Connected Philanthropy

Applying for federal grants can – to put it mildly – be daunting. In this training, presenter Julie Assel, GPC makes it easier by guiding participants through the major components, the key similarities and differences between foundation and federal grants, and how policy can impact the timelines of federal grant opportunities and deadlines. She then guides you through some of the pitfalls and high...

With this year ending different than normal, many foundations are rethinking what year-end looks like for them. Topics Covered: Scholarships - how is your organization handling students taking a gap semester due to COVID? Is your organization expecting year-end to look different from prior years? Has your organization started planning for year-end? If so, what are you doing to manage this typicall...

Keeping open lines of communication with your awardees can be difficult - and the award is just the beginning! Once selected, students may need to formally accept the award, confirm their university, and provide proof of enrollment or transcripts prior to receiving funding. Though you hope students will provide what you’ve asked for in a timely manner, there is often more to it than that. If after...

Non-monetary grantmaking traditionally includes in-kind grants of land, equipment, or free space. However, in recent years, an emphasis has been put on providing assistance intended to build a nonprofit’s internal capacity. Grants of succession planning, executive coaching, and program evaluation are just a few examples. Listen to your peers share experiences in the what, why, and how of non-monet...

This episode centers around the importance and variety of methods for performing nonprofit due diligence in grantmaking. Every foundation is different when it comes to types of documents they collect and how they use the data. Listen to this group discussion to learn what documents your peers are collecting and how they’re using them to better their grantmaking! Topics: What are your foundation’s...

Picture this – you were hired to do one job only to find out later that you also have many unexpected "other duties as assigned". What do you do when you are expected to manage tasks and team members in a deadline and priority-driven environment, yet many other tasks and meetings continue to creep up on your calendar? In this session, we discuss key strategies, tools, and tricks to help you feel m...

How does your organization identify and secure resources - cash and in-kind donations - from your community? Perhaps you’ve identified local business support as an untapped source for funding your cause. Topics: Understand the current trends in corporate giving Apply these trends to your advantage at the local level Assess your internal needs before you begin solicitations Implement helpful guidel...

The first wave of funding in response to COVID-19 was largely distributed to nonprofits and businesses for emergency general operating support. As with other emergency situations of national or global scale, successive waves of funding often move beyond immediate needs. Topics Covered: How is second wave funding adapting to lessons learned and community needs revealed by the pandemic? What changes...

During this Donor Engagement Coffee Talk we cover COVID-19 recovery initiatives looking at the rest of 2020. We identify strategies that are working well in our current climate, and ways in which people are learning and improving. Questions covered: Has your Donor Engagement strategy changed from month 1 to month 4? What’s working, what isn’t? What do you deem as your organizations greatest achiev...

With unique business needs and processes, foundations often have to look outside their own organization for help. Listen to your accounting peers discuss where they go for additional resources. Topics: Outsourced accounting services and outcomes Outsourced CIOs, investment custodians, and local investment managers Where to find relevant Continuing Professional Education Want to see additional reso...

As cities begin to re-open and communities regroup across the country, our day-to-day work may look different than we’d envisioned. Upcoming conversations with trustees and grantees could indicate that new funding strategies and partnerships will be necessary in light of lessons learned during the pandemic. Listen to your peers as they share their experiences emerging from the immediate crisis. To...

Workplace burnout isn’t just a “thing” to get over. It is real and recognized by the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases with real impacts on professionals everywhere. But is it real in the grants profession? And is it as rampant as it seems? Three burnout survivors -- Trish Bachman, GPC, Bethany Planton, GPC, and Johna Rodgers, GPC -- joined forces to research the...

Clear, compelling writing is vital to all your on-the-job writing projects - not just grant proposals. In this value-packed episode, you'll learn simple, powerful, and often overlooked techniques that will have you writing more clearly, quickly, and confidently - right away. Topics: The big myths and misconceptions that could be sabotaging your writing Three fundamental strategies for getting your...

This is the third discussion on how donor management has changed in the wake of COVID-19. Topics Covered: Funding in the future- Has anyone started thinking about the next 16-18 months? Donor Fatigue- How to prevent it Donor Engagement Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

Episode 2 in a series where Grantmakers discuss how they're adjusting to COVID-19. Topics Covered: Lessons that can be learned from 2008 and other economic downturns How to balance immediate community needs and long term organizational stability of grantees How to support grantees when they can’t pay the bills Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com Connect with other member...

In this third episode of Grantmaker Coffee Talks, we discuss how grantmakers can help their grantees during the COVID 19 crisis. Topics Covered: How to assist grantees with their immediate financial stability or sustainability? How to adjust grantmaking for the rest of the year? How has relationships with other funders changed? Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com Connect...

How can YOU, an amazing nonprofit professional, regardless of your title, embrace the role you can play as a leader within your team? Listen to this episode to learn how. About the speaker: Diane H. Leonard, GPC is an experienced and respected grant professional who has provided grant development counsel to nonprofit organizations of varying size and scope for more than a decade. Clients she serve...

Is your nonprofit struggling to secure donations from your board of directors? Are you having a tough time getting them to open doors to potential donors, funders, and partners? Listen to this highly practical, tactical episode where our dynamic presenter will share concrete tips and tools designed to help your organization get more dollars in the door. Learn how to engage your board in a process...

In this episode of Scholarship Coffee Talks; we're continuing the conversation on how COVID-19 has effected the world of scholarships and scholarship management Topics Covered: Changes to renewable scholarships Learning more about your own community and familiarizing yourself with tuition prices Proactive communication Emergency funds Changing applications Assessing financial need in the current l...

In this episode of Scholarship Coffee Talks; we discuss summer melt programming, award recipients, and university timelines. Topics Covered: Have you done “Summer Melt” programming in the past to keep students engaged with their upcoming college endeavors? Will you be doing anything (new or established) to celebrate your award recipients this year? What are we learning about timelines for universi...

How are funders adjusting in day-to-day accounting functions during the COVID-19 crisis? In this episode of Community Foundation Coffee Talks, we hear from different funders about how their work has changed and the resources, experiences, and creative solutions that are helping them maximize their impact. Topics Covered: Managing an Emergency Response Fund if one has been established Is your organ...

In this second session of our Grantseekers and COVID-19 webinar series, our panel of experienced grantseekers discuss: Available programs, assistance and resources Funder responses, adjustments and trends Tips and advice: How to move forward in this time of crisis Q&A session with panelist in addition to participants sharing through chat   ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Resources from the panelists...

Continuing the discussion on how donor management has changed in the wake of COVID-19 Topics Covered: Changes & communication in fundraising Changes & communication in granting How technology is your best friend Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

How are funders responding to COVID-19 in their day-to-day accounting functions? Topics covered: Working Remotely ACH Payment Documentation Bill Paying Services Processing Transactions Change In Volume Mail Electronic payments in the long-term Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.com

Continuing the conversation on how scholarship providers are responding to the COVID-19 crisis. Topics Covered: How student interviews will be handled How committee's will come together to make decisions Transition from discussion to scoring for selection Want to see additional resources? Visit resources.foundant.com Connect with other members of the philanthropic community at Community.foundant.c...