Understanding The Difference Between Public And Private Funding
Public and private grant nonprofit funding seem simple in definition. Public funding comes from a federal, state, or publicly funded agency, while private funding is awarded by non-corporate and corporate entities (includes grants and gifts). However, it’s not always black and white. In order to decide whether to seek public or private funding, it’s […]
How to Engage Funders During COVID-19: Tips and Best Practices
COVID-19 has forced us to think outside the box when it comes to fundraising. In a time where face-to-face interactions are unsafe, it’s essential for fundraisers to adopt new strategies for engaging donors and potential supporters. While virtual Zoom meetings or phone calls aren’t ideal, there are still plenty of ways to build and maintain […]
Performance-based Budgeting – What does it mean?
Does this sound familiar? Your fiscal year end is quickly approaching so you and your team members (could be comprised of development staff, finance staff and/or program staff) work together to prepare your budget in time to be approved by the board. Is there a strategic approach that you use or is this done through […]
Top 4 FY16 Federal Grants Predictions
Well, September 30th marks the end of the federal fiscal year. While I don’t have a crystal ball, I do have a sense of the upcoming funding cycle and some thoughts of what we might expect. Let’s see how many actually come to fruition. Transparency, Front and Center: The focus on transparency and safeguarding […]
Grants Management Case Studies, Part 2
Every grantee in receipt of government funding wants to ensure that they are in good standing with their federal, state, and local government counterparts. However, in some cases organizations can be designated as high-risk, which leads to unfortunate punitive measures down the road. What do these entail and how can you maintain compliance and avoid […]
Which comes first, the grant budget or the narrative?
It’s the age-old “chicken or the egg” question, a brain teaser and an example of the cycle of life. As we all know, having access to information upon preparation of a grant application is essential to the success of the proposal. How can any application (large or small, federal or private) be successful without essential […]
There are no small organizations…
Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Nonprofit Village of Montgomery County’s “Making a Difference Awards Breakfast” and am continually inspired by the great work that is being done by small nonprofits in the community. As many of you already know, Montgomery County, Maryland is home to thousands of nonprofit organizations. A majority […]
Is your Nonprofit Board on Board?
On Thursday, May 7, I will be conducting a training with my dear friend and colleague, Ayda Sanver at the Center for Nonprofit Advancement in Washington, D.C. We’ll be discussing a topic that I know is near and dear to many – disengaged boards and miscommunication between nonprofit board and staff. How can these two […]
Indirect Costs: Deconstructing the “Overhead Myth” in the Uniform Guidance
In the summer of 2014, almost everyone either participated in or knew someone who participated in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. It was a win/win situation – The ALS Association gained exposure through various social media outlets, and experienced a near 1,000 percent increase in donations from the previous year at that time. However, people started to look […]
