may not arrive in time to pay the bills.
Similarly, I hear many nonprofits say, “we do not need grant funding right now, but when we do we will give you a call.”
Again, that is just silly!
The Alliance for Nonprofit Management website puts it this way: “a cash shortage can be very disruptive to your ability to carry out your mission. To avoid disruptions of business or to take advantage of temporary cash surpluses, cash flow can and should be projected, monitored, and controlled.”
Invariably, when they do give me call—once they are needy enough—they will say, “if I had $10,000 I would not need grant funding.”
Again, The Alliance for Nonprofit Management website says, “Careful management of short-term cash balances can add to an organization's current income and provide the basis for an investment program which will benefit the organization in the future.”
Grant writing is an investment of time, money, and resources. To anticipate less would be, well, silly. To be successful you will need to invest in the future of your organization and understand that this investment will not pay off in the short term, but is a long-term investment.
According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics, foundation giving exceeded $45 billion in 2008. The grant funds exist and they are out there but, like all forms of revenue, grant writing involves work.
For those nonprofits that think they do not need any new funding and will wait until they do need it before they try and find it… more silliness. The time to develop funding is not when the need is already there but when finances are stable. Make the investment when there are reserve funds to invest and when there is not a pressing need to have new funds NOW.
Don’t be one of those silly nonprofits, invest wisely, plan for the future, and see your organization grow in wisdom, influence, and impact.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Philanthropy Survey results may signal promise for nonprofit fund raisers
An end of the year survey conducted in October 2010 finds the nonprofit funding drop off experienced in 2008 and 2009 may be leveling. Whereas 51 percent of survey responders experienced decreased funding in 2009, only 37 percent reported a decrease in funding in 2010.
In 2006 and 2007, before the economic downturn, the amount of respondents reporting decline in contributions was below 20 percent. This year, almost the same proportion of respondents reported experiencing an increase (36 percent) as respondents experiencing decrease (37 percent).
This likely means that the worst is over for the nonprofit sector, though only time will tell for sure. The Nonprofit Research Collaborative conducted the survey online between October 19 and November 3, 2010, polling 2,356 public charities and 163 private foundations.
The survey divides respondents into eight subcategories based upon the type of service the organization provides. The eight subcategories are: Arts, Education, Environment/Animals, Health, Human Services, International, Public-Society benefit and Religion.
In four of the eight subcategories, Arts, Education, Environment/Animals and Human Services, the percentage of respondents experiencing increase and the percentage experiencing decrease are nearly equal.
The Health, Public Society benefit and Religion categories experienced a larger percentage of respondents reporting a decline in contributions. Only one subsector, International, experienced a larger percentage of organizations reporting increase than those reporting a decrease. This likely reflects emergency disaster relief in Haiti and Pakistan.
The survey finds larger organizations are more likely to experience an increase in charitable gifts. 46 percent of organizations with budgets exceeding $20 million reported an increase in gifts. Only 23 percent of organizations with budgets less than $25,000 reported increases.
Of nonprofits reporting a decline in philanthropic giving, most say this is a result of fewer gifts from individuals, or that individual contributions were small in size. This response is consistent across organizations of all size. After individuals, nonprofits point to a decrease in foundation grantmaking and corporate support. The least common reason for decline is decreased government funding.
Around half of organizations reporting a decrease in funding say they experienced a drop in foundation grant money. Some organizations cited smaller grants or non-renewed contracts. Likewise, 55 percent of organizations experiencing decrease say they experienced a decline in corporate giving, either in amount of gifts received or the discontinuation of corporate gifts.
2010 marks the first time since 2006 that organizations found an increase in demand for their services over the previous year. 68 percent of respondents experienced an increased demand for services in the first nine months of 2010, up from 62 percent in 2009. Demand for services rose across all subsectors. Human Services reflected the highest increase in demand, with 78 percent of Human Service respondents reporting increase in demand. Around 70 percent of organizations in the Health and Public-society Benefit categories reported increase in demand for services.
With such an increase in need, it is no surprise that the survey also found between 40 and 50 percent of respondents in every subcategory, except International, expect budget increases in 2011.
In 2006 and 2007, before the economic downturn, the amount of respondents reporting decline in contributions was below 20 percent. This year, almost the same proportion of respondents reported experiencing an increase (36 percent) as respondents experiencing decrease (37 percent).
This likely means that the worst is over for the nonprofit sector, though only time will tell for sure. The Nonprofit Research Collaborative conducted the survey online between October 19 and November 3, 2010, polling 2,356 public charities and 163 private foundations.
The survey divides respondents into eight subcategories based upon the type of service the organization provides. The eight subcategories are: Arts, Education, Environment/Animals, Health, Human Services, International, Public-Society benefit and Religion.
In four of the eight subcategories, Arts, Education, Environment/Animals and Human Services, the percentage of respondents experiencing increase and the percentage experiencing decrease are nearly equal.
The Health, Public Society benefit and Religion categories experienced a larger percentage of respondents reporting a decline in contributions. Only one subsector, International, experienced a larger percentage of organizations reporting increase than those reporting a decrease. This likely reflects emergency disaster relief in Haiti and Pakistan.
The survey finds larger organizations are more likely to experience an increase in charitable gifts. 46 percent of organizations with budgets exceeding $20 million reported an increase in gifts. Only 23 percent of organizations with budgets less than $25,000 reported increases.
Of nonprofits reporting a decline in philanthropic giving, most say this is a result of fewer gifts from individuals, or that individual contributions were small in size. This response is consistent across organizations of all size. After individuals, nonprofits point to a decrease in foundation grantmaking and corporate support. The least common reason for decline is decreased government funding.
Around half of organizations reporting a decrease in funding say they experienced a drop in foundation grant money. Some organizations cited smaller grants or non-renewed contracts. Likewise, 55 percent of organizations experiencing decrease say they experienced a decline in corporate giving, either in amount of gifts received or the discontinuation of corporate gifts.
2010 marks the first time since 2006 that organizations found an increase in demand for their services over the previous year. 68 percent of respondents experienced an increased demand for services in the first nine months of 2010, up from 62 percent in 2009. Demand for services rose across all subsectors. Human Services reflected the highest increase in demand, with 78 percent of Human Service respondents reporting increase in demand. Around 70 percent of organizations in the Health and Public-society Benefit categories reported increase in demand for services.
With such an increase in need, it is no surprise that the survey also found between 40 and 50 percent of respondents in every subcategory, except International, expect budget increases in 2011.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Report finds grantseeking still a functioning source of revenue for nonprofits in 2010
In an October 2010 report released by GrantStation and Philantech, researchers find that grantseekers who actively pursue grants, even in the aftermath of the recession, have a high success rate. The conclusion is based on an online survey in which 839 nonprofits responded.
The online survey succeeds research done by Guidestar and The Chronicle of Giving, which found foundation giving likely to decrease or stagnate in 2010. This report confirms the foundation climate, finding that 42 percent of survey respondents received smaller grants in the first six months of 2010 than they did in the first six months of 2009.
In light of the decline in foundation funding, researchers attempt to assess actual nonprofit grantseeking success. From Aug. 7 to Sept. 7, 2010, researchers gathered data from nonprofit organizations focusing on education, arts, culture and humanities, human services, and social services.
The majority of survey respondents are small to midsize organizations and over half have budgets under $1 million. Though most nonprofits do not receive all of their funding from grants, the survey did not ask about non-grant funding sources.
Though a greater number of organizations consider private foundations one of their top funding sources, federal grants are actually the largest source of received grant funding. This may be due to the fact that federal grants are often larger, though they are fewer. The report finds nonprofit organizations are attempting to diversify grant sources, and notes that previous grantseeking research suggests nonprofits that have grown largest over the past three decades did not diversify, but concentrated grantseeking efforts on only one source.
The report finds an organization’s designation of grantseeking responsibilities is relative to the organization’s budget. In other words, 52 percent of organizations with budgets under $50,000 rely on volunteers to seek grants while organizations with larger budgets employ staff members to seek grants.
Similarly, the larger an organization, the greater the likelihood it submitted a grant request in the first six months of 2010. In all, 91 percent of survey respondents applied for at least one grant. Of the organizations that submitted requests, half submitted six or more requests.
Only 18 percent of organizations that submitted had no success securing grants. The majority of those having submitted received between one and five grants, while 16 percent received between six and 15 grants, and 8 percent received over 16 grants.
Research found high success even for organizations that submitted one or few requests. Of those who applied for only one grant, 55 percent were successful and 85 percent of organizations that applied for three to five grants received at least one.
The report concludes that nonprofits actively seeking grants are successful, in spite of a challenging economic climate. It also encourages grantseekers to analyze the return for their investments. In other words, organizations should assess the number of hours spent seeking a $1,000 grant. With the right amount of such a cost/benefit analysis, grantseeking is a viable source of revenue in 2010.
The online survey succeeds research done by Guidestar and The Chronicle of Giving, which found foundation giving likely to decrease or stagnate in 2010. This report confirms the foundation climate, finding that 42 percent of survey respondents received smaller grants in the first six months of 2010 than they did in the first six months of 2009.
In light of the decline in foundation funding, researchers attempt to assess actual nonprofit grantseeking success. From Aug. 7 to Sept. 7, 2010, researchers gathered data from nonprofit organizations focusing on education, arts, culture and humanities, human services, and social services.
The majority of survey respondents are small to midsize organizations and over half have budgets under $1 million. Though most nonprofits do not receive all of their funding from grants, the survey did not ask about non-grant funding sources.
Though a greater number of organizations consider private foundations one of their top funding sources, federal grants are actually the largest source of received grant funding. This may be due to the fact that federal grants are often larger, though they are fewer. The report finds nonprofit organizations are attempting to diversify grant sources, and notes that previous grantseeking research suggests nonprofits that have grown largest over the past three decades did not diversify, but concentrated grantseeking efforts on only one source.
The report finds an organization’s designation of grantseeking responsibilities is relative to the organization’s budget. In other words, 52 percent of organizations with budgets under $50,000 rely on volunteers to seek grants while organizations with larger budgets employ staff members to seek grants.
Similarly, the larger an organization, the greater the likelihood it submitted a grant request in the first six months of 2010. In all, 91 percent of survey respondents applied for at least one grant. Of the organizations that submitted requests, half submitted six or more requests.
Only 18 percent of organizations that submitted had no success securing grants. The majority of those having submitted received between one and five grants, while 16 percent received between six and 15 grants, and 8 percent received over 16 grants.
Research found high success even for organizations that submitted one or few requests. Of those who applied for only one grant, 55 percent were successful and 85 percent of organizations that applied for three to five grants received at least one.
The report concludes that nonprofits actively seeking grants are successful, in spite of a challenging economic climate. It also encourages grantseekers to analyze the return for their investments. In other words, organizations should assess the number of hours spent seeking a $1,000 grant. With the right amount of such a cost/benefit analysis, grantseeking is a viable source of revenue in 2010.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Congratulations Drug-Free Communities Grantees
Last night the grantees were announced for the Drug-Free Communities Support Program.
Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting was successful in securing FIVE out of the SIX grants on which we worked. We secured all THREE of the grants that were fully written and developed by Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting and TWO of the THREE proposals on which we consulted. The clients we consulted with received an easy-to-follow outline for writing the grant, a comprehensive review of the proposal, and scoring of the application using the same scoring system used by the Drug-Free Communities Support Program.
This brings our success rate with the DFC Program to 12 out of 14 or 86%.
We normally do not announce when we are successful at securing grants. We do not want to be boastful and, Lord knows, there are many grants that we are not successful in securing. However, knowing how competitive this year’s DFC funding program was going to be, we are particularly proud of our ongoing success with this federal grant program.
The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) directs the Drug Free Communities Support Program in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This anti-drug program provides grants of up to $125,000 per year for 5 years ($625,000 total) to community coalitions that mobilize their communities to prevent youth alcohol, tobacco, illicit drug, and inhalant abuse.
For FY2010 ONDCP awarded 169 regular new grants, 16 new mentoring grants, 549 regular continuation grants, and 7 continuation mentor grants.
One of this year’s recipients noted:
If you review my experience, you will see that I am not just a successful grant writer.
The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) directs the Drug Free Communities Support Program in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This anti-drug program provides grants of up to $125,000 per year for 5 years ($625,000 total) to community coalitions that mobilize their communities to prevent youth alcohol, tobacco, illicit drug, and inhalant abuse.
"We were just saying how incredibly glad we are to have used your services! We know that it made such a huge difference in our successful applications. Your help was invaluable—thank you!!"
- I am a substance abuse prevention expert with nationally recognized credentials.
- I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with a private practice focused on substance abusing adolescents.
- I am nationally recognized as a public speaker and trainer and have presented at the CADCA National Leadership Conference in Washington DC.
- I am a successful nonprofit executive with over a decade of experience working for Community Anti-Drug Coalitions.
- I am the Chair Emeritus of the Board of Directors for my local Community Anti-Drug Coalition (a year 6 DFC Grantee).
2011 DFC Packages and Pricing Here-4-You Grant Consulting provides services based on a flat fee with fees based on a per service basis or based on an established contract for services. In keeping with accepted ethical standards, Here-4-You Consulting will NEVER work on a commission, percentage, or contingency basis.
DFC Government Grant Development:
This involves the development of an individual grant for the Drug-Free Communities Support Program. We offer FOUR levels of services for DFC Grant Development:
• Full Application Development ……………………………. $2,999
• Outline, Samples, Consultation, & Scoring Review ……… $999
• Outline, Samples, & Scoring Review …………………….. $499
• Outline, Samples, & Score Sheet …………………………. $249
Jeffrey J. Rodman is the founder, President, and CEO of Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting and Church Grant Writing providing consultation for grant writing and funding development nationally and internationally to Christian ministries and Churches. Mr. Rodman has a Master Degree in Education, is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), and is a Certified Grants Specialist (CGS). He is an experienced grant writer, nonprofit executive, and public speaker. Mr. Rodman has written hundreds of proposal to both government and private sources, has secured millions as a consultant, and has an 80% success rate in securing grants.
Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting
Jeffrey J. Rodman, CFRE, CGS, M.Ed.
President & CEO
Website: http://www.npfunds.com/
Blog: http://npfunds.com/blog
Phone: 1-866-HERE-4-U-1
DFC Government Grant Development:
This involves the development of an individual grant for the Drug-Free Communities Support Program. We offer FOUR levels of services for DFC Grant Development:
• Outline, Samples, Consultation, & Scoring Review ……… $999
• Outline, Samples, & Scoring Review …………………….. $499
• Outline, Samples, & Score Sheet …………………………. $249
Jeffrey J. Rodman, CFRE, CGS, M.Ed.
President & CEO
Website: http://www.npfunds.com/
Blog: http://npfunds.com/blog
Phone: 1-866-HERE-4-U-1
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Four Ways to Expand Your Ministry’s Grant Writing Capacity
Your ministry will likely continue or develop a need to count on foundation grant support for your programs and projects. Yet funding is not easy to come by at this time. This makes expanding your grant writing capacity all-important. You need a strategy. The following are four key components of an effective strategy.
Explore collaborative grant writing opportunities for joint and/or regional grant applications. Partnering with local stakeholder organizations improves your ministry’s chances of gaining funding and reduces your grant writing costs.
