Why Pretend to Be Something That You’re Not?
My daughter loves wearing different costumes (and not just for Halloween). She loves pretending to be a doctor, firefighter, princess, fairy, butterfly and even a mommy. This is why I think adults like Halloween too – you can pretend to be something you’re not (at least for one day) and get away with it! It […]
Success Rate Isn’t the Best Indicator of Grant Success
I realize that from an outsider’s perspective, the success rate can appear to be a measurement of the grant writer’s aptitude and provide a tool to determine return on investment or job performance. However, I find this question misleading, and here’s why: Success rate does not provide any understanding of what the funder was […]
With all of this noise, why do we need to listen?
I am grateful for the fact that my children are able to express themselves (and all of their emotions). Their articulation of their challenges, triumphs, and annoyances offers me a glimpse into how they view the world around them. I realize that we spend a lot of time talking and sharing our opinions and information, […]
GPA Conference 2017: How to Mix Business with Pleasure
Each year, hundreds of grant professionals descend upon a chosen city in November to discuss all things grants for our annual Grant Professionals Association Conference. This year, the conference was held at the Paradise Point Resort and Spa in San Diego. At the onset, I thought that trying to participate in valuable professional development sessions, […]
Look before you leap – Why I live by checklists
My son is now in first grade, and is becoming more independent and responsible. One of the more recent challenges we encountered was having him remember all of the items to include in his backpack as he prepares to head off to school. He forgot his library book one day and then he forgot his […]
Be Kind to Strangers – Why Kindness Matters
I was looking for birthday cards at a nearby Hallmark store and there was a sign that read “Be Kind to Strangers – They May Give you Money.” I had to laugh at this, since it is very true (and very applicable as a grant writer). We spend an inordinate amount of time crafting a […]
If We Amplify Everything, We Hear Nothing
There are many ways we can communicate with our clients, partners and the public. There are social media sites (and the list of these sites keeps expanding all the time), your own website, newsletters, press releases, conferences, emails, phone calls, letters (are you getting exhausted already?). While it is wonderful to have all these […]
Celebrating 4 Years! Top 4 Things I Have Learned
4 years ago I was working in the nonprofit sector and trying to juggle the job of Director of Development while raising a three-year-old boy. While I was grateful for the flexibility that this job afforded (I was mostly able to telecommute) and I completely supported the organization’s mission, I still didn’t feel that I […]
Language Refresh (5 Ways to Enhance Stale Language)
My kids hate leftovers. They always whine and complain if we have the same meal two days in a row. I can understand that the second day food isn’t as fresh or appetizing, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t still good. The same can be said for the words we write. As proposal writers and […]
To Train for Free or not to Train for Free
When I started my business nearly four years ago, I tried to cease every opportunity. Sure, I’ll meet with you at a location of your choosing. Sure, I’ll do some extra pro bono hours. Sure, I’ll provide another consult call to make sure you have what you need to move forward with our work together. […]
