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Grantwriting Curriculum

Introduction & Overview

Research

Relationship Building

Overview of grant proposal structure

Describe the need

Why your organization?

How to define and monitor success

Budgets and Budget Narratives (and other attachments)

Letters of Inquiry

Grant Stewardship

Relationship Management

Context

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Marissa Lewis is experienced in non-profit management as both grantmaker and grantseeker, including fundraising, strategy, grant/grantee management, and board development in staff, consultant, and volunteer/Board capacities. She is a strong administrator with a talent for building and strengthening organizational culture, along with the necessary systems and frameworks. Her 20-year career has been anchored in ensuring individuals, communities, and organizations have access to all the tools they need to succeed. Marissa is a graduate of Binghamton University in New York and did graduate work at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

As a consultant to mission-based organizations for nearly two decades, Molly Penn has deep experience working across many aspects of the nonprofit sector - including community development, education, human service, social justice and the arts - to help organizations become stronger and have a greater impact. She began her professional life in development roles at a large NYC arts nonprofit as well as held senior development staff positions at various smaller organizations. She has an MBA in Management from Fordham University, a Masters from Columbia University and a BA from Bard College. She is certified in Appreciative Inquiry change management, Lean process analysis, Hogan personality inventory, and trained as a professional coach. Molly serves on the board of the Alliance for Nonprofit Management and on the selection committee for Nonprofit New York’s Nonprofit Excellence Awards.

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Grantwriting Workbook

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Gift Acceptance Policy

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Congratulations!

You got the grant!

Now what?

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Grants come with accountability

Unlike advertising dollars, grants are often restricted for a particular purpose

Restricted => you must use the funds for that purpose

You must report on how you used the funds and what they helped you accomplish

Often, you must track the funds separately (account for them separately)

Funders may want to visit you – not to influence your content but to see their funds at work

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Nurture the Relationship

Communicate often and when they least expect it!
Not just reporting deadlines, but whenever there is a win or item of interest to report
Share your knowledge of the field
If you hit a challenge, let them know – treat them like an investor (that’s how they think of themselves)
Never surprise them with bad news!

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A Few Notes on Site Visits

Be strategic about what they see and who they talk to (put your best foot forward)

Show them some of your award-winning efforts

Let them meet your journalists

Show them other things you are working on

Have them meet the Editor, the Publisher and other lead staff

Control for anything that might sabotage your impression

Know when to stop talking and listen to their questions!

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