Foundation support specifically for collaborative efforts is rising partly as a result of the economy. But even before the economy turned downward, foundations were supporting collaboration. Collaborative efforts are by no means easy and they can be quite difficult. Done right, it is well worth the efforts and can result in a significant win-win situation for ministries concerned. The reason is simple -- collaborating organizations address problems more effectively as a team rather than as independent organizations. Their programs benefit from more diverse expertise and ideas, from more people being involved in the program, and from more people lobbying for the program in the community and enlisting others to do the same.
Under collaboration, your ministry avoids assuming all the grant development costs as the expenses can be divided among all the partnering organizations. It is a cost efficient way to grow the funding pie for the ministry and local partners engaged in like-minded efforts.
Budget appropriate funds for grant writing related expenses. For many ministries a grant writing budget will include a fully staffed grant development office along with all of the appropriate tolls, resources, and research databases. However, it is not always necessary or most cost effective to employ a full-time grant writer and associated staff. Often a grant writing consulting agency can meet your needs while provide a significant savings to the ministry. But it is a mistake for ministries not to make a budgetary commitment to grant writing. Avoiding this commitment may save money now, but it will rob your ministry of the grants it needs now and later.
Having resources to secure grant writing expertise is especially important because the economic slump, depressed stock market, and government budget crisis have reduced government, foundation, and individual funding. This means that only the most well developed grant strategies will see success.
When possible, maximize opportunities for operating funds in grant applications. Ministries generally have access to two types of grants: 1) project-specific funding; and, 2) general operating support. Funders tend to like the first, but not the second.
Nonprofits need operating support. An out-of-date computer, for instance, hinders your ability to make your programs and projects run effectively and efficiently. But funders prefer project funding because it lends itself more readily to measurable results and outcomes.
One option is to include an indirect cost line item in your budget for all grants and RFPs that allow indirect cost reimbursements such as general operating support. Including indirect costs allow ministries to offset general operating costs. Many government funders allow for this type of expense but most private funding sources do not. Acceptable indirect rates usually range from two percent to 20 percent per grant. Ten percent is about average. But often this rate must be prearranged with the funding source.
For private funding sources, it is best to submit a highly itemized budget that makes a strong tie between items that may be considered indirect and your direct program related expenses. Indirect expenses can often be accepted by a funding source when they are tied to the program. For example, it is often impossible to implement a program without appropriate staff. A computer may be essential for student to use for research or for job searches.
Another strategy is to turn to long time funders, those you have a relationship with and those who know your ministry well enough to have confidence in it and its programs. Family foundations and individuals in your community are the top candidates to support operating costs. Use your board to play a leading role in encouraging this support.
And there may be good news concerning the future of operating support. Encouragement is coming from various quarters. The Independent Sector urged foundations to “opt for general operating support over project support when feasible and when the goals of the two organizations are substantially aligned.”
As well, the Center for Effective Philanthropy urged foundations to fund not only projects and programs, but to provide “larger, long-term operating grants” of unrestricted funds, those that support the entire mission of the organization.
The Center for Effective Philanthropy also urged foundations that provide project support to pay “the fair share of administrative and fundraising costs necessary to manage and sustain whatever is required by the organization to run that particular project.”
Say “No” Sometimes. Some nonprofits apply for as many grants as possible, becoming all things to all funders. They think that if they throw enough proposals out there something is bound to stick, that this is the best way to win grants.
This is a fallacy and a trap too many organizations fall into. You have heard it said, “Watch out what you wish for.” In this case, watch out who you send proposals to. You may end up winning grants with fulfillment requirements that go far beyond the scope of services currently provided and/or do not fit in with the organization’s mission or vision. It is a zero sum game. The organization gets more money but it also has to provide more services. The funding pie grows but so does the mandate. This is the time for the ministry to say “no,” that winning this particular grant is not worth it.
Keep in mind that having a grant writing strategy is critical to getting the funds your ministry needs. Yes, the funding environment is challenging right now. But the funds are out there and foundations are eager to partner with ministries such as yours to do what you were both created to do – to change your community and the world for the better. Follow the advice above and foundations will begin to see your ministry as a more appealing funding candidate.
Explore collaborative grant writing opportunities for joint and/or regional grant applications. Partnering with local stakeholder organizations improves your ministry’s chances of gaining funding and reduces your grant writing costs.
Foundation support specifically for collaborative efforts is rising partly as a result of the economy. But even before the economy turned downward, foundations were supporting collaboration. Collaborative efforts are by no means easy and they can be quite difficult. Done right, it is well worth the efforts and can result in a significant win-win situation for ministries concerned. The reason is simple -- collaborating organizations address problems more effectively as a team rather than as independent organizations. Their programs benefit from more diverse expertise and ideas, from more people being involved in the program, and from more people lobbying for the program in the community and enlisting others to do the same.
Under collaboration, your ministry avoids assuming all the grant development costs as the expenses can be divided among all the partnering organizations. It is a cost efficient way to grow the funding pie for the ministry and local partners engaged in like-minded efforts.
Budget appropriate funds for grant writing related expenses. For many ministries a grant writing budget will include a fully staffed grant development office along with all of the appropriate tolls, resources, and research databases. However, it is not always necessary or most cost effective to employ a full-time grant writer and associated staff. Often a grant writing consulting agency can meet your needs while provide a significant savings to the ministry. But it is a mistake for ministries not to make a budgetary commitment to grant writing. Avoiding this commitment may save money now, but it will rob your ministry of the grants it needs now and later.
Having resources to secure grant writing expertise is especially important because the economic slump, depressed stock market, and government budget crisis have reduced government, foundation, and individual funding. This means that only the most well developed grant strategies will see success.
When possible, maximize opportunities for operating funds in grant applications. Ministries generally have access to two types of grants: 1) project-specific funding; and, 2) general operating support. Funders tend to like the first, but not the second.
Nonprofits need operating support. An out-of-date computer, for instance, hinders your ability to make your programs and projects run effectively and efficiently. But funders prefer project funding because it lends itself more readily to measurable results and outcomes.
One option is to include an indirect cost line item in your budget for all grants and RFPs that allow indirect cost reimbursements such as general operating support. Including indirect costs allow ministries to offset general operating costs. Many government funders allow for this type of expense but most private funding sources do not. Acceptable indirect rates usually range from two percent to 20 percent per grant. Ten percent is about average. But often this rate must be prearranged with the funding source.
For private funding sources, it is best to submit a highly itemized budget that makes a strong tie between items that may be considered indirect and your direct program related expenses. Indirect expenses can often be accepted by a funding source when they are tied to the program. For example, it is often impossible to implement a program without appropriate staff. A computer may be essential for student to use for research or for job searches.
Another strategy is to turn to long time funders, those you have a relationship with and those who know your ministry well enough to have confidence in it and its programs. Family foundations and individuals in your community are the top candidates to support operating costs. Use your board to play a leading role in encouraging this support.
And there may be good news concerning the future of operating support. Encouragement is coming from various quarters. The Independent Sector urged foundations to “opt for general operating support over project support when feasible and when the goals of the two organizations are substantially aligned.”
As well, the Center for Effective Philanthropy urged foundations to fund not only projects and programs, but to provide “larger, long-term operating grants” of unrestricted funds, those that support the entire mission of the organization.
The Center for Effective Philanthropy also urged foundations that provide project support to pay “the fair share of administrative and fundraising costs necessary to manage and sustain whatever is required by the organization to run that particular project.”
Say “No” Sometimes. Some nonprofits apply for as many grants as possible, becoming all things to all funders. They think that if they throw enough proposals out there something is bound to stick, that this is the best way to win grants.
This is a fallacy and a trap too many organizations fall into. You have heard it said, “Watch out what you wish for.” In this case, watch out who you send proposals to. You may end up winning grants with fulfillment requirements that go far beyond the scope of services currently provided and/or do not fit in with the organization’s mission or vision. It is a zero sum game. The organization gets more money but it also has to provide more services. The funding pie grows but so does the mandate. This is the time for the ministry to say “no,” that winning this particular grant is not worth it.
Keep in mind that having a grant writing strategy is critical to getting the funds your ministry needs. Yes, the funding environment is challenging right now. But the funds are out there and foundations are eager to partner with ministries such as yours to do what you were both created to do – to change your community and the world for the better. Follow the advice above and foundations will begin to see your ministry as a more appealing funding candidate.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Four Ways to Expand Your Ministry’s Grant Writing Capacity
Your ministry will likely continue or develop a need to count on foundation grant support for your programs and projects. Yet funding is not easy to come by at this time. This makes expanding your grant writing capacity all-important. You need a strategy. The following are four key components of an effective strategy.
Explore collaborative grant writing opportunities for joint and/or regional grant applications. Partnering with local stakeholder organizations improves your ministry’s chances of gaining funding and reduces your grant writing costs.
Foundation support specifically for collaborative efforts is rising partly as a result of the economy. But even before the economy turned downward, foundations were supporting collaboration. Collaborative efforts are by no means easy and they can be quite difficult. Done right, it is well worth the efforts and can result in a significant win-win situation for ministries concerned. The reason is simple -- collaborating organizations address problems more effectively as a team rather than as independent organizations. Their programs benefit from more diverse expertise and ideas, from more people being involved in the program, and from more people lobbying for the program in the community and enlisting others to do the same.
Under collaboration, your ministry avoids assuming all the grant development costs as the expenses can be divided among all the partnering organizations. It is a cost efficient way to grow the funding pie for the ministry and local partners engaged in like-minded efforts.
Budget appropriate funds for grant writing related expenses. For many ministries a grant writing budget will include a fully staffed grant development office along with all of the appropriate tolls, resources, and research databases. However, it is not always necessary or most cost effective to employ a full-time grant writer and associated staff. Often a grant writing consulting agency can meet your needs while provide a significant savings to the ministry. But it is a mistake for ministries not to make a budgetary commitment to grant writing. Avoiding this commitment may save money now, but it will rob your ministry of the grants it needs now and later.
Having resources to secure grant writing expertise is especially important because the economic slump, depressed stock market, and government budget crisis have reduced government, foundation, and individual funding. This means that only the most well developed grant strategies will see success.
When possible, maximize opportunities for operating funds in grant applications. Ministries generally have access to two types of grants: 1) project-specific funding; and, 2) general operating support. Funders tend to like the first, but not the second.
Nonprofits need operating support. An out-of-date computer, for instance, hinders your ability to make your programs and projects run effectively and efficiently. But funders prefer project funding because it lends itself more readily to measurable results and outcomes.
One option is to include an indirect cost line item in your budget for all grants and RFPs that allow indirect cost reimbursements such as general operating support. Including indirect costs allow ministries to offset general operating costs. Many government funders allow for this type of expense but most private funding sources do not. Acceptable indirect rates usually range from two percent to 20 percent per grant. Ten percent is about average. But often this rate must be prearranged with the funding source.
For private funding sources, it is best to submit a highly itemized budget that makes a strong tie between items that may be considered indirect and your direct program related expenses. Indirect expenses can often be accepted by a funding source when they are tied to the program. For example, it is often impossible to implement a program without appropriate staff. A computer may be essential for student to use for research or for job searches.
Another strategy is to turn to long time funders, those you have a relationship with and those who know your ministry well enough to have confidence in it and its programs. Family foundations and individuals in your community are the top candidates to support operating costs. Use your board to play a leading role in encouraging this support.
And there may be good news concerning the future of operating support. Encouragement is coming from various quarters. The Independent Sector urged foundations to “opt for general operating support over project support when feasible and when the goals of the two organizations are substantially aligned.”
As well, the Center for Effective Philanthropy urged foundations to fund not only projects and programs, but to provide “larger, long-term operating grants” of unrestricted funds, those that support the entire mission of the organization.
The Center for Effective Philanthropy also urged foundations that provide project support to pay “the fair share of administrative and fundraising costs necessary to manage and sustain whatever is required by the organization to run that particular project.”
Say “No” Sometimes. Some nonprofits apply for as many grants as possible, becoming all things to all funders. They think that if they throw enough proposals out there something is bound to stick, that this is the best way to win grants.
This is a fallacy and a trap too many organizations fall into. You have heard it said, “Watch out what you wish for.” In this case, watch out who you send proposals to. You may end up winning grants with fulfillment requirements that go far beyond the scope of services currently provided and/or do not fit in with the organization’s mission or vision. It is a zero sum game. The organization gets more money but it also has to provide more services. The funding pie grows but so does the mandate. This is the time for the ministry to say “no,” that winning this particular grant is not worth it.
Keep in mind that having a grant writing strategy is critical to getting the funds your ministry needs. Yes, the funding environment is challenging right now. But the funds are out there and foundations are eager to partner with ministries such as yours to do what you were both created to do – to change your community and the world for the better. Follow the advice above and foundations will begin to see your ministry as a more appealing funding candidate.
Explore collaborative grant writing opportunities for joint and/or regional grant applications. Partnering with local stakeholder organizations improves your ministry’s chances of gaining funding and reduces your grant writing costs.
Foundation support specifically for collaborative efforts is rising partly as a result of the economy. But even before the economy turned downward, foundations were supporting collaboration. Collaborative efforts are by no means easy and they can be quite difficult. Done right, it is well worth the efforts and can result in a significant win-win situation for ministries concerned. The reason is simple -- collaborating organizations address problems more effectively as a team rather than as independent organizations. Their programs benefit from more diverse expertise and ideas, from more people being involved in the program, and from more people lobbying for the program in the community and enlisting others to do the same.
Under collaboration, your ministry avoids assuming all the grant development costs as the expenses can be divided among all the partnering organizations. It is a cost efficient way to grow the funding pie for the ministry and local partners engaged in like-minded efforts.
Budget appropriate funds for grant writing related expenses. For many ministries a grant writing budget will include a fully staffed grant development office along with all of the appropriate tolls, resources, and research databases. However, it is not always necessary or most cost effective to employ a full-time grant writer and associated staff. Often a grant writing consulting agency can meet your needs while provide a significant savings to the ministry. But it is a mistake for ministries not to make a budgetary commitment to grant writing. Avoiding this commitment may save money now, but it will rob your ministry of the grants it needs now and later.
Having resources to secure grant writing expertise is especially important because the economic slump, depressed stock market, and government budget crisis have reduced government, foundation, and individual funding. This means that only the most well developed grant strategies will see success.
When possible, maximize opportunities for operating funds in grant applications. Ministries generally have access to two types of grants: 1) project-specific funding; and, 2) general operating support. Funders tend to like the first, but not the second.
Nonprofits need operating support. An out-of-date computer, for instance, hinders your ability to make your programs and projects run effectively and efficiently. But funders prefer project funding because it lends itself more readily to measurable results and outcomes.
One option is to include an indirect cost line item in your budget for all grants and RFPs that allow indirect cost reimbursements such as general operating support. Including indirect costs allow ministries to offset general operating costs. Many government funders allow for this type of expense but most private funding sources do not. Acceptable indirect rates usually range from two percent to 20 percent per grant. Ten percent is about average. But often this rate must be prearranged with the funding source.
For private funding sources, it is best to submit a highly itemized budget that makes a strong tie between items that may be considered indirect and your direct program related expenses. Indirect expenses can often be accepted by a funding source when they are tied to the program. For example, it is often impossible to implement a program without appropriate staff. A computer may be essential for student to use for research or for job searches.
