Myths About Women and Weight Lifting … Er, Grant Proposal Writing!

March 31, 2009

The other day I mentioned to a couple of women that I was lifting weights in the gym. I was surprised at the responses that I got. “Pam! That’s not good for you!” “Yeah, you never want to use weights heavier than 5 pounds or so …” Frankly I thought that the myths about women […]

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Foundations Don’t Fund General Operating Costs – Or Do They?

March 26, 2009

Do you still believe the old fairy tale about how difficult it is to find foundations that support general operating expenses? It’s one of the grantwriting myths that even I bought into. Why not? The foundation that I worked for for a number of years most generally dissuaded grantseekers from applying for general operating expenses, […]

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Nonprofit Newsletters – Are You Making These Mistakes?

March 25, 2009

If you are familiar with Penelope Burk’s

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What to do When Your Grant Proposal is Declined. (Hint: It’s the Beginning, Not the End!)

March 23, 2009

It’s always frustrating to have your grant proposal rejected, but it’s absolutely essential to stay optimistic and to persevere. The fact is that most grant proposals do get rejected, but learning from the experience—examining why your proposal was turned down—will benefit you by making future proposals stronger. If you feel like you’ve done a solid […]

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Metasoft’s Foundation Search Vs The Foundation Center’s Foundation Finder

March 13, 2009

… and what to do if your budget doesn’t allow for either. Awhile back the “Grants” listserv of CharityChannel, the Internet’s premier resource for nonprofit information, featured a lively debate about the merits of Metasoft’s Foundation Search subscription database versus The Foundation Center’s Foundation Directory Online database. Both programs offer their users a variety of methods […]

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Create a System for Grant Writing Success!

March 12, 2009

The key to successful grant funding is to send your proposal to a diverse group of foundations that make a good match for your project, and then keep at it. Though rejection can be very frustrating, it’s simply part of the process. Keep in mind that a rejected proposal is not a total loss–not by […]

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Pamela’s List – The Best in Nonprofit Books

February 26, 2009

We all learn differently. My daughter, Samantha, is a visual learner and an avid reader.  She has always learned best by reading.  My other daughter, Abigail, on the other hand, has never cared for reading.  She learns best in the classroom or a one on one setting and has always appreciated audiobooks. I must confess […]

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It’s the Data, Stupid! Why Your Organization’s Database is Your Most Important Development Tool

February 18, 2009

  We all know the story of Bill Clinton’s successful 1992 presidential campaign against George H.W. Bush.While, early on, Bush was considered virtually unbeatable, Clinton’s campaign chose to address an issue that Bush Sr. had ignored, and “It’s the economy, stupid” became a catch phrase. Nonprofit development is, by its very nature, data driven. Yet […]

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The Real Secret for Fundraising Success … It’s All About the Story!

January 30, 2009

Have you seen the Sarah McLachlan television appeal for the BC SPCA End Animal Cruelty campaign?It begins with footage of one animal after another, their pained eyes gazing out into the world as if to say “Whatever did I do to you?Why would you hurt me?” with Sarah’s song, “Angel” playing in the background.If your […]

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How to Be a Nonprofit Development Director – Charting Your First 100 Days

January 24, 2009

 President Roosevelt, coming into office in the midst of the desperate years of the Great Depression, set the standard for new presidents to make their marks within their first 100 days in office. Chances are, if you’re coming on board as a nonprofit development director in today’s climate, you, too, may be facing a time […]

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How to Build Relationships with Foundation Funders

December 29, 2008

When it comes to foundation grants, the biggest question seems to be “how do we get our foot in the door?” How can our nascent grassroots arts organization quickly build relationships with the regional foundations that will help make our programming happen? Generally speaking, I’ve always believed that your first proposal provided the best tool […]

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Fundraising in a Recession – 7 Tips

December 29, 2008

What does it take for your nonprofit to thrive in a bad economy?

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