Developing your grant and fundraising staff

JulieAsselJulieAssel Posts: 22 ✭✭✭
Wine Connoisseur Grant Professional Certified 25 Likes First Compass Anniversary

What methods do you use to encourage growth in your grants and development/fundraising staff?

Julie Assel, GPC

President/CEO

Comments

  • AlyseBraatenAlyseBraaten Posts: 63 ✭✭✭
    Solution Finder Third Compass Anniversary 10 Comments 25 Likes

    I believe the most important step I took (and now incorporate into professional growth for those that report to me) is understanding your community. Even staff that grew up in the community they are serving will hold biases and lenses based on their experiences. Mapping the data of your community and spending time with it can greatly broaden the perspective and effectiveness of staff. It is also a very friendly way to introduce people to using data in decision making, storytelling, and a host of other ways. Somehow it's less intimidating when the data is about the community you love and care about.

    Alyse Braaten | Manager of Client Services – Grants & Scholarships | www.foundant.com | Bozeman, MT

    alyse.braaten@foundant.com | Direct: 406.922.3376 | Cell: 661.364.1012

  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 0 ✭✭✭
    Outdoorsy Third Compass Anniversary 10 Comments 25 Likes
    edited March 2022

    Not specific to development/fundraising, but the State of Montana has an awesome program for small organizations to help off-set professional development/'training costs called the Incumbent Worker Training program through the MT Dept of Labor and Industry. Your organization (for profit and nonprofit are eligible) must have less than 50 employees and the employee needs to have been at the org at least 6 months to be eligible. You can get up to $2,000 as a full time employee. There is a match requirement, but these funds can help your internal funds go much further. You can find more info here:

    In my previous role I took on all the bookkeeping for a small nonprofit and this was an invaluable resource for me to get training on all things nonprofit accounting!

  • JulieAsselJulieAssel Posts: 22 ✭✭✭
    Wine Connoisseur Grant Professional Certified 25 Likes First Compass Anniversary

    @AlyseBraaten - Ooo, I really like this idea! I'm definitely incorporating it into our professional development plans here!

    Julie Assel, GPC

    President/CEO

  • JulieAsselJulieAssel Posts: 22 ✭✭✭
    Wine Connoisseur Grant Professional Certified 25 Likes First Compass Anniversary

    @ElsieThomson - Awesome! I wish all states would do that!

    Julie Assel, GPC

    President/CEO

  • NatalieRingenbergNatalieRingenberg Posts: 11 ✭✭
    Referral Rockstar Third Compass Anniversary 10 Comments Name Dropper
    edited March 2022

    When I was first hired on as a Fund Development Coordinator & Grant Writer my manager enrolled me in a 3 day Grant Writing Workshop with OneOC https://oneoc.org/. They are based in Orange County, CA and provide a range of services to nonprofits. This was a great experience and I learned valuable new information on how to effectively write compelling grants, how to develop a master narrative that can be used as a template for grant proposals, and how to effectively search for grants opportunities. The course was taught by two expert Grant Writers wo both had valuable insight based on personal experience. This workshop provided a strong foundation for me as I navigated the grant writing space.

  • JulieAsselJulieAssel Posts: 22 ✭✭✭
    Wine Connoisseur Grant Professional Certified 25 Likes First Compass Anniversary

    Natalie,

    My employer did something similar, but it wasn't right away because we had to get the budget approved for it. I did a week long training from The Foundation Center. I have also done a series of trainings from a group called Resource Associates that were about a week long in total. I love it when the trainers are experienced grant professionals themselves.

    Julie Assel, GPC

    President/CEO

  • HollySpitzHollySpitz Posts: 85 ✭✭✭
    Solution Finder Certified Public Accountant Third Compass Anniversary 100 Likes

    From an Accounting/Leadership lens, I have always subscribed to the newsletters and blogs from regional accounting firms. My two favorite resources are from Moss and Adams and BDO. They both have great NPO webinars, blogs and guides.

    Moss and Adams: https://www.mossadams.com/industries/not-for-profit

    BDO: https://www.bdo.com/resource-centers/institute-for-nonprofit-excellence

    Holly Spitz

    Accounting Product Manager

    Foundant Technologies, Inc.

  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 0
    Foundant Team Member 10 Comments First Answer First Compass Anniversary

    @ElsieThomson when I was in my role as a nonprofit Executive, I used the Incumbent Worker Training program a few years to help pay for learning and training. It was easy and so appreciated! If you're not in the state of Montana it would be worth a call to your State or Local Dept. of Labor office! We used the program to help pay for training and learning for a number of staff.

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