Another strategy is to turn to long time funders, those you have a relationship with and those who know your ministry well enough to have confidence in it and its programs. Family foundations and individuals in your community are the top candidates to support operating costs. Use your board to play a leading role in encouraging this support.
And there may be good news concerning the future of operating support. Encouragement is coming from various quarters. The Independent Sector urged foundations to “opt for general operating support over project support when feasible and when the goals of the two organizations are substantially aligned.”
As well, the Center for Effective Philanthropy urged foundations to fund not only projects and programs, but to provide “larger, long-term operating grants” of unrestricted funds, those that support the entire mission of the organization.
The Center for Effective Philanthropy also urged foundations that provide project support to pay “the fair share of administrative and fundraising costs necessary to manage and sustain whatever is required by the organization to run that particular project.”
Say “No” Sometimes. Some nonprofits apply for as many grants as possible, becoming all things to all funders. They think that if they throw enough proposals out there something is bound to stick, that this is the best way to win grants.
This is a fallacy and a trap too many organizations fall into. You have heard it said, “Watch out what you wish for.” In this case, watch out who you send proposals to. You may end up winning grants with fulfillment requirements that go far beyond the scope of services currently provided and/or do not fit in with the organization’s mission or vision. It is a zero sum game. The organization gets more money but it also has to provide more services. The funding pie grows but so does the mandate. This is the time for the ministry to say “no,” that winning this particular grant is not worth it.
Keep in mind that having a grant writing strategy is critical to getting the funds your ministry needs. Yes, the funding environment is challenging right now. But the funds are out there and foundations are eager to partner with ministries such as yours to do what you were both created to do – to change your community and the world for the better. Follow the advice above and foundations will begin to see your ministry as a more appealing funding candidate.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Running 15 Marathon’s in 15 Days to Empower Teens to Fight Poverty
SuSu Jennings is running the equivalent of 15 marathons in 15 days (400 miles). Really, that is not a misprint, SuSu will be running the equivalent of 15 marathons in 15 days (400 miles) to support Teens Opposing Poverty (TOP) that trains teens how to have effective, life-changing ministry with homeless and other poor people.
Although this alone is amazing… and TOP is an amazing ministry… it is not even the most amazing part of the story.
From the time she was young, SuSu (a nickname for Susan) Jennings was always on the edge of being overweight. As long as she was active she could maintain her weight, but she still was constantly on a diet. After she got married, she wasn’t as active and she began to gain weight. To complicate matters, she was diagnosed with hypothyroidism after the birth of her daughter. Even though medication stabilized her thyroid hormone levels, she didn’t feel right after that.
Raising a young child and a two-hour round trip to work each day left SuSu little time or energy to exercise, so she continued to gain weight. In addition to the lack of exercise, she used food to fight her constant fatigue and stress, which made her gain weight even faster.
For over 12 years, SuSu tried dozens of diets and spent thousands of dollars on special meals and supplements. With each new diet, she would lose 30 or 40 pounds and then hit a plateau where she would stay for months. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t break through that wall. Eventually, she would get frustrated and quit, quickly regaining her lost pounds and then some. As her weight struggle continued, SuSu’s health deteriorated. She began snoring at night and would wake up with her heart racing. By May, 2007 her weight had ballooned to 274 pounds.
SuSu knew she had to do something, so she kept trying. As she continued to research ways to lose weight she read about a connection between gluten sensitivity and hypothyroidism. So she gave up wheat and other gluten laden products for one week as an experiment. After only three days, she stopped snoring and in only one week, she had lost 10 pounds.
SuSu’s next challenge was exercise. She began walking on the mountain roads near her home, but she felt uncomfortable. Finally, after some rude comments from some people in a passing car, her husband suggested that she start hiking the section of the Appalachian Trail near her home. This section of the trail is called “The Roller Coaster” a string of 300 – 600 foot ascents and descents over 11 miles of the trail. The first day, she hiked a half mile path to get to the trail and made it about ¼ of the way up the first hill.
Over time, SuSu’s hikes became longer, and she began walking a two-mile loop in a park in Berryville while her daughter was in dance class. While she was in the park, she saw other people running. One of the runners was an older woman who wasn’t very fast, but she was running every time SuSu went to the park. Finally, one day, SuSu thought, “If she can run, why can’t I?” By this point she had lost about 75 pounds, so she started running. At first she jogged a few feet at a time and gradually increased her distance until she could run the whole loop. As her confidence grew, she began running the trails.
In August, 2008, just 15 months after she began her weight loss journey, SuSu reached her goal weight of 135 pounds. One month later, she ran in her first race. It was a half-marathon trail race (13.1 miles). Since then she has run in dozens of races from 5K to her most demanding run, the Umstead 100 mile race in March, 2010. She finished it in 26 hours, 31 minutes.
And now, SuSu is taking on her greatest running challenge yet, an astonishing 15 marathons in 15 days to raise support for Teens Opposing Poverty. From August 17-31, SuSu Jennings is going to run the equivalent of 15 marathons in 15 days (400 miles) to raise support for TOP. She will start in Winchester, Virginia and run through Front Royal and Chantilly, Virginia before going into Washington, DC. She will then go back through Virginia through Fredericksburg, Richmond, Charlottesville and ending in Lynchburg, Virginia. Along the way, SuSu will be speaking at churches about her journey of losing 135 pounds and becoming an ultra marathon runner, culmination in her first 100 mile race in March of 2010. Of course, she will also be sharing about TOP.
Whether it's people living on the street, in low budget motels or low income neighborhoods, Teens Opposing Poverty (TOP) trains youth to meet physical needs and to offer encouragement and hope in often dire circumstances. For more information, check them out at: www.TeensOpposingPoverty.org
You can follow SuSu as she trains and join her as she prepares to face the greatest running challenge of her life. Stay tuned to her blog or TOP's website for the latest schedule of races and speaking engagements for the 15in15. You can also support SuSu on her run and help TOP continue to challenge youth and meet the needs of the poor by supporting her on her run. Click here for SuSu's Blog
Although this alone is amazing… and TOP is an amazing ministry… it is not even the most amazing part of the story.
From the time she was young, SuSu (a nickname for Susan) Jennings was always on the edge of being overweight. As long as she was active she could maintain her weight, but she still was constantly on a diet. After she got married, she wasn’t as active and she began to gain weight. To complicate matters, she was diagnosed with hypothyroidism after the birth of her daughter. Even though medication stabilized her thyroid hormone levels, she didn’t feel right after that.
Raising a young child and a two-hour round trip to work each day left SuSu little time or energy to exercise, so she continued to gain weight. In addition to the lack of exercise, she used food to fight her constant fatigue and stress, which made her gain weight even faster.
For over 12 years, SuSu tried dozens of diets and spent thousands of dollars on special meals and supplements. With each new diet, she would lose 30 or 40 pounds and then hit a plateau where she would stay for months. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t break through that wall. Eventually, she would get frustrated and quit, quickly regaining her lost pounds and then some. As her weight struggle continued, SuSu’s health deteriorated. She began snoring at night and would wake up with her heart racing. By May, 2007 her weight had ballooned to 274 pounds.
SuSu knew she had to do something, so she kept trying. As she continued to research ways to lose weight she read about a connection between gluten sensitivity and hypothyroidism. So she gave up wheat and other gluten laden products for one week as an experiment. After only three days, she stopped snoring and in only one week, she had lost 10 pounds.
SuSu’s next challenge was exercise. She began walking on the mountain roads near her home, but she felt uncomfortable. Finally, after some rude comments from some people in a passing car, her husband suggested that she start hiking the section of the Appalachian Trail near her home. This section of the trail is called “The Roller Coaster” a string of 300 – 600 foot ascents and descents over 11 miles of the trail. The first day, she hiked a half mile path to get to the trail and made it about ¼ of the way up the first hill.
Over time, SuSu’s hikes became longer, and she began walking a two-mile loop in a park in Berryville while her daughter was in dance class. While she was in the park, she saw other people running. One of the runners was an older woman who wasn’t very fast, but she was running every time SuSu went to the park. Finally, one day, SuSu thought, “If she can run, why can’t I?” By this point she had lost about 75 pounds, so she started running. At first she jogged a few feet at a time and gradually increased her distance until she could run the whole loop. As her confidence grew, she began running the trails.
In August, 2008, just 15 months after she began her weight loss journey, SuSu reached her goal weight of 135 pounds. One month later, she ran in her first race. It was a half-marathon trail race (13.1 miles). Since then she has run in dozens of races from 5K to her most demanding run, the Umstead 100 mile race in March, 2010. She finished it in 26 hours, 31 minutes.
And now, SuSu is taking on her greatest running challenge yet, an astonishing 15 marathons in 15 days to raise support for Teens Opposing Poverty. From August 17-31, SuSu Jennings is going to run the equivalent of 15 marathons in 15 days (400 miles) to raise support for TOP. She will start in Winchester, Virginia and run through Front Royal and Chantilly, Virginia before going into Washington, DC. She will then go back through Virginia through Fredericksburg, Richmond, Charlottesville and ending in Lynchburg, Virginia. Along the way, SuSu will be speaking at churches about her journey of losing 135 pounds and becoming an ultra marathon runner, culmination in her first 100 mile race in March of 2010. Of course, she will also be sharing about TOP.
Whether it's people living on the street, in low budget motels or low income neighborhoods, Teens Opposing Poverty (TOP) trains youth to meet physical needs and to offer encouragement and hope in often dire circumstances. For more information, check them out at: www.TeensOpposingPoverty.org
You can follow SuSu as she trains and join her as she prepares to face the greatest running challenge of her life. Stay tuned to her blog or TOP's website for the latest schedule of races and speaking engagements for the 15in15. You can also support SuSu on her run and help TOP continue to challenge youth and meet the needs of the poor by supporting her on her run. Click here for SuSu's Blog
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
The Deadliest Grant Writing Mistakes Made by Christian Ministries and Churches
Many Christian ministries and churches decide they will give grant writing a shot and see what happens. There approach is not planned or deliberate but rather a haphazard approach that does not account for the complexities and specificity of grant development. Grant writing is not hard, but it is very specific.
When beginning a grant development strategy is important to plan, invest, and have leadership support. It is best to have a grant writing consultant help you to at least develop the initial strategy and advise you on how to resource a grant writing office for success.
Here is a list of major mistakes made by many Christian ministries when starting grant writing along with a biblical reference of the items importance:
Not Planning and developing a Grant Writing Strategy Before Getting Started: Most organizations don’t plan to fail… they just fail to plan. Having an organized grant development strategy is critical to the success of your grant writing efforts. If you don’t know where you are going… you will never get to where you need to be. “The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.” - Proverbs 21:5
A Lack of Adequate Resources Needed for Successful Grant development: Grant writing is a long-term investment strategy. If you invest very little you will get very little in return. Grant writing will certainly take an initial investment of resources or efforts will be anemic and fail. “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.’” - Luke 14:28-30
Not Enough Human Resources: Many smaller nonprofits try to develop grants with only volunteer support. While this is possible with dedicated, educated, and committed staff, it is more likely that the effort will suffer from a lack consistency, persistency, and organization. When you can’t afford to hire paid staff it is often cost effective to work with a grant writing consultant. “Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.” - Proverbs 15:22
Not Using the Experience of Others to your Advantage: There’s no need to start your efforts as if you are the first organization ever to implement a grant development strategy. Use the experience of successful grant writers to model your strategy. “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.” - 1 Peter 4:10
Lack of Board Buy in and Financial Support: Your board of directors should be making financial contributions to your organization. Every board member should be giving. No foundation is going to want to invest in your ministry if you can’t convince the people closest to your ministry to give. Yes, time and talent are important…but “where your money is your heart shall be also.” - Luke 12:34
Small mistakes cost big in grant development. Most grant makers are not as forgiving as individual donors and the expectation can be much different. A wise ministry will get their house in order and make sure they are adequately prepared before starting to implement a grant writing strategy.
Lack of a Diversified Funding Base: Grant writing is not the answer to your organization funding issues. It is merely a piece of a diversified strategy. Other components should include individual’s contributors, major donors, special events, earned income, legacy funding, and other strategies. “Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.” - Ecclesiastes 11:2
Poor Documentation of Success: Organizations often suffer from not having adequate records about their successes and results. It is important to grant makers that you track your progress, know what you are doing well, and can prove this success through hard data. "Test all things; hold fast what is good." - I Thessalonians 5:21
Making Assumptions that Grant makers already know who you are and what you do: Often larger Christian non-profits assume that a grant maker will already know who they are and what they do. This leads them to providing inadequate information in an inquiry letter of proposal. Many grant makers may only know a small part of who we are…or have 3rd party information that is grossly distorted. “For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, for our days on earth are a shadow.” - Job 8:9
Not being specific about what you are requesting: I have seen numerous proposals submitted without articulating a specific request for funds to be granted. If you are requesting the contribution of resources that needs to be specified. If you need technical support you will need to explain what is needed. If you are asking for money… you need to ask for money. Your research should have already informed you about how much to ask for and what the grant maker is most likely to fund. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?” Matthew 7:7-10
Quitting Before you start to see results: One of the biggest reasons ministries fail at grant writing is because they quit before they start to see results. If you have not asked twice than you have not asked yet. Grant writing requires persistency. Generally speaking, any non-profit ministry can develop grant funding support… it is usually more of a “when” question that an “if” question. "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:9
Grant writing requires a consistent, persistent, and organized approach. If you are lacking in any of these areas you are likely to struggle, flounder, and ultimately fail. A wise ministry will get good counsel and plan an organized and well resourced approach before getting started.
When beginning a grant development strategy is important to plan, invest, and have leadership support. It is best to have a grant writing consultant help you to at least develop the initial strategy and advise you on how to resource a grant writing office for success.
Here is a list of major mistakes made by many Christian ministries when starting grant writing along with a biblical reference of the items importance:
Not Planning and developing a Grant Writing Strategy Before Getting Started: Most organizations don’t plan to fail… they just fail to plan. Having an organized grant development strategy is critical to the success of your grant writing efforts. If you don’t know where you are going… you will never get to where you need to be. “The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.” - Proverbs 21:5
A Lack of Adequate Resources Needed for Successful Grant development: Grant writing is a long-term investment strategy. If you invest very little you will get very little in return. Grant writing will certainly take an initial investment of resources or efforts will be anemic and fail. “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.’” - Luke 14:28-30
Not Enough Human Resources: Many smaller nonprofits try to develop grants with only volunteer support. While this is possible with dedicated, educated, and committed staff, it is more likely that the effort will suffer from a lack consistency, persistency, and organization. When you can’t afford to hire paid staff it is often cost effective to work with a grant writing consultant. “Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.” - Proverbs 15:22
Not Using the Experience of Others to your Advantage: There’s no need to start your efforts as if you are the first organization ever to implement a grant development strategy. Use the experience of successful grant writers to model your strategy. “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.” - 1 Peter 4:10
Lack of Board Buy in and Financial Support: Your board of directors should be making financial contributions to your organization. Every board member should be giving. No foundation is going to want to invest in your ministry if you can’t convince the people closest to your ministry to give. Yes, time and talent are important…but “where your money is your heart shall be also.” - Luke 12:34
Small mistakes cost big in grant development. Most grant makers are not as forgiving as individual donors and the expectation can be much different. A wise ministry will get their house in order and make sure they are adequately prepared before starting to implement a grant writing strategy.
