Category Archives: Nonprofits

New article in “Putting on the Polish” series

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OpportunityKnocks.org, a leading website for nonprofit professionals and jobseekers, just published the final article in my “Putting on the Polish” series. Whether you are seeking a new nonprofit job or just recently got hired, you will want to ensure that your documents strike the employer as clean and professional. In this three-part series, I share some tips on how to polish up your work to make it stand out and shine.

The third and final installment, focused on proofreading (sometimes called light copyediting), gives you tips on proofreading your piece for more than just typos. The first two installments in the series helped you cultivate conciseness and eliminate sneaky redundancies.

Going through your piece one last time to sniff out little problems will help you project a professional, polished image to the world. This last step can make the critical difference between iffy and solid.

Final proofreading is actually harder than it looks. You have to keep in mind dozens and dozens of grammar, spelling, and punctuation rules. And you are still bound to miss things on your first go-round.

To get some tips on how to proofread like a pro, see the full article.

PS: Readers of my OpportunityKnocks column are eligible for a special discount on Writing to Make a Difference!

‘Chronicle of Philanthropy’ podcast on grantseeking: Part 2 now online

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The second installment of the 3-part podcast series on grantseeking is now online!  “Fundraising Fundamentals,” a podcast of The Chronicle of Philanthropy, is featuring me and some of my clients this June, July, and August.

In the second episode, “How to Write a Winning Grant Proposal,” I say:

“Foundations are looking to make a social investment with their money. They’re looking for positive outcomes and a positive return on their investment.”

I go on to explain what a proposal should achieve and what elements it should include. Caroline Pappajohn, director of foundation relations and marketing at New Door Ventures, also offers her perspective.

On the show, I refer to a Sample Grant Proposal Format. You can download your copy right HERE! (Note that this is only a sample; always go by the funder’s requested format.)

Also check out the first episode, about ways to research grant makers and prepare to write grant proposals.

The third episode, which focuses on the readers and your relationships with them, will be online in August.

“Fundraising Fundamentals” is a monthly series hosted by Tony Martignetti. The show interviews nonprofit leaders and consultants about how organizations can more effectively raise money, build better relationships with boards and supporters, and manage volunteers. Look for new installments on the third Thursday of each month.

Now Live: New Chronicle of Philanthropy podcast series on grantseeking

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This summer “Fundraising Fundamentals,” the podcast of  The Chronicle of Philanthropy, is hosting a three-part series on grantseeking.  I’m joining host Tony Martignetti on all three of the 10-minute segments, as we explore the life cycle of a grant proposal. Joining us are representatives of three of my client organizations: Gooden College Connection, New Door Ventures, and Electronics TakeBack Coalition.

The June installment just went live and is focused on prospect research: finding the right funders to approach. The Chronicle’s website introduces the segment, titled “Why Thinking Small Helps Win Big Grant Money,” this way:

Nonprofits often ask foundations to pay for a big, comprehensive program, but they might be more successful if they figure out small pieces that a grant maker might pay for.

“I encourage them to slice and dice their work into different discrete projects,” says Dalya Massachi, author of Writing to Make a Difference: 25 Powerful Techniques to Boost Your Community Impact.

For example, foundations might be willing to pay for a project that serves a particular community or a certain group of people; piecing together lots of little grants might increase the odds of success over pitching one grant with a big price tag.

In the first of a three-part series about how to win more grants, Ms. Massachi offers tips for grant seekers and advice on how to use free resources to find out more information about foundations, companies, and the grants they offer.

She is joined by Ruth Kleinman, a board member at Gooden College Connection, which guides high-school students from poverty-ridden neighborhoods in West Contra Costa County, Calif., as they seek admission to college.

You can listen to the podcast HERE. I’ll let you know when the other 2 installments go live in July and August.

Are you keeping track of your org’s stories?

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I recently returned from speaking at the Fair Trade Federation‘s national conference in Bellevue, WA. As I write this, I am enjoying a cup of fair trade tea from Equal Exchange, one of the several dozen organizations represented at the conference.

Crafts, coffee, clothing, accessories, food, and many other items are all part of this growing movement. The idea is to use grassroots international trade to economically empower the producers of these handcrafted (and often beautiful) goods from the Global South. You may think fair trade is only a tiny fraction of U.S. trade, and it is. But it’s rapidly spreading and it’s big business in Europe and other places. If the Fair Trade Federation has anything to say about it, we’ll be seeing a lot more in the coming years!

I spoke at the conference about using storytelling for marketing success. What kind of stories? I’m talking about slice-of-life word snapshots that can crystallize messages for your readers  (often called “case studies” or  “before-and-after stories”). These are stories that come from your clients/customers, from your producers, from within your organization, and even about the very products and services you offer.

Stories form bonds from one person to the next. Without a mutual sense of story, we can’t really understand each other. Stories ensure that you are making a human connection with your reader.

The idea is to illustrate your context and community needs and  show how real people benefit from working with your organization and why that’s important to them.

I recommend building a stockpile of  these little gems. At the conference, I handed out what I call a “Storybank Record.” It’s a simple Excel sheet that helps you keep track of your stories, where they came from, and what they are about. It’s something to keep for ongoing reference and revision.

It has columns for:

DATE, PROGRAM NAME, THEME/STORYLINE, CHARACTERS, SOURCE, and ANY PERMISSION NEEDED.

Where do you dig up these stories? Thee live all around you! Check:

  • Written/spoken client evaluations and reports
  • Focus groups or conversations at public events
  • Any letters or emails your organization has received
  • Water cooler conversations at your office

You may even want to regularly secure a brief spot on your staff meeting agenda. Ask  about any recent interactions folks have had that illustrate the impact of your work. Then follow up with individual interviews, and don’t be afraid to ask if you can quote people.

While my presentation was focused on using stories in marketing materials, you can also use them in grant proposals, funder reports, webpages, and a slew of other documents you write.

As seen in the current issue of The Chronicle of Philanthropy…

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The current issue of The Chronicle of Philanthropy includes this year’s Continuing Education Guide. There you will find an article entitled, “A Mightier Pen Can Help Charities Spread Messages,” full of great information about the need for strong writers in the nonprofit sector. I was pleased to serve as one of the sources for this article, which shares some of my tips for boosting your writing skills.

In the article, my colleagues and I agree that many nonprofit professionals see the need for improving their written communication skills, even after college. They often lack that essential training but can get it from books (such as Writing to Make a Difference), websites, workshops, and writing coaching.

A resource that was not mentioned in the article is my free Writing Wednesdays series, which offers training and feedback twice a month by phone (listen to the recordings in the archive). You can also watch my free webinars. If you’re looking for more customized training, check out the affordable custom services I offer.

If you are a subscriber to The Chronicle of Philanthropy, you can access the article HERE. Otherwise, check out the PDF right HERE.

I’d love to hear your comments!