For my peers in nonprofit, grant writing

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Anonymous

12/15/20 at 1:58PM UTC

Career

For my peers in nonprofit, grant writing

As is the case with many of us these days fortunate to be working, we are responsible for many things. I'm a development director at a nonprofit. The organization I work for has been successful in obtaining grants (they had a person dedicated to the role). I'm frustrated by the lack of collaboration and lack of interest or input from program managers. I can't divine what a program is going to look like or how much to budget for it. I also don't want to re-purpose prior letters of intent or past narratives. I'm looking for insight and assistance to develop strong grant applications to help the organization gain financial sustainability. Suggestions welcome!

8 Comments

Amanda Sewell

170

Strategic Partnership Manager outside Philly

12/15/20 at 2:08PM UTC

I work in a grant funded industry, previously with a nonprofit, and in my experience this is pretty standard. My suggestion is to embrace their lack of input as part of the challenge. Are there other people you can bounce ideas off of? Would the finance department be able to help with a budget based on what they have done in the past?

Stephanie Serafino

12/15/20 at 3:23PM UTC

I would take advantage of past letters of intent and narratives, especially if they were successful. They can be great starting point to outline a new application, begin the brainstorm process and draft ideas for a new program. As mentioned above, definitely reach out to your finance department and outsource similar tasks so you can focus on defining the program.

Cheryl Neas

105

12/15/20 at 5:12PM UTC

Is there an overall organizational strategic plan that can be a resource? I am not sure why you don't want to use past information as a starting point if it has led to successful grants, though. Another thing to consider is that they are probably swamped with their own work and might see this as an additional burden. How much of the work can do you FOR them as you prepare? For example extracting from past information and asking if they would suggest any updates rather than wholesale wanting to discuss new programs. I don't think it's sustainable in the long term to do fundraising in a vacuum. I would consider talking with organizational leadership to improve your culture of philanthropy so that program managers can have cooperation with your department infused into their jobs.

Krista Coutts

311

Marketing Professional, Cross-Functional Leader

12/15/20 at 10:23PM UTC

Does your organization have a strategic plan, mission and vision statement? Hopefully, that general information might help with strategy on grants you are pursuing. Or could you gather your key stakeholders together for a 2021 Whiteboard Session? A conversation with your Executive Director/President about direction from Programming also wouldn't hurt! Good luck!

Anonymous

12/21/20 at 1:48PM UTC

I think that it's hard to envision what may come in the future. Based on past plans and proposals, can you develop the basis for a new proposal and bring that back to the program managers? I find that people have an easier time reacting to something on paper rather than coming up with something with a blank slate, especially in these uncertain times! It may help in these conversations to discuss their strategy as you conduct the review.

PatT

12/21/20 at 3:42PM UTC

Also a development director responsible for grants. The president of the agency has made it very clear to the program managers that they are responsible for working with me on programs that need to be funded. If I come across a grant opportunity I send it to the program managers. They then help me formulate the language either through an outline or a rough draft of their plan. Then I go through it and we sit down and work it out. In addition, I also meet with them on a regular basis - which I highly suggest - so I know their program needs so when a grant opportunity comes up I am prepared.

1 Reply

Anonymous

12/22/20 at 1:04AM UTC

PatT of all the responses I've seen yours makes the most sense to me...logical and practical!

Sonia J. T. Saleh

Your guide to fundraising with ease

12/22/20 at 7:44AM UTC

Being in the nonprofit world, it is a common occurrence for programs and development not to communicate regularly. That being said, you can shift it. Talk to programs with specific questions that ignite a positive response, for example, what do you love about your program? can you give me an example? What do you hope your program will achieve? Why are you involved with this program? Asking them these questions will show your interest in them and the programs that it begins to develop a rapport to create an ongoing relationship. Then when you use their examples in a grant and get the grant, let them know how they contributed to it.