Lack of a Diversified Funding Base: Grant writing is not the answer to your organization funding issues. It is merely a piece of a diversified strategy. Other components should include individual’s contributors, major donors, special events, earned income, legacy funding, and other strategies. “Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.” - Ecclesiastes 11:2
Poor Documentation of Success: Organizations often suffer from not having adequate records about their successes and results. It is important to grant makers that you track your progress, know what you are doing well, and can prove this success through hard data. "Test all things; hold fast what is good." - I Thessalonians 5:21
Making Assumptions that Grant makers already know who you are and what you do: Often larger Christian non-profits assume that a grant maker will already know who they are and what they do. This leads them to providing inadequate information in an inquiry letter of proposal. Many grant makers may only know a small part of who we are…or have 3rd party information that is grossly distorted. “For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, for our days on earth are a shadow.” - Job 8:9
Not being specific about what you are requesting: I have seen numerous proposals submitted without articulating a specific request for funds to be granted. If you are requesting the contribution of resources that needs to be specified. If you need technical support you will need to explain what is needed. If you are asking for money… you need to ask for money. Your research should have already informed you about how much to ask for and what the grant maker is most likely to fund. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?” Matthew 7:7-10
Quitting Before you start to see results: One of the biggest reasons ministries fail at grant writing is because they quit before they start to see results. If you have not asked twice than you have not asked yet. Grant writing requires persistency. Generally speaking, any non-profit ministry can develop grant funding support… it is usually more of a “when” question that an “if” question. "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:9
Grant writing requires a consistent, persistent, and organized approach. If you are lacking in any of these areas you are likely to struggle, flounder, and ultimately fail. A wise ministry will get good counsel and plan an organized and well resourced approach before getting started.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
How Many Grant Making Foundations Focus Giving on Christian Ministries, Christian Churches, and other Christian Non-Profits?
Drawing on the immense amount of data available at The Foundation Center, Foundation Search, Guidestar, and others, one can answer this question. It seems as though there is a misconception in the faith community about the number of foundations that state an interest in religious organizations and are accepting applications. There are approximately 100,000 foundations in the United States with almost $1 trillion in assets. The total number of foundations funding all forms of religious organizations is just over 50,000.
Of course, this does not tell the entire story for Christian organizations and churches. If we exclude foundations funding Atheism (2), Scientology (13), Judaism (7,646), Muslim/Islam (237), Hinduism (2), Buddhism (322), and Mormonism (323), this removes 10,543 foundations.
Where are the other 40,000 foundations interested in funding religious programs? They clearly state an interest in funding Christian organizations and churches and many of them focus on specific areas of ministry within the Christian community. Let me highlight some of the areas in which significant numbers of foundations state a funding interest.
Funding Area/Number of Supporting Foundations
• Christian Schools 1,050
• Religious Colleges and Universities 748
• Seminaries 2,402
• Salvation Army 7,002
• Catholic Churches, Schools, Programs 9,040
• Prison Ministries 137
• Christian Churches (general) 6,986
There are 10,000-15,000 additional foundations focused on specific denominations (Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran, etc), evangelical programs and evangelism, specific countries, or particular types of programs and services (homeless, feeding, children, discipleship, etc.).
As you can see, there are HUGE numbers of grant making foundations interested in funding programs for Christian Ministries and Churches.
The other contention seems to be: How many of these foundations are accepting applications?
In general, about 54% of all foundations are accepting applications at any given moment. Regarding foundations focused on Religion, the amount is actually significantly higher with about 63% of foundations accepting applications at any given moment.
This means there are about 40,000 foundations in the United States which target Christian Ministries and Churches. Of these, about 25,000 are actually accepting applications at any given moment.
What is meant by "accepting applications at any given moment"?
Just because a foundation is not accepting applications today does not mean they will not start funding new applicants tomorrow. Foundations periodically stop accepting applications to focus on existing grantees, due to a decrease in available funding, or to conduct an internal evaluation of their priorities. The 15,000 foundations not accepting applications today will not be the same 15,000 foundations not accepting applications next month.
To be totally forthright, there are between 5,000 and 10,000 foundations in the United States that are consistent in their support of Christian Ministries and Churches. These are the foundations Here-4-You Consulting focuses on in our daily work with clients around the world.
How do we know all this? Because this is what we do and where we have been called to serve in the Kingdom. Some people called to ministry serve as missionaries, teach at a Christian School, pastor a church, evangelize unreached people, work with the homeless, and engage in many other duties that honor Christ.
I feel called to serve Christ by helping all of these other organizations find the funding and support to continue their ministry and to serve God.
Jeffrey J. Rodman is the founder, President, and CEO of Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting and Church Grant Writing providing consultation for grant writing and funding development nationally and internationally to Christian ministries and Churches. Mr. Rodman has a Master Degree in Education, is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), and is a Certified Grants Specialist (CGS). He is an experienced grant writer, nonprofit executive, and public speaker. Mr. Rodman has written hundreds of proposal to both government and private sources, has secured millions as a consultant, and has an 80% success rate in securing grants.
Here-4-You Consulting & Grant Writing
Jeffrey J. Rodman, CFRE, CGS, M.Ed.
President & CEO
Website: http://www.npfunds.com/
Blog: http://npfunds.com/blog
Phone: 1-866-HERE-4-U-1
Of course, this does not tell the entire story for Christian organizations and churches. If we exclude foundations funding Atheism (2), Scientology (13), Judaism (7,646), Muslim/Islam (237), Hinduism (2), Buddhism (322), and Mormonism (323), this removes 10,543 foundations.
Where are the other 40,000 foundations interested in funding religious programs? They clearly state an interest in funding Christian organizations and churches and many of them focus on specific areas of ministry within the Christian community. Let me highlight some of the areas in which significant numbers of foundations state a funding interest.
Funding Area/Number of Supporting Foundations
• Christian Schools 1,050
• Religious Colleges and Universities 748
• Seminaries 2,402
• Salvation Army 7,002
• Catholic Churches, Schools, Programs 9,040
• Prison Ministries 137
• Christian Churches (general) 6,986
There are 10,000-15,000 additional foundations focused on specific denominations (Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran, etc), evangelical programs and evangelism, specific countries, or particular types of programs and services (homeless, feeding, children, discipleship, etc.).
As you can see, there are HUGE numbers of grant making foundations interested in funding programs for Christian Ministries and Churches.
The other contention seems to be: How many of these foundations are accepting applications?
In general, about 54% of all foundations are accepting applications at any given moment. Regarding foundations focused on Religion, the amount is actually significantly higher with about 63% of foundations accepting applications at any given moment.
This means there are about 40,000 foundations in the United States which target Christian Ministries and Churches. Of these, about 25,000 are actually accepting applications at any given moment.
What is meant by "accepting applications at any given moment"?
Just because a foundation is not accepting applications today does not mean they will not start funding new applicants tomorrow. Foundations periodically stop accepting applications to focus on existing grantees, due to a decrease in available funding, or to conduct an internal evaluation of their priorities. The 15,000 foundations not accepting applications today will not be the same 15,000 foundations not accepting applications next month.
To be totally forthright, there are between 5,000 and 10,000 foundations in the United States that are consistent in their support of Christian Ministries and Churches. These are the foundations Here-4-You Consulting focuses on in our daily work with clients around the world.
How do we know all this? Because this is what we do and where we have been called to serve in the Kingdom. Some people called to ministry serve as missionaries, teach at a Christian School, pastor a church, evangelize unreached people, work with the homeless, and engage in many other duties that honor Christ.
I feel called to serve Christ by helping all of these other organizations find the funding and support to continue their ministry and to serve God.
Jeffrey J. Rodman is the founder, President, and CEO of Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting and Church Grant Writing providing consultation for grant writing and funding development nationally and internationally to Christian ministries and Churches. Mr. Rodman has a Master Degree in Education, is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), and is a Certified Grants Specialist (CGS). He is an experienced grant writer, nonprofit executive, and public speaker. Mr. Rodman has written hundreds of proposal to both government and private sources, has secured millions as a consultant, and has an 80% success rate in securing grants.
Here-4-You Consulting & Grant Writing
Jeffrey J. Rodman, CFRE, CGS, M.Ed.
President & CEO
Website: http://www.npfunds.com/
Blog: http://npfunds.com/blog
Phone: 1-866-HERE-4-U-1
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Accountability, Transparency, and High Ethical Standards Are Critical to Making Your Ministry More Fundable!
What does transparency and accountability mean to you and how does it relate to maintaining high ethical standards? Most nonprofit experts will tell you that accountability means being honest with your stakeholders and with the public about your organization’s finances, governance, and management -- in short, being upright in all of your professional conduct. Transparency allows those outside the organization to see your level of accountability and to realize the level of ethical standards you have set for the ministry. Together, these three key factors build trust and assure the public that your organization is what it claims to be and is worthy of financial support.
But transparency and accountability mean more than that to you as a grant seeking nonprofit ministry. Your organization’s ability to attract grant funds rests on being transparent and accountable. If you’re not completely trusted, foundations probably will decline to provide the funds you need to carry out your mission.
As a nonprofit, you are given tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status because you exist to serve the public and better your community. The public is your stakeholder. Your ministry depends on public goodwill even more than for profit-making organizations. When the public loses faith in a nonprofit, donations fall and the nonprofit’s ability to do its job is compromised.
Unfortunately, distrust of nonprofit organizations runs high. A Harris poll in 2006 found that only 10% of Americans believed that “charities are honest and ethical in using donated funds.” And 33% believed that “nonprofits have seriously gone off in the wrong direction.”
As a Christian ministry, you are more vulnerable to problems and failure, including scandals, if you do not prioritize transparency and accountability. A recent investigation illustrates how Christian ministries are often watched more closely by the public and especially by government entities.
In 2007 Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, announced his investigation of six prominent televangelist ministries for possible financial misconduct. Although these ministries paid their executives high salaries and made large expenditures for some questionable items, they were no less thrifty than other large nonprofits. In fact, NONE of the top executives of these six ministries are near the top of the highest paid nonprofit executives. The highest paid nonprofit executives all came from museums, healthcare agencies, and universities…yet there was no investigation of these types of organizations. The implication is clear, a nonprofit claiming to be a Christian ministry is held to a much higher ethical standard, even by secular individuals and entities.
Establishing the level of trust necessary to attract funding will require you to take proactive steps. Look for our follow-up article on how to perform an analysis of funding preparedness to ensure that your ministry is ready to seek and secure grant funding.
But transparency and accountability mean more than that to you as a grant seeking nonprofit ministry. Your organization’s ability to attract grant funds rests on being transparent and accountable. If you’re not completely trusted, foundations probably will decline to provide the funds you need to carry out your mission.
As a nonprofit, you are given tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status because you exist to serve the public and better your community. The public is your stakeholder. Your ministry depends on public goodwill even more than for profit-making organizations. When the public loses faith in a nonprofit, donations fall and the nonprofit’s ability to do its job is compromised.
Unfortunately, distrust of nonprofit organizations runs high. A Harris poll in 2006 found that only 10% of Americans believed that “charities are honest and ethical in using donated funds.” And 33% believed that “nonprofits have seriously gone off in the wrong direction.”
As a Christian ministry, you are more vulnerable to problems and failure, including scandals, if you do not prioritize transparency and accountability. A recent investigation illustrates how Christian ministries are often watched more closely by the public and especially by government entities.
In 2007 Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, announced his investigation of six prominent televangelist ministries for possible financial misconduct. Although these ministries paid their executives high salaries and made large expenditures for some questionable items, they were no less thrifty than other large nonprofits. In fact, NONE of the top executives of these six ministries are near the top of the highest paid nonprofit executives. The highest paid nonprofit executives all came from museums, healthcare agencies, and universities…yet there was no investigation of these types of organizations. The implication is clear, a nonprofit claiming to be a Christian ministry is held to a much higher ethical standard, even by secular individuals and entities.
Establishing the level of trust necessary to attract funding will require you to take proactive steps. Look for our follow-up article on how to perform an analysis of funding preparedness to ensure that your ministry is ready to seek and secure grant funding.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Finding Great Grant Opportunities: How the Recession Economy has Changed Grant Writing
Event: Christian Leadership Alliance Conference
Guest Speaker: Jeffrey J. Rodman, President and CEO of Here-4-You Consulting
Mr. Rodman is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and a Certified Grant Specialist (CGS)
When: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Where: San Diego, California
Topic: Finding Great Grant Opportunities: How the Recession Economy has Changed Grant Writing
Following this presentation, Jeffrey Rodman, President/CEO, Here 4 You Consulting and Grant Writing, will moderate a Panel Discussion with Mike Dragon, Dir. of Dev., OMS International, Mike Friend, Dev. Dir., City Impact, and Jeff Lee, Sr. Dir. Of Dev., Los Angeles Mission
I wanted to share with you the good news of the upcoming Christian Leadership Alliance (CLA) National Conference to be held San Diego, California at the Town and Country Resort from April 19-21, 2010. I am very excited to be both presenting and exhibiting at the 2010 conference and would encourage you to consider the tremendous benefits of attending this exciting inspirational and educational event.
I will present a Workshop on Finding Great Grant Opportunities: How the Recession Economy has Changed Grant Writing on Tuesday, April 20 at 1:30.
CLA’s national leadership conference focuses on enhancing the effectiveness of Christian organizations and large churches. With intensive training institutes, workshops, and outstanding general session speakers, the conference provides practical knowledge on how to become better leaders. This conference also provides a unique opportunity to network with peers from many of the nation’s leading Christian ministries.
Some highlights of the 2010 CLA conference are the Church Leaders Summit, Fundraising Summit, and Information Technology Summit.
If you desire a more in depth training opportunity, consider attending the Steward Leadership Summit later this year where I will give a 1 1/2 day training on Grant Writing for Christian Ministries and Churches.
In His Service,
Jeffrey J. Rodman, President & CEO
Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting & Grant Writing
Keywords: Grant Writing, Recession, Economy, finding grant opportunities, foundation research
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Here-4-You Consulting ♦ 109 E. 6th Street, Front Royal, Virginia 22630 ♦ 540-635-3518 ♦ 866-HERE -4-U-1
Guest Speaker: Jeffrey J. Rodman, President and CEO of Here-4-You Consulting
Mr. Rodman is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and a Certified Grant Specialist (CGS)
When: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Where: San Diego, California
Topic: Finding Great Grant Opportunities: How the Recession Economy has Changed Grant Writing
Following this presentation, Jeffrey Rodman, President/CEO, Here 4 You Consulting and Grant Writing, will moderate a Panel Discussion with Mike Dragon, Dir. of Dev., OMS International, Mike Friend, Dev. Dir., City Impact, and Jeff Lee, Sr. Dir. Of Dev., Los Angeles Mission
I wanted to share with you the good news of the upcoming Christian Leadership Alliance (CLA) National Conference to be held San Diego, California at the Town and Country Resort from April 19-21, 2010. I am very excited to be both presenting and exhibiting at the 2010 conference and would encourage you to consider the tremendous benefits of attending this exciting inspirational and educational event.
I will present a Workshop on Finding Great Grant Opportunities: How the Recession Economy has Changed Grant Writing on Tuesday, April 20 at 1:30.
