Category Archives: Fundraising

Calling all Seattle-ites: Attend My Session at the Puget Sound Grantwriters’ Assn Conference (10/22)

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Thinking about attending the 2015 Puget Sound Grantwriters’ Association Conference in Seattle this October 22?

The theme is “Impact” and the lineup offers something for everyone in the grantwriting community. My session is no exception, and the title is: “So what? Who cares? Zero In on Your Impact and Tell Funders About it!”

Here’s the description:

All grantwriters know the answer to the question, “What does your organization do?” That is, you are clear on its activities, services, and programs. But can you really identify your organization’s impact? If you’ve been asked to put together a Logic Model or an Evaluation Plan, you may have been stumped a bit on this question. In this session we will dig deep to find out what lurks beneath your services and programs. Come prepared to discuss your organization’s work; leave with the knowledge of what lies at the heart of your “impact” – and how to communicate it to grantmakers.

What you will learn:

  1. How to move beyond an understanding of what their organization does, to what difference it makes in the community
  2. How to get and use client stories and feedback to underscore that impact
  3. How to act as a leader to help other staff evaluate the organization’s impact (to improve grant proposals)

Learn more about the entire conference and register (if you haven’t already) right HERE. I look forward to meeting folks in the Seattle area!

Live Internet Radio Interview Discusses “Writing to Make a Difference”

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Join me and The Philantrepreneur Foundation Radio Show host Dr. Victoria Boyd. We discussed ‘being’ a Philantrepreneur, and how to effectively utilize and implement “Writing to Make a Difference” in your own work.

The show offered tips, strategies and insight to build your organizational capacity, win-win relationships, and community impact. It’s all valuable content for entrepreneurs or nonprofits.

Listen in and you’ll also get a glimpse of my own story and the heart of “Writing to Make a Difference”.

Check out my live interview  and don’t forget the archive of past shows with lots of other great guests!

This listener made my day:

“Wow! Thank you for your podcast series, especially your recent episode hosting Dalya Massachi. Wonderful, insightful, and inspiring conversation! Your podcast has already made a difference in my thinking! I’ve ordered a copy of Dalya’s book and look forward to reading it, as well as following the amazing work she’s doing.” – Aaron Culich

 

 

 

Ask Dalya: How can we measure return on investment for grantwriting?

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Dalya_Massachi_grey_suit

Q: What is the best way to measure return on investment for grantwriting?

A: You may be tempted to think that it’s simply the amount of money you immediately bring in minus the time and money you spent to procure that grant. Right? Not so fast…

We need to look at grantwriting’s return on investment in both the short term and long term.

The number and size of grants directly resulting from any given proposal is often out of your control. Foundation board members consider many factors when funding different grants, and (I dare say) the quality of your proposal is only one of them. The organization’s reputation or history in the community, changing funder priorities or staff, unexpected limitations on funds, and a perceived mismatch with a proposal’s emphasis are just a few. So the short-term success of any proposal (i.e., getting funded) is not the only way we can measure the effectiveness of grantwriting work.

The good news is that the grantwriting process itself can be valuable to the organization in several ways. For example, thinking through the responses to a Request for Proposals can be a great strategic planning exercise. Creating a program budget may shine a light on expenses you have never tallied up before. While writing a general operations proposal, seeing the big picture of an organization (beyond its day-to-day parts) can be an eye-opening experience. I have seen many organizations benefit in these ways from the grantwriting process (whether or not they get a specific grant). Continue reading →

NEW VIDEO: Top 6 Ways Grantwriters Are Strategic Leaders

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KC_ laughingA few months ago, the Grant Professionals Association’s Heart of America chapter invited me to be the plenary speaker at their regional conference in Kansas City, MO. I was honored and pleased to present to such a respected group!

I spoke about the Top 6 Ways Grantwriters Are Strategic Leaders (whether they know it or not). The 6 are:

 

  1. You are passionate about your organization’s story and want to share it
  2. You plan ahead
  3. You “rally the troops” while staying calm, cool, and collected
  4. You ask the right questions and tell it like it is
  5. You see the big picture AND the devilish details and you polish them all
  6. You learn from rejection and know your limits

If you are a grant professional, you are perfectly positioned to help your organization plan strategically for its grantseeking future. You are the knowledgeable guide who can lead executive and program staff to design work that is attractive to grantmakers.

During my presentation, we discussed:

  • How to make sure everyone is on the same page (with the same purposes)
  • What questions to ask to get the information you need
  • Examples of strategizing with staff – before , during, or after the grant award

It was great to see people take notes, participate in group exercises, laugh at my jokes (!), and take away ideas they could really use.

Want to watch the 40-minute presentation (in a few segments)? You can do that right here:


By the way, if YOUR organization or association is looking for a customized presentation for an upcoming meeting (in person or online), please check out my work as a speaker HERE.

 

 

Watch the free webinar: Grant Proposal Feedback Clinic

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feedbackCould you use some targeted feedback on your Letter of Intent or brief grant proposal? Have you participated in trainings but find you need some individual feedback to fine-tune your draft (one you’re currently working on or one you recently submitted)?

While your colleagues may be helpful (or maybe just too busy), an outside perspective is often exactly what you need to view your work as a funder might.

That was the idea behind the Feedback Clinic, a safe online space where 2 people shared drafts with their peers and the instructor (a seasoned grant writer with more than 15 years of experience). Others listened in and learned from the two reviewed drafts’ successes and challenges, and practiced providing analytical feedback.

Here’s what folks had to say about the feedback clinic:

“This was really helpful. I really liked that we got to see what other people had written. It’s helpful to get to read and give feedback on others’ writing – and Dalya’s feedback was wonderful.”

“I was delighted to get a better sense of how to hit an LOI out of the park. I soaked everything up.”

“I thought this was incredibly helpful. This format of seeing other people’s grants in areas that were different from my own and seeing the feedback was just absolutely tremendous.”

“Often, I find myself wanting to dig my eyeballs out with a grapefruit spoon with webinars. This one, however, held my attention throughout and flew by.”

To watch the free webinar just go HERE!

The feedback clinic webinar provides just a taste of what you will experience in the full Grantwriter’s FastTrack Coaching Program. From October 13 – November 20, a small group of up to 6 grantwriters will get in-depth training and individualized feedback to help polish at least 1 proposal in real time. Space is extremely limited. Learn more and grab your spot now HERE. The Early Bird Discount is good through Friday, September 26.