Fundraising HayDay

Federal funders always produce a set of guidelines with each grant application. They are known by a variety of names, depending on the funding agency, from Request for Proposal (RFP) to NOFO (Notice of Funding Opportunity) and many acronyms in between. Grant professionals must understand how to read each RFP to ensure eligiblity and competiveness of the organization applying, as well as the requir...

Today we are interviewing Shavonn Richardson, CEO of Think and Ink Grant Consulting. She has done all the things in the grant world: started her own nonprofit, worked for a foundation to award grants to nonprofits, and finally grant consultant. We talk entrepreneurship, leadership, and all things grant work.

Your organization is ready to tackle the realm of grants, but you need the assistance of a grant professional. Should you hire an employee or consultant? Hear the pros and cons of each, because the answer will vary based on your organization's needs and fundraising goals.

Most federal grant programs will allow in-direct cost rates. But what is it? How does your organization get one? What does it fund? The process is complicated and has many moving parts, which is why we brought in an expert. Join our discussion with Karen Norris, Principal of Kanoco, as we get our questions answers and navigate the complex world of federal in-direct cost rates.

Today we are joined by Erin Goodier, of Goodier Creative, who works with nonprofits on a mission to change the world for the better. She spends her time using videos to tell stories that connect your organization with your audience, whether the world at large or a specific funder. Join our conversation which includes a bit of video 101 training and understanding how to find the right videographer...

What do you do when the person you report to has no idea how the grant world works? It happens more than you think, and it can be frustrating for both parties! Today we're covering all the things we wish our boss knew about grants and sharing some tips on how to educate them about the role grant professionals play in our organizations.

Are you an introvert or an extrovert? What about your colleagues? How you operate in the world, interact with your co-workers, find your strength, and recharge will vary, depending on which side of the coin you are. Our cohosts, an introvert and extrovert, share how they learned to work together and learned from one another through their differences. Could be the start of a beautiful discussion wi...

Nonprofit leadership is not for the faint of heart. Our work is messy, imperfect, inspiring, engaging, and everything in between. So how do we lead well, while acknowledging our faults and flaws? Join our conversation with Julie Boll, Certified Dare to Lead Facilitator, about courage-building work in the nonprofit sector.

It's our annual ripped from the headline's episode. We are sharing recent news articles that detail the improper care of grant funding by government agencies and nonprofits. This year, we're also showcasing an IRS mishap revolving around the creation of fake nonprofits. Join us for the stories, stay to learn what NOT to do in your nonprofit grant work. These are important lessons learned the hard...

How do you tell your community's story, showing the need to funders and donors alike? You show them the data, of course! But how do you find the most current, relevant data? Look no further than the U.S. Census Bureau. We are joined by Data Dissemination Specialist Marilyn E. Stephens to learn where and how to start your quest for using data to put together a statistical profile to compliment your...

Whether you work for a local government, nonprofit, university, or another organization seeking grant funds, do not overlook the assistance elected officials can offer. Support letters, grant research, and federal appropriations are just a few examples of the assistance they provide.

What nonprofit doesn't want to expand their fundraising opportunities? But to be successful, it must first create a healthy culture for its employees, donors, board members, and community served. Today we're talking to Andrew Olsen, Senior Vice President of Fundraising Solutions at DickersonBakker, about examining ourselves, having realistic conversations, and putting in the work.

Most funders want to know two things: did the organization do what they promised in the grant application and did they meet their listed goals and objectives. Evaluations are a key component of grant funded programs, and we're sharing tips on writing the evaluation section of a proposal and carrying through with your work during the management phase. In addition, we're celebrating Fundraising HayD...

What do you do if the perfect grant application comes along, but you don't have the bandwidth to tackle it all on your own? Consider finding a partner or some extra sets of hands to help you get the job done. Even if you are a grant consultant of one, a fellow solo-preneur may be the perfect solution. Check out how cohost Kimberly tackled and won her largest grant award of her career ($25M) thanks...

While there are hundreds of thousands of grant opportunities in the United States, not every funder or application fits the mission and need of your organization. Rather than wasting time chasing after dollars you will never win, consider a targeted approach to your grant seeking. We'll tell you how.

We switched up this year's top ten favorite things list by asking each member of the Grant Pro Book Club (of which we're members) for their favorite productivity tool. We're sharing a wide variety of tech of other means used by grant pros, each with 10+ years of experience in the field. It's a great way to plan for success in 2023 and beyond.

Working in the nonprofit sector means we focus on wealth and charitable donations, while juggling sustainability, investments, and the future. Today we are talking to fundraising expert Cherian Koshy about planned giving, stock transfers, decolonizing non-profit strategic planning, and so much more. He knows the artful balance of doing the work today while planning for the future needs of your com...

Productivity tools are always helpful, but sometimes it feels like the product is running you instead of you running the product. Today we are talking about the things that distract us from getting the work done and ways in which you can enhance your productivity by focusing on the work. 

You have a brilliant idea, but how do you bring it to market? Today we are talking to Gauri Manglik, CEO & Co-Founder of Instrumentl, a tool for nonprofits to get matched with the right funders while tracking and managing their grants. She shares how Instrumentl was first imagined, developed, and launched - it is a great learning experience for anyone wondering what tips and tricks an entrepreneur...

We spend many episodes dreaming of the way we WISH funders would operate - and today we are flipping the script. Learn about funders who are doing things right, earning praise from grant professionals far and wide. Plus, learn how you can lift up those funders who deserve all our praise and recognition. It's a great way to set an example for the hundreds of thousands of others who should step up t...

Your Fundraising HayDay cohosts are big believers that reading is a vital component to quality writing skills. We share what reading does for your vocabulary, sentence structure, and so much more. Whether you love paperback books, audio books, newspapers, magazines, grant proposals, letters, or any reading medium, the written word is a powerful thing that impacts our own writing.

If you work in the nonprofit profession, you will interact with your organization's board of directors. They are instrumental in your fundraising efforts, but that does not mean they are seasoned fundraisers and grant seekers themselves. So how do you best interact with your board towards building a flourishing collaboration? The Board Pro, Christal M. Cherry, joins us with some incredible advice,...

Whether you develop grant proposals or work with donors, we are all storytellers. And it's vital that we share the same messages about our organization, the community we serve, and the work we do. T. Clay Buck knows a thing or two about the power of messaging, and he shares insights on how we can all work together to get the job done.

Dana Schuler Drummond has a long and storied career in the field of grants and fundraising. She writes grant proposals; she teaches nonprofit courses at a local college; and she developed a grant management software tool when her post-it system failed her. No two people have the same career trajectory, but Dana has a story that will resonate with us all.

Dear funders, we appreciate when you offer a grant workshop. It is ALWAYS helpful to learn more about an upcoming application process and have the opportunity to ask questions of you. But not all funder-led workshops are created equal. Join us as we talk about the aspects of these workshops that drive every grant professional to bang their head against the wall, and hear our dream world about the...