You can also visit us in Exhibit Booth 110!
CLA’s national leadership conference focuses on enhancing the effectiveness of Christian organizations and large churches. With intensive training institutes, workshops, and outstanding general session speakers, the conference provides practical knowledge on how to become better leaders. This conference also provides a unique opportunity to network with peers from many of the nation’s leading Christian ministries.
Some highlights of the 2010 CLA conference are the Church Leaders Summit, Fundraising Summit, and Information Technology Summit.
If you desire a more in depth training opportunity, consider attending the Steward Leadership Summit later this year where I will give a 1 1/2 day training on Grant Writing for Christian Ministries and Churches.
In His Service,
Jeffrey J. Rodman, President & CEO
Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting & Grant Writing
Contact us today at 540-635-3518 to see how we can help you!
Keywords: Grant Writing, Recession, Economy, finding grant opportunities, foundation research
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Here-4-You Consulting ♦ 109 E. 6th Street, Front Royal, Virginia 22630 ♦ 540-635-3518 ♦ 866-HERE -4-U-1
A Mission Statement, Vision Statement, and a Statement of Faith are Essential Components of Your Strategic Plan!
A Strategic Plan, a must have for every nonprofit, determines the overall direction and goals of the organization. A Strategic Plan identifies where the organization wants to be at some point in the future and how it is going to get there. It addresses your organization’s challenges and barriers, outlines a funding and fundraising strategy, and analyzes internal strengths and weaknesses.
As part of your Strategic Plan, your ministry should define and establish a vision statement, mission statement, and statement of faith. Every ministry needs to have a long-term vision of what they wish to accomplish, a mission for how to get there, and faith principles of your core beliefs guiding this vision and mission. You will also want to revisit these often to ensure that the organization is still on-track and to evaluate how these core statements have changed over time. These reminders of where you want to end up, how you’ll get there, and what you believe, are vital to your organization’s effectiveness and efficiency.
Vision Statement
A vision statement tells those inside and outside your organization the end goal for its existence. In no more than two sentences, a vision statement delineates the specific long-term goal of your ministry or church by explaining where you are going or what you wish to accomplish. What it doesn’t do is explain how you’ll reach your vision. That’s the job of your mission statement.
Whether you use your vision statement to explain what you want your organization to become or what you want it to achieve, you’re visualizing an ideal future. You need to put your vision statement on a pedestal so that your ministry staff or church members never lose sight of it. As a result, the decisions made by staff and church members are consistently aligned with the vision.
A worthwhile vision statement inspires and motivates your staff or congregants to take action and achieve goals. It challenges them to grow.
The following example from the Andrews Presbyterian Church illustrates a vision statement meant to inspire and motivate:
Andrews Presbyterian Church is committed to “Building The Relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, in Andrews, the Church and the world, all for the glory of God.”
As demonstrated by Andrews Presbyterian Church, the goals set to reach the vision also need to inspire staff and congregants. The vision statement stresses the benefits of achieving the goal and does not get caught up in the uninspiring details.
Does a long-term global ministry vision such as “To increase fundraising by 25 percent” inspire you? You’re more likely to be inspired by a goal of raising enough funds to…send ten more missionaries to the field to spread the gospel…feed more hungry people…shelter more homeless people…alleviate misery caused by poverty…diminish suffering after natural disasters. Each of these statements inspire because they focus on the impact of the organization within the community served. Let your vision be lofty and inspiring by focusing on those you are serving.
Mission Statement
Your mission statement builds on your vision statement. We already noted that a vision statement is the leadership envisioning an ideal future. Alternately, a mission statement is management-oriented. Here you focus on the present and your strategies to reach your vision. While the vision statement serves as the end, the mission acts as the means.
Some mission statements are brief (as short as one sentence) and specific; others are long, general, and involved. An effective mission statement describes the main purpose of your ministry or church. It explains what you do, why you do it, and who your clients and constituencies are. Some also include ministry or church values and principles in the mission statement, but these are better suited within separate values/principles statements.
Like your vision statement, your mission statement ensures that the decisions you make serve your organization’s purpose. It also keeps your organization’s board, staff, and members in agreement. It also crystallizes your organization’s purpose to important stakeholders including funders, government regulators, and clients.
You should include action verbs in your mission statement because of their emotional effect on people. Words such as develop, equip, promote, teach, produce, make, fulfill, solve, create are examples.
The mission statement of the Ocean City Baptist Church illustrates a Christian Church mission statement:
As part of the body of Christ, the Ocean City Baptist Church will be obedient to Christ and recognize His command to “…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
Evident in Ocean City Baptist Church’s mission is a concise outline of its values and a clear strategy implemented to achieve its ultimate vision.
Statement of Faith
A statement of faith explains your organization’s principles and beliefs. Similar to the mission and vision, it generally seeks to inspire and motivate staff or congregants and maintain their commitment and support. A worthwhile statement of faith makes it clear to those inside and outside your ministry or church that you are committed to Christ and God. It also underscores the value you place on your relationship with your staff, congregation, and community.
The following is an example of a statement of faith from the Bloomington Free Methodist Church:
We strive to help people find Christ and live Christ-like lives. We present a positive and practical message that can be applied to every life.
We believe:
That the Bible is the inspired word of God.
That there is one God, internally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
That Jesus Christ is the only Son of God, He was born of the Virgin Mary, He lived a sinless life, and He was crucified for our sins and rose again.
That the most important thing in the entire world is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and faith.
That the Holy Spirit cleanses the believer from all sin and is living within us enabling the believer to live the Christian life.
That a relationship with Christ comes only through God’s grace not by man’s effort and must be received personally by repentance.
That the local church exits to encourage growth in every believer.
That we should share Jesus Christ with our community and the world.
The Nicene Creed or the Apostle’s Creed also often serves as a statement of faith for a ministry.
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
Conclusion
Evaluate your vision, mission, faith, and purpose statements with your staff and volunteer leadership. It will keep you on-track and make your ministry or church a focused, organized and efficient vehicle for Christ.
Sources:
Andrews Presbyterian Church
Bill Birnbaum, CMC
Christian Mission Declarations
Gary M. Grobman,
Ocean City Baptist Church
Marilyn Schwartz, CSP
Smyrna Christian Church
Author Bio:
Jeffrey J. Rodman is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and a Certified Grants Specialist (CGS). He is an experienced grantwriter, fundraiser, nonprofit executive, and public speaker who operates Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting and Church Grant Writing providing consultation for grant writing to Christian ministries and Churches worldwide.
Jeffrey supervises a team of writers, researchers, editors, and administrative staff in providing consultation for grant proposal writing, nonprofit development, and fundraising in almost every state and a dozen foreign countries and has worked on proposals to Federal, State, and Local government as well as to Foundations, Civic groups, and many others.
Jeffrey received his BS and his M.Ed. from George Mason University. He has written hundreds of proposals, secured millions of dollars in funding, and maintains a funding rate of nearly 80%. He has successfully managed over 25 different grants as a grant administrator and has also served as a grant reviewer on a state, federal, and local level as well as on foundation review panels. Jeffrey is an experienced speaker and is a Certified National Trainer for programs in Ohio, Indiana, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Florida.
Jeffrey loves to play games with his kids and enjoy time with his family. Although he grew up in New York, he has lived in Virginia since 1996 where he and his wife, Terri are raising and homeschooling their five children, Alexandra (12), Mackenzie (9), Christian (6) Kaitlyn (3), and Abigail (born 02/10/2010).
Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting
Jeffrey J. Rodman, CFRE, CGS, M.Ed.
President & CEO
Website: http://www.npfunds.com
Blog: http://npfunds.com/blog
Phone: 1-866-HERE-4-U-1
As part of your Strategic Plan, your ministry should define and establish a vision statement, mission statement, and statement of faith. Every ministry needs to have a long-term vision of what they wish to accomplish, a mission for how to get there, and faith principles of your core beliefs guiding this vision and mission. You will also want to revisit these often to ensure that the organization is still on-track and to evaluate how these core statements have changed over time. These reminders of where you want to end up, how you’ll get there, and what you believe, are vital to your organization’s effectiveness and efficiency.
Vision Statement
A vision statement tells those inside and outside your organization the end goal for its existence. In no more than two sentences, a vision statement delineates the specific long-term goal of your ministry or church by explaining where you are going or what you wish to accomplish. What it doesn’t do is explain how you’ll reach your vision. That’s the job of your mission statement.
Whether you use your vision statement to explain what you want your organization to become or what you want it to achieve, you’re visualizing an ideal future. You need to put your vision statement on a pedestal so that your ministry staff or church members never lose sight of it. As a result, the decisions made by staff and church members are consistently aligned with the vision.
A worthwhile vision statement inspires and motivates your staff or congregants to take action and achieve goals. It challenges them to grow.
The following example from the Andrews Presbyterian Church illustrates a vision statement meant to inspire and motivate:
Andrews Presbyterian Church is committed to “Building The Relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, in Andrews, the Church and the world, all for the glory of God.”
As demonstrated by Andrews Presbyterian Church, the goals set to reach the vision also need to inspire staff and congregants. The vision statement stresses the benefits of achieving the goal and does not get caught up in the uninspiring details.
Does a long-term global ministry vision such as “To increase fundraising by 25 percent” inspire you? You’re more likely to be inspired by a goal of raising enough funds to…send ten more missionaries to the field to spread the gospel…feed more hungry people…shelter more homeless people…alleviate misery caused by poverty…diminish suffering after natural disasters. Each of these statements inspire because they focus on the impact of the organization within the community served. Let your vision be lofty and inspiring by focusing on those you are serving.
Mission Statement
Your mission statement builds on your vision statement. We already noted that a vision statement is the leadership envisioning an ideal future. Alternately, a mission statement is management-oriented. Here you focus on the present and your strategies to reach your vision. While the vision statement serves as the end, the mission acts as the means.
Some mission statements are brief (as short as one sentence) and specific; others are long, general, and involved. An effective mission statement describes the main purpose of your ministry or church. It explains what you do, why you do it, and who your clients and constituencies are. Some also include ministry or church values and principles in the mission statement, but these are better suited within separate values/principles statements.
Like your vision statement, your mission statement ensures that the decisions you make serve your organization’s purpose. It also keeps your organization’s board, staff, and members in agreement. It also crystallizes your organization’s purpose to important stakeholders including funders, government regulators, and clients.
You should include action verbs in your mission statement because of their emotional effect on people. Words such as develop, equip, promote, teach, produce, make, fulfill, solve, create are examples.
The mission statement of the Ocean City Baptist Church illustrates a Christian Church mission statement:
As part of the body of Christ, the Ocean City Baptist Church will be obedient to Christ and recognize His command to “…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
Evident in Ocean City Baptist Church’s mission is a concise outline of its values and a clear strategy implemented to achieve its ultimate vision.
Statement of Faith
A statement of faith explains your organization’s principles and beliefs. Similar to the mission and vision, it generally seeks to inspire and motivate staff or congregants and maintain their commitment and support. A worthwhile statement of faith makes it clear to those inside and outside your ministry or church that you are committed to Christ and God. It also underscores the value you place on your relationship with your staff, congregation, and community.
The following is an example of a statement of faith from the Bloomington Free Methodist Church:
We strive to help people find Christ and live Christ-like lives. We present a positive and practical message that can be applied to every life.
We believe:
That the Bible is the inspired word of God.
That there is one God, internally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
That Jesus Christ is the only Son of God, He was born of the Virgin Mary, He lived a sinless life, and He was crucified for our sins and rose again.
That the most important thing in the entire world is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and faith.
That the Holy Spirit cleanses the believer from all sin and is living within us enabling the believer to live the Christian life.
That a relationship with Christ comes only through God’s grace not by man’s effort and must be received personally by repentance.
That the local church exits to encourage growth in every believer.
That we should share Jesus Christ with our community and the world.
The Nicene Creed or the Apostle’s Creed also often serves as a statement of faith for a ministry.
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
Conclusion
Evaluate your vision, mission, faith, and purpose statements with your staff and volunteer leadership. It will keep you on-track and make your ministry or church a focused, organized and efficient vehicle for Christ.
Sources:
Andrews Presbyterian Church
Bill Birnbaum, CMC
Christian Mission Declarations
Gary M. Grobman,
Ocean City Baptist Church
Marilyn Schwartz, CSP
Smyrna Christian Church
Author Bio:
Jeffrey J. Rodman is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and a Certified Grants Specialist (CGS). He is an experienced grantwriter, fundraiser, nonprofit executive, and public speaker who operates Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting and Church Grant Writing providing consultation for grant writing to Christian ministries and Churches worldwide.
Jeffrey supervises a team of writers, researchers, editors, and administrative staff in providing consultation for grant proposal writing, nonprofit development, and fundraising in almost every state and a dozen foreign countries and has worked on proposals to Federal, State, and Local government as well as to Foundations, Civic groups, and many others.
Jeffrey received his BS and his M.Ed. from George Mason University. He has written hundreds of proposals, secured millions of dollars in funding, and maintains a funding rate of nearly 80%. He has successfully managed over 25 different grants as a grant administrator and has also served as a grant reviewer on a state, federal, and local level as well as on foundation review panels. Jeffrey is an experienced speaker and is a Certified National Trainer for programs in Ohio, Indiana, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Florida.
Jeffrey loves to play games with his kids and enjoy time with his family. Although he grew up in New York, he has lived in Virginia since 1996 where he and his wife, Terri are raising and homeschooling their five children, Alexandra (12), Mackenzie (9), Christian (6) Kaitlyn (3), and Abigail (born 02/10/2010).
Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting
Jeffrey J. Rodman, CFRE, CGS, M.Ed.
President & CEO
Website: http://www.npfunds.com
Blog: http://npfunds.com/blog
Phone: 1-866-HERE-4-U-1
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Should Board Members Contribute Financially to the Ministry they Serve or is the Contribution of Time and Energy Enough?
This seems to be every board’s complaint: “I give time and energy, so I don’t have to give money.” Time is valuable, but it does not replace financial giving.
I hear the time contribution excuse from board members all the time – especially board members who do not do much more than attend a monthly or quarterly board meeting. Meeting attendance is important, of course, but if that is all a board member is willing to do, then it is time to move on.
Board members are the people who are closest to the organization, who are most passionate about the mission, and know best how deserving the ministry is of financial support. If these board members are not willing to make a financial investment in the organization, why would a community member, a foundation, or a corporation want to?
It is the ministry’s responsibility to ensure that board members understand the organization’s expectation for board contributions, and that expectation should be clear from the beginning. Occasionally you will be recruiting board members because of their expertise or position of authority but they should still also be committed enough to the ministry to give financially.
If your organization asks ANYONE for a donation, board members should be first to give.
Contributions do not have to be huge, but they should be sacrificial. Everybody, even people who are unemployed, make some charitable contributions. Whether it is $2 or $2 million, board members should be asked to give a gift that would be considered generous given their individual means and abilities.
Consider this: board members must, from time to time, go on solicitation calls or ask others for a contribution. If the board member has made a contribution first, he or she is really asking the prospective donor to join him or her in the support of the organization. This is an easy request.
However, if the board member has not made a contribution, the request feels like begging for charity. No one likes to beg. That is precisely why most board members hate soliciting. They are begging rather than not recruiting.
