Community Relations

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One Day, A Grant Seeker Became a Grant Maker: 3 Takeaways for Funder Communications

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One Day, A Grant Seeker Became a Grant Maker: 3 Takeaways for Funder Communications

I have been responsible for preparing and submitting grant proposals for nonprofit organizations for nearly 20 years. I haven’t counted, but I’d bet the number of grant applications and requests I’ve written is in the hundreds.

I’ve also led program development and implementation, which necessarily includes making the case to stakeholders (community members, potential participants, bosses, funders, etc.) for why a given program is needed, how it will make a difference, and why they should get involved.

And of course, there are overlapping duties and opportunities – events, site visits, presentations, and reports. (As a fellow nonprofit management professional, you know what I’m talking about.) Altogether, I have had countless conversations and other communications with major funders. But only recently have I been one.

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Added Capacity For Your Executive Director Can Make All the Difference

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Added Capacity For Your Executive Director Can Make All the Difference

Last month, we were delivering a strategic plan draft to one of our clients, an executive director of a small nonprofit. As the sole paid employee, supported by dedicated volunteers, she works tirelessly to empower underserved youth to reach their full potential. At one point, tears welled in her eyes.  “To see our three-year plan laid out like this for us makes me emotional.  It’s been on our list for so long, but with everything I must do to keep the programs on track, I never was able to take the time to get it done!” she said through a sniffle.  This is not the first time a nonprofit leader we serve has become emotional and I doubt that it will be the last. 

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Have your board members reached their limits? (Their term limits, that is.)

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Have your board members reached their limits? (Their term limits, that is.)

Everyone has, at one time or another, felt like they were stuck in a rut. Maybe you’re cooking the same thing for dinner week after week, or you just streamed your favorite TV series for the third time. It happens to all of us! However, when your board members feel stuck, serving year after year with little change or break, it’s not fun for them or sustainable to advancing the mission they are so committed to serve.

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Good Advice: Write it Down!

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Good Advice: Write it Down!

I started my job with Project Partners in January and am loving being a part of this fabulous team. I quickly learned that even though we are a small company, we maintain a very large project portfolio! One thing that has allowed me to jump right into all of the incredible work with our clients is the fact that our files are robust, well-organized, intuitive, and easy to access. During this era that has been dubbed “the great resignation” it seems that staff turnover feels inevitable. However, encouraging your team (and yourself!) to keep impeccable records can ease the pain of losing someone special, while also shortening the learning curve for anyone new to your staff. Some specific examples to keep in mind:

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Advice from the Fort Worth Chamber, Visit Fort Worth, and United Way

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Advice from the Fort Worth Chamber, Visit Fort Worth, and United Way

On April 14th, Chris Strayer, Executive Vice President of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce hosted a webinar titled “Nonprofit and Community Resources” featuring Leah King, President and CEO, United Way of Tarrant County and Mitch Whitten, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Strategy, Visit Fort Worth. We listened in and gleaned these excellent tips and resources for you.

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