Learning From Our Mistakes: Top 5 Errors
I have found over the years that despite some great successes as a grants professional, the best lessons I have learned come from the mistakes that I’ve made. While I might cringe or get frustrated at the time, I realize that in the end, I am glad that I went through the experience. In order […]
Advice for New Nonprofits From a Mom
This week I sent my first born child (my baby) to kindergarten for his first week of school. All parents have felt the same – nervous, excited, sad and excited. Change is difficult, no matter how old you get, and everyone has some level of anxiety related to trying something new. The same can be […]
Grant Misperceptions 101 – No budget, no problem
So, you have that million dollar idea that you know will be funded by a big donor. You have started to brainstorm with your colleagues, and then someone in your office finds out that there is a huge funding and you would be absolutely remiss if you don’t apply. But wait, there’s a big issue. […]
Grant Misperceptions 101
As a grant professional, I realize that the majority of people outside of my industry are blissfully unaware of all the intricacies, challenges and difficulties that come with being a grant writer. You have competing deadlines, federal guidance updates and changes, and steep learning curves pertaining to grantee organizations and their programs. The preparation of […]
Summer is Here! 10 Ways to Enjoy the Downtime
The sun is shining, the weather is warm, and you likely have gone (or plan to go) on vacation. Summer is the perfect time for renewal of one’s spirit, energy and focus. It is also the perfect time to relax. I know that a lot of my clients are planning vacations, so there has been […]
Fiscal Year Planning: The Who, What, Why, Where and How
Many nonprofits are starting to think about the next year already since their fiscal years begin July 1st. I know this is a ton of work between updating budgets, board retreats and meetings, strategic plan updates, and a host of other activities. However, this is a necessary evil and I’ll try to provide a roadmap […]
Grants Management 101 (Part 2): Monitoring and Oversight
Let’s say you are a grantee and in order to execute your programs, you need to include partners in order to meet your outcomes and they help execute your deliverables. However, these are not just any partners, these are commonly referred to as subrecipients. Many organizations need subrecipients, as they themselves do not have the […]
Embracing Technology if You’re not Savvy
So, you are at a workshop and the PowerPoint presentation is unable to load. Another situation is that you are at your computer and the document you spent 30 minutes drafting does not save. Frustrating, to say the least! Like it or not, technology is here to stay, and keeps changing in scope and functionality. […]
What does Snowzilla teach us about preparedness?
I live in Montgomery County, Maryland, which is located north of Washington, DC and was hit hard by the Snowzilla this past week. We experienced 30 inches of snow and our county was completely overwhelmed by the amount and it has taken days of 24/7 support to ensure the safe and effective removal of all […]
When it is important to say “no” to something new
So, you decide that it’s a good idea to start a new project or apply for grant funding. That’s great – the hardest part is the first step, right? After you decide to make that decision you may come up with a project charter or plan, identify resources (both personnel and non-personnel related), set up […]