Foundations and corporations want to know that the board is supporting the organization financially. If the board is looking for funding from the community but is not giving of their own means, the foundation is likely to pass.
Clearly, the answer is “yes, board members must contribute financially” and “no, time contributions alone are not enough.” This may be a tough message for the board. But why would individuals, foundations, and corporations contribute when the board of the ministry does not sufficiently value the ministry by offering financial support? I have been on many donor meetings where the donor asked if I give to the organization myself. I have also seen many grant applications ask for a list of board member contributions. If you want funding from others, you had better be able to answer this question appropriately.
Jeffrey J. Rodman is the founder, President, and CEO of Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting and Church Grant Writing providing consultation for grant writing and funding development nationally and internationally. Mr. Rodman has a Master Degree in Education, is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), and is a Certified Grants Specialist (CGS). He is an experienced grant writer, nonprofit executive, and public speaker. Mr. Rodman has written hundreds of proposal to both government and private sources, has secured millions as a consultant, and has an 80% success rate in securing grants.
Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting
Jeffrey J. Rodman, CFRE, CGS, M.Ed.
President & CEO
Website: http://www.npfunds.com
Blog: http://npfunds.com/blog
Phone: 1-866-HERE-4-U-1
I hear the time contribution excuse from board members all the time – especially board members who do not do much more than attend a monthly or quarterly board meeting. Meeting attendance is important, of course, but if that is all a board member is willing to do, then it is time to move on.
Board members are the people who are closest to the organization, who are most passionate about the mission, and know best how deserving the ministry is of financial support. If these board members are not willing to make a financial investment in the organization, why would a community member, a foundation, or a corporation want to?
It is the ministry’s responsibility to ensure that board members understand the organization’s expectation for board contributions, and that expectation should be clear from the beginning. Occasionally you will be recruiting board members because of their expertise or position of authority but they should still also be committed enough to the ministry to give financially.
If your organization asks ANYONE for a donation, board members should be first to give.
Contributions do not have to be huge, but they should be sacrificial. Everybody, even people who are unemployed, make some charitable contributions. Whether it is $2 or $2 million, board members should be asked to give a gift that would be considered generous given their individual means and abilities.
Consider this: board members must, from time to time, go on solicitation calls or ask others for a contribution. If the board member has made a contribution first, he or she is really asking the prospective donor to join him or her in the support of the organization. This is an easy request.
However, if the board member has not made a contribution, the request feels like begging for charity. No one likes to beg. That is precisely why most board members hate soliciting. They are begging rather than not recruiting.
Foundations and corporations want to know that the board is supporting the organization financially. If the board is looking for funding from the community but is not giving of their own means, the foundation is likely to pass.
Clearly, the answer is “yes, board members must contribute financially” and “no, time contributions alone are not enough.” This may be a tough message for the board. But why would individuals, foundations, and corporations contribute when the board of the ministry does not sufficiently value the ministry by offering financial support? I have been on many donor meetings where the donor asked if I give to the organization myself. I have also seen many grant applications ask for a list of board member contributions. If you want funding from others, you had better be able to answer this question appropriately.
Jeffrey J. Rodman is the founder, President, and CEO of Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting and Church Grant Writing providing consultation for grant writing and funding development nationally and internationally. Mr. Rodman has a Master Degree in Education, is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), and is a Certified Grants Specialist (CGS). He is an experienced grant writer, nonprofit executive, and public speaker. Mr. Rodman has written hundreds of proposal to both government and private sources, has secured millions as a consultant, and has an 80% success rate in securing grants.
Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting
Jeffrey J. Rodman, CFRE, CGS, M.Ed.
President & CEO
Website: http://www.npfunds.com
Blog: http://npfunds.com/blog
Phone: 1-866-HERE-4-U-1
Friday, March 26, 2010
Grant Development: Consistent + Persistent + Organized = SUCCESS!
Regardless of your experience, skill level, or even the quality of your competition, with enough time, the following principle will allow you to win grant funding for your organization! The single principle that will give your organization a huge advantage and will virtually guarantee your success is CONSISTENCY.
In fact, the only thing that can stop you from developing a successful grant strategy and securing the funding your organization needs is to not utilize this principle… and that is the number one reason why incredibly deserving, compassionate, and valuable ministries never obtain the funding they need to survive and why they eventually close their doors as a result.
Many wonderful ministries get frustrated when they start to implement a grant development strategy and do not see the results quickly enough. They look at their competitors and notice the amount of funding they have secured and wonder why they are not yielding the same results. Having an organized approach is, of course, important. However, I have found that the number one reason ministries fail at grant writing is that they quit before they start to see results.
A lot of people become gung-ho about new goals or opportunities, and they charge out of the gate in an explosion of activity - yet their intensity and commitment quickly fizzle. Meanwhile, those who begin the journey with less flash but a greater commitment to consistency eventually catch up to their flamboyant peers and leave them in the dust. Your ministry should do what most ministries do not: Stay consistent.
Darren Hardy notes that the “lack of consistency is the subtle stealer of dreams. The stop and start process kills progress in any pursuit. In fact, inconsistency is one of the biggest reasons people don’t achieve their goals.”
When you start thinking about slacking off on your action plan, routines, and rhythms, consider the massive cost of inconsistency. It is not the loss of the single action and the tiny results it creates; it is the utter collapse and loss of momentum your entire progress will suffer.
Zig Ziglar uses the analogy of a hand-pumped water well. The water table is 25 feet below the ground. A pipe runs down to the water, and you have to pump the lever to create the suction that brings the water above the ground and out of the spout.
When most people start a new endeavor, they grab the lever and start pumping really hard; they are excited, committed, and resolute…. They pump and pump and pump, and after a few minutes, when they don’t see any water, they give up pumping the lever altogether.
The same principle applies to grant writing and development. Many start a new grant writing endeavor by submitting a flurry of application to dozens of foundations. A few months later when they still have not received any grants (or sometimes even any responses), they conclude that grant writing just will not work for their ministry and therefore give up.
If they persevere and continue to pump and pump the lever, eventually a few drops of water will appear. At this point, a lot of people say, “You’ve got to be kidding! All this pumping, and for what? A few drops of water? Forget it!”
A ministry may say, “after a full year of grant writing we only secured one $5,000 grant. What good will that do my ministry?” They don’t see the results they were expecting (expectations can really hurt us at times). They think their plan isn’t working, and they quit. The wise ministry will persist and continue to pump in their grant development efforts.
If you continue to pump, eventually, you will get a full and steady stream of water. Congratulations, success!
Now, here is where grant development gets really exciting…
Once the water is flowing, you no longer need to pump the lever as hard or as quickly. It’s easy to keep the pressure steady by just pumping the lever CONSISTENTLY. But now you need to KEEP pumping!
So, what happens if you let go of the lever for too long? The water falls back down into the ground, and you’re back at square one. If you come back and pump the lever easily and steadily, you still won’t get any water. You have lost the vacuum, or the momentum of your compounded effort. The only way to get the water flowing again is to start all over.
The ministries that persist long enough to start to see funding have a new problem when it comes to consistency…they forget to keep pumping. The problem is that they work really hard to get the funding flowing and then take a break. Ugh! Now they have to pump like crazy again just to get back to even. Living life in a constant state of fits and starts is frustrating and demoralizing.
Consistency is one of the most important principles of grant writing success.
Does this sound like your ministry? Is your grant development process full of starts and stops? Flurries of activity followed by months of stagnation? Have you quit grant writing because you determined that it just will not work for your type of ministry?
Here is the message: Grant writing works for every ministry! If you have a consistent, persistent, and organized effort you will see success. This is not a question of IF you will see success but WHEN you will see success.
If you are thinking that your ministry simply does not have the resources to do this the right way, consider using an outsourced grant development consultant. A consultant will develop an organized grant development strategy and then implement that strategy in a consistent and persistent manner. If you are patient, and the consultant is up-front and honest with you about what to expect, you will see success and your ministry will gain the funding it needs.
My thanks go to Darren Hardy (http://blog.success.com/author/darren-hardy/) and Zig Ziglar (www.ziglar.com/) for the principles and analogies used in this article.
In fact, the only thing that can stop you from developing a successful grant strategy and securing the funding your organization needs is to not utilize this principle… and that is the number one reason why incredibly deserving, compassionate, and valuable ministries never obtain the funding they need to survive and why they eventually close their doors as a result.
Many wonderful ministries get frustrated when they start to implement a grant development strategy and do not see the results quickly enough. They look at their competitors and notice the amount of funding they have secured and wonder why they are not yielding the same results. Having an organized approach is, of course, important. However, I have found that the number one reason ministries fail at grant writing is that they quit before they start to see results.
A lot of people become gung-ho about new goals or opportunities, and they charge out of the gate in an explosion of activity - yet their intensity and commitment quickly fizzle. Meanwhile, those who begin the journey with less flash but a greater commitment to consistency eventually catch up to their flamboyant peers and leave them in the dust. Your ministry should do what most ministries do not: Stay consistent.
Darren Hardy notes that the “lack of consistency is the subtle stealer of dreams. The stop and start process kills progress in any pursuit. In fact, inconsistency is one of the biggest reasons people don’t achieve their goals.”
When you start thinking about slacking off on your action plan, routines, and rhythms, consider the massive cost of inconsistency. It is not the loss of the single action and the tiny results it creates; it is the utter collapse and loss of momentum your entire progress will suffer.
Zig Ziglar uses the analogy of a hand-pumped water well. The water table is 25 feet below the ground. A pipe runs down to the water, and you have to pump the lever to create the suction that brings the water above the ground and out of the spout.
When most people start a new endeavor, they grab the lever and start pumping really hard; they are excited, committed, and resolute…. They pump and pump and pump, and after a few minutes, when they don’t see any water, they give up pumping the lever altogether.
The same principle applies to grant writing and development. Many start a new grant writing endeavor by submitting a flurry of application to dozens of foundations. A few months later when they still have not received any grants (or sometimes even any responses), they conclude that grant writing just will not work for their ministry and therefore give up.
If they persevere and continue to pump and pump the lever, eventually a few drops of water will appear. At this point, a lot of people say, “You’ve got to be kidding! All this pumping, and for what? A few drops of water? Forget it!”
A ministry may say, “after a full year of grant writing we only secured one $5,000 grant. What good will that do my ministry?” They don’t see the results they were expecting (expectations can really hurt us at times). They think their plan isn’t working, and they quit. The wise ministry will persist and continue to pump in their grant development efforts.
If you continue to pump, eventually, you will get a full and steady stream of water. Congratulations, success!
Now, here is where grant development gets really exciting…
Once the water is flowing, you no longer need to pump the lever as hard or as quickly. It’s easy to keep the pressure steady by just pumping the lever CONSISTENTLY. But now you need to KEEP pumping!
So, what happens if you let go of the lever for too long? The water falls back down into the ground, and you’re back at square one. If you come back and pump the lever easily and steadily, you still won’t get any water. You have lost the vacuum, or the momentum of your compounded effort. The only way to get the water flowing again is to start all over.
The ministries that persist long enough to start to see funding have a new problem when it comes to consistency…they forget to keep pumping. The problem is that they work really hard to get the funding flowing and then take a break. Ugh! Now they have to pump like crazy again just to get back to even. Living life in a constant state of fits and starts is frustrating and demoralizing.
Consistency is one of the most important principles of grant writing success.
Does this sound like your ministry? Is your grant development process full of starts and stops? Flurries of activity followed by months of stagnation? Have you quit grant writing because you determined that it just will not work for your type of ministry?
Here is the message: Grant writing works for every ministry! If you have a consistent, persistent, and organized effort you will see success. This is not a question of IF you will see success but WHEN you will see success.
If you are thinking that your ministry simply does not have the resources to do this the right way, consider using an outsourced grant development consultant. A consultant will develop an organized grant development strategy and then implement that strategy in a consistent and persistent manner. If you are patient, and the consultant is up-front and honest with you about what to expect, you will see success and your ministry will gain the funding it needs.
My thanks go to Darren Hardy (http://blog.success.com/author/darren-hardy/) and Zig Ziglar (www.ziglar.com/) for the principles and analogies used in this article.
Should Board Members Contribute Financially to the Ministry they serve or is the Contribution of Time and Energy Enough?
This seems to be every board’s complaint: “I give time and energy, so I don’t have to give money.” Time is valuable, but it does not replace financial giving.
I hear the time contribution excuse from board members all the time – especially board members who do not do much more than attend a monthly or quarterly board meeting. Meeting attendance is important, of course, but if that is all a board member is willing to do, then it is time to move on.
Board members are the people who are closest to the organization, who are most passionate about the mission, and know best how deserving the ministry is of financial support. If these board members are not willing to make a financial investment in the organization, why would a community member, a foundation, or a corporation want to?
It is the ministry’s responsibility to ensure that board members understand the organization’s expectation for board contributions, and that expectation should be clear from the beginning. Occasionally you will be recruiting board members because of their expertise or position of authority but they should still also be committed enough to the ministry to give financially.
If your organization asks ANYONE for a donation, board members should be first to give.
Contributions do not have to be huge, but they should be sacrificial. Everybody, even people who are unemployed, make some charitable contributions. Whether it is $2 or $2 million, board members should be asked to give a gift that would be considered generous given their individual means and abilities.
Consider this: board members must, from time to time, go on solicitation calls or ask others for a contribution. If the board member has made a contribution first, he or she is really asking the prospective donor to join him or her in the support of the organization. This is an easy request.
However, if the board member has not made a contribution, the request feels like begging for charity. No one likes to beg. That is precisely why most board members hate soliciting. They are begging rather than not recruiting.
Foundations and corporations want to know that the board is supporting the organization financially. If the board is looking for funding from the community but is not giving of their own means, the foundation is likely to pass.
Clearly, the answer is “yes, board members must contribute financially” and “no, time contributions alone are not enough.” This may be a tough message for the board. But why would individuals, foundations, and corporations contribute when the board of the ministry does not sufficiently value the ministry by offering financial support? I have been on many donor meetings where the donor asked if I give to the organization myself. I have also seen many grant applications ask for a list of board member contributions. If you want funding from others, you had better be able to answer this question appropriately.
I hear the time contribution excuse from board members all the time – especially board members who do not do much more than attend a monthly or quarterly board meeting. Meeting attendance is important, of course, but if that is all a board member is willing to do, then it is time to move on.
Board members are the people who are closest to the organization, who are most passionate about the mission, and know best how deserving the ministry is of financial support. If these board members are not willing to make a financial investment in the organization, why would a community member, a foundation, or a corporation want to?
It is the ministry’s responsibility to ensure that board members understand the organization’s expectation for board contributions, and that expectation should be clear from the beginning. Occasionally you will be recruiting board members because of their expertise or position of authority but they should still also be committed enough to the ministry to give financially.
If your organization asks ANYONE for a donation, board members should be first to give.
Contributions do not have to be huge, but they should be sacrificial. Everybody, even people who are unemployed, make some charitable contributions. Whether it is $2 or $2 million, board members should be asked to give a gift that would be considered generous given their individual means and abilities.
Consider this: board members must, from time to time, go on solicitation calls or ask others for a contribution. If the board member has made a contribution first, he or she is really asking the prospective donor to join him or her in the support of the organization. This is an easy request.
