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Grantwriting : Relationship Building

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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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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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Flirt with them!

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Suggestions for Getting Their Attention

Direct Approach

Send an email

Request an informational meeting

Invite them to an event

Indirect Approach

Invite them to an event

Attend information sessions

Send newsletter or piece of journalism to introduce them to your work

Networking Approach

Look on LinkedIn to see who you know who knows them

Ask your current funders for an introduction

See if anyone on your board knows anyone on their board

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Try to Pick Them Up

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Get Permission to Submit

Letter of Inquiry – formal process

Meeting or call

Site visit

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Get out your calendar!

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Build a Calendar

  • Letter of inquiry deadlines
  • Grant proposal deadlines
  • Grant reporting deadlines
  • Regular updates