However, if the board member has not made a contribution, the request feels like begging for charity. No one likes to beg. That is precisely why most board members hate soliciting. They are begging rather than not recruiting.
Foundations and corporations want to know that the board is supporting the organization financially. If the board is looking for funding from the community but is not giving of their own means, the foundation is likely to pass.
Clearly, the answer is “yes, board members must contribute financially” and “no, time contributions alone are not enough.” This may be a tough message for the board. But why would individuals, foundations, and corporations contribute when the board of the ministry does not sufficiently value the ministry by offering financial support? I have been on many donor meetings where the donor asked if I give to the organization myself. I have also seen many grant applications ask for a list of board member contributions. If you want funding from others, you had better be able to answer this question appropriately.
Monday, March 15, 2010
The Improving Grantmaking Outlook in 2010 Requires Ministries to Be Strong, Smart, and Strategic!
The economic downturn has reduced foundation assets, forcing funders to cut expenses and limit grantmaking. Foundations suffered a 22 percent reduction in assets in late 2008, fairing much better than the overall market in general. As a result, 2009 witnessed the sharpest decline in grantmaking in decades. The 2010 outlook is much more promising as many foundations have recovered the majority of the lost assets since the market low point 1 year ago. Since then, the S&P 500 Index has rallied by 68%, representing the strongest one-year recovery since the Great Depression and leading to many foundations surpassing gaining in wealth.
However, it is not all good news and grantmaking will never go back to the way it was before the market dropped. Foundations have learned valuable lessons through this process making them more strategic and demanding greater accountability. But there are plenty of things you can do to attract funding for your ministry.
Christian ministries and churches want to know if the economic recovery we're seeing will facilitate more grantmaking in 2010. The only way to answer that question is to turn to funders themselves. They do not speak with one voice. Their answers differ, which is not surprising considering the unknowns of the recovery and diversity of the foundations themselves. They are, however, as a whole, much more optimistic than they were a year ago, according to the findings of a Dini Partners' poll of the nation's leading foundation leaders.
In its Dini Partners Giving in 2010 survey, Dini Partners polled a select group of philanthropists to get their views on the recovery and the future of grantmaking.
Forty percent of the poll respondents expect to see renewed economic growth or believe the economy will continue to improve throughout 2010 and greatly stabilize by the end of the year. Twenty-seven percent expect to return to their high prerecession giving levels of 2008. An astounding 70% said they will give more than they did in the depressed giving year of 2009, 13% said their giving will depend on how well the stock market does, and 23% said they will give less than in previous years. Fourteen percent said they will give the same or slightly less than in 2009.
These findings, though mixed, reflect growing optimism. A year ago 62 percent of respondents said they would reduce giving in 2009 while only five percent said they would give more.
The Foundation Giving Forecast Survey by the Foundation Center queried over 500 foundations in September 2009, including 429 independent foundations, 110 community foundations, and 54 corporate foundations.
Fifty-four percent of the respondents said they will either match their 2009 level of giving in 2010 (39.4 percent) or increase it (14.1 percent). Smaller foundations which are more likely to be supportive of Christian ministries and churches are twice as likely as large foundations to give more in 2010. (Large foundations are those that give at least $10 million annually). About one in five foundations expect to give less in 2010 and 26% are uncertain how much they'll give.
Even a continued economic recovery this year wouldn't increase giving much by the largest foundations as grant budgets depend on rolling asset value averages from the two previous years.
All things considered, foundation giving likely will grow somewhat in 2010 and may see a strong resurgence in 2011. Optimism is on the upswing, opportunities for this year do exist, and 2010 is the right time for Christian ministries and churches to develop a strong grant development foundation for 2011.
Steps to making your Christian ministry fundable
The economic downturn is forcing funders to give strategically. More than ever, they must ensure that the funds they provide yield results. This means that you too must act strategically. More than ever, you need to give foundations what they want and heed grantmaking trends.
Foundations are increasingly interested in funding outcomes and causes rather than particular organizations. The answer is not to adapt your mission to each foundation, becoming everything to everyone. Your ministry will become much more fundable in these times by becoming known for staying true to its mission.
Development experts have other ideas as we transition from the harsh funding environment of last year to the better days ahead. Below is the Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting version of the "Be Attitudes" for laying a strong foundation for grant development in 2010 and 2011.
Author Bio:
Jeffrey J. Rodman is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and a Certified Grants Specialist (CGS). He is an experienced grantwriter, fundraiser, nonprofit executive, and public speaker who operates Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting and Church Grant Writing providing consultation for grant writing to Christian ministries and Churches worldwide.
Jeffrey supervises a team of writers, researchers, editors, and administrative staff in providing consultation for grant proposal writing, nonprofit development, and fundraising in almost every state and a dozen foreign countries and has worked on proposals to Federal, State, and Local government as well as to Foundations, Civic groups, and many others.
Jeffrey received his BS and his M.Ed. from George Mason University. He has written 100’s proposals, secured millions of dollars in funding, and maintains a funding rate of nearly 80%. He has successfully managed over 25 different grants as a grant administrator and has also served as a grant reviewer on a state, federal, and local level as well as on foundation review panels. Jeffrey is an experienced speaker and is a Certified National Trainer for programs in Ohio, Indiana, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Florida.
Jeffrey loves to play games with his kids and enjoy time with his family. Although he grew up in New York, he has lived in Virginia since 1996 where he and his wife, Terri home school their five children, Alexandra (12), Mackenzie (9), Christian (6) Kaitlyn (3), and Abigail (born 02/10/2010).
Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting
Jeffrey J. Rodman, CFRE, CGS, M.Ed.
President & CEO
Website: http://www.npfunds.com
Blog: http://npfunds.com/blog
Phone: 1-866-HERE-4-U-1
The economic downturn is forcing funders to give strategically. More than ever, they must ensure that the funds they provide yield results. This means that you too must act strategically. More than ever, you need to give foundations what they want and heed grantmaking trends.
- Be Measured: Your "goals will be measured against your mission, tested against anticipated outcomes and community impact, and aligned with the specific collaborative input of donors."
- Be Realistic: This means, "Do not return to the goals and high expectations of 2006 and 2007; at the same time do not remain mired in the anguish of 2009."
- Be Intentional: "We are now going to be even more intentional, deliberate, and purposeful in our decision-making process." Funders want you to do the same in your grant proposal-preparation process.
- Be Creative: In today's grantmaking environment, this means "moving away from a 'reaction phase' to an 'action phase.'"
- Be Strategic: "It is these plans that will express the measured, realistic, intentional, and creative underpinning of campaign and fundraising objectives and goals."
- Be Communicative: This means cultivate close personal relationships with both prospective gift donors and current ones. "This continues to be a period in which the close personal stewardship of relationships is paramount."
- Be Appealing: "In a surprising shift away from traditional thinking, the merits of the appeal - its mission alignment, precision of statement, and clarity of presentation - far surpass the importance of the person asking for the gift."
- Be Selective: Funders recommend that you "sustain and further develop annual fund support, along with welcoming select capital initiatives and campaigns...and rebuild endowment values through highly selective fundraising efforts, provided the endowment is guided by conservative and very deliberate investment policies and management."
- Be Stronger: "Given the time that has passed since the beginning of the recession, there is an expectation that most institutions have made adjustments to programming and expense management that would move them away from rescue fundraising for the operating budget."
- Be Collaborative: Seek out collaboration - foundations are urging likeminded organizations to fuse their resources to combat problems, enabling you to achieve more together than you ever could apart.
- Be Sustainable: Demonstrate sustainability - credibly explain how you'll fund your program once the grant period ends.
- Be Transparent: Transparency means providing easy access to financial information, mission and vision, programming plans, projects, and financial data.
Conclusion
In an environment in which more and more organizations battle for fewer and fewer grants, one funder in the Foundation Center poll spoke for the many by saying, "The long-term impact of the economic crisis on the nonprofit sector will be that only the strongest, smartest, and most strategic will survive." Ensuring that your ministry is strong, smart, and strategic in its grant development approach is crucial to your funding success and to your long-term viability.Author Bio:
Jeffrey J. Rodman is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and a Certified Grants Specialist (CGS). He is an experienced grantwriter, fundraiser, nonprofit executive, and public speaker who operates Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting and Church Grant Writing providing consultation for grant writing to Christian ministries and Churches worldwide.
Jeffrey supervises a team of writers, researchers, editors, and administrative staff in providing consultation for grant proposal writing, nonprofit development, and fundraising in almost every state and a dozen foreign countries and has worked on proposals to Federal, State, and Local government as well as to Foundations, Civic groups, and many others.
Jeffrey received his BS and his M.Ed. from George Mason University. He has written 100’s proposals, secured millions of dollars in funding, and maintains a funding rate of nearly 80%. He has successfully managed over 25 different grants as a grant administrator and has also served as a grant reviewer on a state, federal, and local level as well as on foundation review panels. Jeffrey is an experienced speaker and is a Certified National Trainer for programs in Ohio, Indiana, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Florida.
Jeffrey loves to play games with his kids and enjoy time with his family. Although he grew up in New York, he has lived in Virginia since 1996 where he and his wife, Terri home school their five children, Alexandra (12), Mackenzie (9), Christian (6) Kaitlyn (3), and Abigail (born 02/10/2010).
Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting
Jeffrey J. Rodman, CFRE, CGS, M.Ed.
President & CEO
Website: http://www.npfunds.com
Blog: http://npfunds.com/blog
Phone: 1-866-HERE-4-U-1
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
How to Approach Grant Making Foundations that only give to Pre-Selected Organizations
Most grant making foundations accept applications from any nonprofit organization or ministry seeking grant funding for their church, Christian ministry, or other nonprofit organization. There are, of course, restrictions and funding priorities but the church, Christian ministry, or other nonprofit is left to evaluate these areas and submit an appropriate funding inquiry. However, many smaller grant making foundations do not accept applications and will include a statement that they only give to “pre-selected organizations” or that “applications are not accepted.”
The most common reasons that foundations do not accept applications include:
We suggest a three steps procedure for approaching pre-selected foundations:
Decide if the foundation really is a good match
Carefully analyze the foundation's Form 990s from the past several years to see the grants that have been awarded. Subscribers to our Christian Funding Directory can use the free 990 Finder to find Form 990s from specific foundations.
If the foundation makes grants to the same small set of organizations every year, you might want to consider other funding sources. However, if there are organizations that are only funded periodically or if new organizations appear each year this may be a prospective funding source.
Next, analyze the new organizations that appear on the Form 990 to see if they are similar to your organization in mission, vision, and geographic area. Honestly assess if the grant recipients are similar.
If all of these factors indicate a potential match, proceed by using your networks to secure an invitation or introduction to the grant making foundation.
Use your networks
Give a list of the foundation's board members and staff (along with their affiliations) to your board members, key donors, and influential supporters. Ask them if they know anyone on the list and if they are willing to introduce your organization to them. This is the most effective way of getting the foundation's attention.
If you do not have connections, proceed by drafting a compelling letter of introduction outlying why you are such an ideal prospect for funding.
Send a letter of introduction
If you don't have connections, you could still send a letter that introduces your organization and explains how it connects with the foundation's giving interests. However, this letter should NOT include a request for funding. Instead, the letter should provide a brief description of your organization, ask how the foundation selects its supported organizations, and request to meet with them or provide more information about your organization. This letter should be one page maximum!
Building a relationship can be a long process, but worth the effort. Remember these organizations are known to be very loyal to the organizations they fund, and if invited to apply you will most likely develop a long term funding partner.
Finally, if you are not an ideal and perfect match do not waste the time of the foundation and your own energies in developing and submitting a letter. Honestly, organizations that send frivolous letters are the reason the foundation has such restricted access in the first place. If you do not meet the funding priorities move onto the next foundation and continue your research.
Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting is always very careful in approaching pre-selected foundations. A wrong or frivolous approach can damage your efforts not only with this foundation but with the others they communicate and share information with.
- The foundation has found that too many organizations are submitting proposals outside of the grant funding priorities.
- The foundation has an internal process for identifying and selecting its grant recipients each year, usually organizations are recommended by a board member or trustee.
- The foundation has been legally established for the benefit of specific organizations.
- The foundation has been legally established by the donor/founder with specific restrictions on their grant giving procedures.
- The foundation does not have the capacity to receive and review a large volume of grant proposals.
However, you may still want to approach foundations that do not accept applications if their giving interests closely match your organization's mission and vision. Being added as a new recipient for grant funding by a foundation “not accepting applications” happens more frequently than one would think.
Carefully analyze the foundation's Form 990s from the past several years to see the grants that have been awarded. Subscribers to our Christian Funding Directory can use the free 990 Finder to find Form 990s from specific foundations.
Give a list of the foundation's board members and staff (along with their affiliations) to your board members, key donors, and influential supporters. Ask them if they know anyone on the list and if they are willing to introduce your organization to them. This is the most effective way of getting the foundation's attention.
If you don't have connections, you could still send a letter that introduces your organization and explains how it connects with the foundation's giving interests. However, this letter should NOT include a request for funding. Instead, the letter should provide a brief description of your organization, ask how the foundation selects its supported organizations, and request to meet with them or provide more information about your organization. This letter should be one page maximum!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Help in applying for Church Grants
Churches are well-known for helping with charitable works in the community. They fund and assist with programs like meals for the homeless, food banks and other community services. Most churches have volunteers to help with these programs, but sometimes the church budgets don't allow them the financial freedom to do as much as they would like. You can be awarded churches grants from various endowments and corporations, as well as some government entities. These monies can help your church flourish in all your good works.
Grants will generally only be awarded to faith-based groups if they have specific needs to address. In the case of Churches Grants, these needs may vary from construction of a new church or church building, to setting up a community center for the homeless. There are various grants available, and companies like Here-4 You Christian Grant Consulting can help you learn to properly write a grant request, so that you can find the funding for the current goals that your church has.
The term church obviously does not refer only to the building where you worship. A church is a congregation that meets to worship and serve God. Churches grants can help new or struggling parishes to construct buildings to meet in and to use for service to the community. These grants may be used for remodeling existing buildings or building new ones. Were it not for grants, some towns would not even have a place for homeless people to sleep and eat, or any programs that aid people in getting back on their feet. These grant monies help churches to perform vital functions in the community.
Learning grant writing is an all-important skill, because it can mean the difference between having funds to help the church and its community, or not. If you use the services of a company like Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting, they can help you perfect your grant writing, as well as finding the possible grants that would be most beneficial to your faith-based organization. Low cost services are available to aid your group in obtaining churches grants.
Applying for help in obtaining your 501(c)(3) status and then writing grants will enable your organization to obtain funding for projects that will benefit your congregation and your community. Select a company with high quality services to help you to obtain grant monies. These services are available in the United States and many foreign countries as well.
Grants will generally only be awarded to faith-based groups if they have specific needs to address. In the case of Churches Grants, these needs may vary from construction of a new church or church building, to setting up a community center for the homeless. There are various grants available, and companies like Here-4 You Christian Grant Consulting can help you learn to properly write a grant request, so that you can find the funding for the current goals that your church has.
The term church obviously does not refer only to the building where you worship. A church is a congregation that meets to worship and serve God. Churches grants can help new or struggling parishes to construct buildings to meet in and to use for service to the community. These grants may be used for remodeling existing buildings or building new ones. Were it not for grants, some towns would not even have a place for homeless people to sleep and eat, or any programs that aid people in getting back on their feet. These grant monies help churches to perform vital functions in the community.
Learning grant writing is an all-important skill, because it can mean the difference between having funds to help the church and its community, or not. If you use the services of a company like Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting, they can help you perfect your grant writing, as well as finding the possible grants that would be most beneficial to your faith-based organization. Low cost services are available to aid your group in obtaining churches grants.
Applying for help in obtaining your 501(c)(3) status and then writing grants will enable your organization to obtain funding for projects that will benefit your congregation and your community. Select a company with high quality services to help you to obtain grant monies. These services are available in the United States and many foreign countries as well.
Virginia Christian Grant Writing Consultancy Celebrates 10 Year Milestone
Front Royal, VA -- Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting, a northern Virginia-based company that provides funding development and grant writing services mostly for Christian churches and ministries, is celebrating its tenth anniversary this month.
To mark the occasion, the business is offering discounts on all its services in the first three months of 2010. This includes its Jump Start, Grant Catalyst, Grant Ready, and Full Service Packages, its Grant Feasibility and Grant Market Analysis, and its Christian Funding Directory.
Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting was founded in February 2000 by Jeffrey Rodman initially on a part-time basis. By 2004, however, he had developed enough of a client base to leave his full-time job as a nonprofit executive director to devote all of his working hours to his company.
Mr. Rodman, a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and a certified Grants Specialist (CGS), is a nationally-respected authority on grant writing for Christian ministries and churches as well as a sought-after speaker. But he didn’t originally plan to make Christian organizations the sole beneficiaries of his expertise.
“Right after I quit my job the Lord spoke to my heart and told me that my grant writing company should be a grant writing ministry and should focus exclusively on Christian ministries and churches. I thought this was a terrible idea…but I was obedient and changed my focus. By the time I left my job I had already hired two part-time staff members to help with the ministries and churches I was serving. I now have three full-time staff members in the U.S. and part time staff members in the UK.”
Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting has served churches and ministries in 40 states and 30 countries. At this time it is working with clients in 17 states and five foreign countries -- Uganda, South Africa, the Philippines, Canada, and India.
“The Lord has truly blessed my ministry,” Mr. Rodman said.
It is nominally a business, but it might as well be a nonprofit, Mr. Rodman emphasized.
“Although we are legally a for-profit, we operate on a break even basis and function like a nonprofit. The company has never made a profit and when profits were realized, as they were in late 2009, we decided to offer specials and discounts and make our services available to more ministries,” he said.
Mr. Rodman said the services his firm offers explain its growth.
“Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting is the only grant writing company specifically focused on Christian ministries and churches. Additionally, we have developed a Christian Funding Directory, which is now the world’s largest directory of funding sources for Christian ministries and churches with over 7,500 funding sources listed. And our website, www.npfunds.com, has become the web portal of resources for Christian ministries and churches. It lists dozens of articles, sample grants, and other content.”
Mr. Rodman plans to offer more services in the future. As one example, “Our goal is to add a bookstore focused on grant writing and development resources relevant to Christian ministries,” he said.
Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting specializes in offering affordable services as a Christian fundraiser. It staffs a team of specialists to research funding sources and write grant proposals to help secure funds. They can be reached toll-free at 866-HERE-4-U-1. The purpose is to help the organizations it serves develop in strength, longevity, and efficiency and “to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for building the body of Christ” (KJV Ephesians 4:12).
To mark the occasion, the business is offering discounts on all its services in the first three months of 2010. This includes its Jump Start, Grant Catalyst, Grant Ready, and Full Service Packages, its Grant Feasibility and Grant Market Analysis, and its Christian Funding Directory.
Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting was founded in February 2000 by Jeffrey Rodman initially on a part-time basis. By 2004, however, he had developed enough of a client base to leave his full-time job as a nonprofit executive director to devote all of his working hours to his company.
Mr. Rodman, a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and a certified Grants Specialist (CGS), is a nationally-respected authority on grant writing for Christian ministries and churches as well as a sought-after speaker. But he didn’t originally plan to make Christian organizations the sole beneficiaries of his expertise.
“Right after I quit my job the Lord spoke to my heart and told me that my grant writing company should be a grant writing ministry and should focus exclusively on Christian ministries and churches. I thought this was a terrible idea…but I was obedient and changed my focus. By the time I left my job I had already hired two part-time staff members to help with the ministries and churches I was serving. I now have three full-time staff members in the U.S. and part time staff members in the UK.”
Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting has served churches and ministries in 40 states and 30 countries. At this time it is working with clients in 17 states and five foreign countries -- Uganda, South Africa, the Philippines, Canada, and India.
“The Lord has truly blessed my ministry,” Mr. Rodman said.
It is nominally a business, but it might as well be a nonprofit, Mr. Rodman emphasized.
“Although we are legally a for-profit, we operate on a break even basis and function like a nonprofit. The company has never made a profit and when profits were realized, as they were in late 2009, we decided to offer specials and discounts and make our services available to more ministries,” he said.
Mr. Rodman said the services his firm offers explain its growth.
“Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting is the only grant writing company specifically focused on Christian ministries and churches. Additionally, we have developed a Christian Funding Directory, which is now the world’s largest directory of funding sources for Christian ministries and churches with over 7,500 funding sources listed. And our website, www.npfunds.com, has become the web portal of resources for Christian ministries and churches. It lists dozens of articles, sample grants, and other content.”
Mr. Rodman plans to offer more services in the future. As one example, “Our goal is to add a bookstore focused on grant writing and development resources relevant to Christian ministries,” he said.
Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting specializes in offering affordable services as a Christian fundraiser. It staffs a team of specialists to research funding sources and write grant proposals to help secure funds. They can be reached toll-free at 866-HERE-4-U-1. The purpose is to help the organizations it serves develop in strength, longevity, and efficiency and “to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for building the body of Christ” (KJV Ephesians 4:12).
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Outsourcing Grant Writing Can Save Organizations Money and Secure the Talent Needed to Implement a Grant Strategy.
During difficult economic times such as these many Christian ministries, churches, and other nonprofits will cut staff trying to reduce operating costs. Often development, fundraising, and grant writing staff are the first to be laid off during lean times.
In my professional opinion as a nationally recognized consultant, fundraiser, and nonprofit executive it is counterintuitive to layoff funding development staff when you are in need of more funding. It seems to me that this would be a time to further support this function of the organization and offer them new resources to grow the funding development effort.
However, there is a way to BOTH grow and improve your funding development while reducing overhead costs for the organization. Outsourcing grant writing services to an experienced consultant is much less costly than having on staff grant writing and brings more experience, resources, and efficiency to the organizations funding development efforts.
Typically, an organization with one full-time grant writer on staff will expend $50,000-$100,000 in salary, benefits, supplies, and resources. The $50,000 figure is a very low estimate based on hiring an inexperienced grant writer and providing them with few resources to be successful. By comparison, the typical Full Service Grant Writing contract with Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting is approximately $13,000-$20,000 for the first year and even less in the 2nd and each subsequent year. Additional expenses are capped at $1,000 per year but the average ministry working with Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting pays less than $300 per year in additional expenses.
Unless an organization has the funding to dedicate to hiring an experienced grant writer and support staff (researchers, editors, etc.) and can furnish this new grant writing office with the tools and resources it needs, the ministry or nonprofit should consider hiring a consultant to get them through the strategic planning and development stages of establishing a grant writing strategy. A three year start-up period with a consultant will place a ministry or nonprofit on a strong foundation for future success.
Below are just a few examples of the benefits your ministry or nonprofit will gain by outsourcing funding development to a grant writing consultant.
Knowledge & Experience - Grant writing consultants come with the knowledge and experience in developing grant proposals that have actually been awarded. We know the critical elements of a funding inquiry that will enable funding to occur at a much higher rate than someone without this knowledge and experience. Grant writing consultants perform careful research to only include the most well matched foundations and to eliminate foundations that are not a clear match. Christian ministries and churches should look for a consultant with relevant experience and specific knowledge related to your type of organization.
Credentials - Grant writing consultants have the appropriate credentials to document that they have the education, experience, and level of success required to perform well. Look for the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) as the primary credential for your grant writing consultant.
An Outside Perspective - Grant writing consultants bring a new perspective on your organization enabling them to diagnosis the issues that may be preventing your organization from securing grant funding.
Resources - Grant writing consultants often work with multiple agencies and organizations. They usually have a library full of grant writing books and resources. They subscribe to multiple databases (each costing $1,000s) to ensure that they have access to information on every known funding source possible. They usually have multiple staff members enabling them to have experts in research, writing, administration, and other areas critical for grant success.
Efficiency – Grant writing consultants have developed proven systems that enable them to be successful time and time again. These systems make for an efficient process that could take a staff person years to develop.
Cost Effective – Hiring a grant writing consultant will save your organization valuable dollars. It is sometimes impossible to hire new staff during difficult economic times. Many organizations under estimate the amount of expense it will cost to hire a skilled and experienced grant writer. The average salary for a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) is over $80,000. Individuals with a CFRE are the ONLY individuals who have the independently documented experience, education, and success that you are looking for.
Each grant writing consultant will have their own process and procedure for engaging their services. You want to ensure they have a publicized fee schedule that applies consistent fees to organizations rather than varying fees.
Look for a consulting company rather than an individual practitioner. A grant writing company of one suffers from the same limitations as having an on staff grant writer. They simply do not have the client base to leverage financial resources and acquire the best possible tools for the process. Larger grant writing firms with 3 or 4 staff can take on more clients and thereby purchase resources that then benefit many different organizations. Larger firms are also able to hire specialists that compensate for weaknesses other individuals might have.
Ensure that the grant writing consultant works on a flat fee for services rather than on a percentage or commission. The ethics of our profession state that it is not ethical to accept percentage or commission based compensation. This standard is repeatedly stated by the major organizations that set the standards for our field. This includes the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), and the Christian Stewardship Association (CSA). A grant writing consultant willing to work on commission is either unaware of these standards or simply does not care about the field established for professional ethics.
Jeffrey J. Rodman is the founder, President, and CEO of Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting and Church Grant Writing providing consultation for grant writing and funding development nationally and internationally. Mr. Rodman has a Master Degree in Education, is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), and is a Certified Grants Specialist (CGS). He is an experienced grant writer, nonprofit executive, and public speaker. Mr. Rodman has written hundreds of proposal to both government and private sources, has secured millions as a consultant, and has an 80% success rate in securing grants.
Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting & Church Grant Writing
Jeffrey J. Rodman, CFRE, CGS, M.Ed.
President & CEO
Website: http://www.npfunds.com
Blog: http://npfunds.com/blog
Phone: 1-866-HERE-4-U-1
In my professional opinion as a nationally recognized consultant, fundraiser, and nonprofit executive it is counterintuitive to layoff funding development staff when you are in need of more funding. It seems to me that this would be a time to further support this function of the organization and offer them new resources to grow the funding development effort.
However, there is a way to BOTH grow and improve your funding development while reducing overhead costs for the organization. Outsourcing grant writing services to an experienced consultant is much less costly than having on staff grant writing and brings more experience, resources, and efficiency to the organizations funding development efforts.
Typically, an organization with one full-time grant writer on staff will expend $50,000-$100,000 in salary, benefits, supplies, and resources. The $50,000 figure is a very low estimate based on hiring an inexperienced grant writer and providing them with few resources to be successful. By comparison, the typical Full Service Grant Writing contract with Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting is approximately $13,000-$20,000 for the first year and even less in the 2nd and each subsequent year. Additional expenses are capped at $1,000 per year but the average ministry working with Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting pays less than $300 per year in additional expenses.
Unless an organization has the funding to dedicate to hiring an experienced grant writer and support staff (researchers, editors, etc.) and can furnish this new grant writing office with the tools and resources it needs, the ministry or nonprofit should consider hiring a consultant to get them through the strategic planning and development stages of establishing a grant writing strategy. A three year start-up period with a consultant will place a ministry or nonprofit on a strong foundation for future success.
Below are just a few examples of the benefits your ministry or nonprofit will gain by outsourcing funding development to a grant writing consultant.
Knowledge & Experience - Grant writing consultants come with the knowledge and experience in developing grant proposals that have actually been awarded. We know the critical elements of a funding inquiry that will enable funding to occur at a much higher rate than someone without this knowledge and experience. Grant writing consultants perform careful research to only include the most well matched foundations and to eliminate foundations that are not a clear match. Christian ministries and churches should look for a consultant with relevant experience and specific knowledge related to your type of organization.
Credentials - Grant writing consultants have the appropriate credentials to document that they have the education, experience, and level of success required to perform well. Look for the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) as the primary credential for your grant writing consultant.
An Outside Perspective - Grant writing consultants bring a new perspective on your organization enabling them to diagnosis the issues that may be preventing your organization from securing grant funding.
Resources - Grant writing consultants often work with multiple agencies and organizations. They usually have a library full of grant writing books and resources. They subscribe to multiple databases (each costing $1,000s) to ensure that they have access to information on every known funding source possible. They usually have multiple staff members enabling them to have experts in research, writing, administration, and other areas critical for grant success.
Efficiency – Grant writing consultants have developed proven systems that enable them to be successful time and time again. These systems make for an efficient process that could take a staff person years to develop.
Cost Effective – Hiring a grant writing consultant will save your organization valuable dollars. It is sometimes impossible to hire new staff during difficult economic times. Many organizations under estimate the amount of expense it will cost to hire a skilled and experienced grant writer. The average salary for a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) is over $80,000. Individuals with a CFRE are the ONLY individuals who have the independently documented experience, education, and success that you are looking for.
Each grant writing consultant will have their own process and procedure for engaging their services. You want to ensure they have a publicized fee schedule that applies consistent fees to organizations rather than varying fees.
Look for a consulting company rather than an individual practitioner. A grant writing company of one suffers from the same limitations as having an on staff grant writer. They simply do not have the client base to leverage financial resources and acquire the best possible tools for the process. Larger grant writing firms with 3 or 4 staff can take on more clients and thereby purchase resources that then benefit many different organizations. Larger firms are also able to hire specialists that compensate for weaknesses other individuals might have.
Ensure that the grant writing consultant works on a flat fee for services rather than on a percentage or commission. The ethics of our profession state that it is not ethical to accept percentage or commission based compensation. This standard is repeatedly stated by the major organizations that set the standards for our field. This includes the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), and the Christian Stewardship Association (CSA). A grant writing consultant willing to work on commission is either unaware of these standards or simply does not care about the field established for professional ethics.
Jeffrey J. Rodman is the founder, President, and CEO of Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting and Church Grant Writing providing consultation for grant writing and funding development nationally and internationally. Mr. Rodman has a Master Degree in Education, is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), and is a Certified Grants Specialist (CGS). He is an experienced grant writer, nonprofit executive, and public speaker. Mr. Rodman has written hundreds of proposal to both government and private sources, has secured millions as a consultant, and has an 80% success rate in securing grants.
Here-4-You Christian Grant Consulting & Church Grant Writing
Jeffrey J. Rodman, CFRE, CGS, M.Ed.
President & CEO
Website: http://www.npfunds.com
Blog: http://npfunds.com/blog
Phone: 1-866-HERE-4-U-1
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