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Issue 26: July 2009 It seems that no one is immune to the effects of our economy’s downturn. A March 2009 survey conducted by the Council of Foundations shows how the economic downturn has impacted foundations across the United States. Foundations report they are taking several steps to address current needs while ensuring that they will be around to address needs in the future:
Now more than ever, funding for nonprofit organizations is becoming increasingly competitive. Here are some tips to help nonprofits stick out in a crowd and give funders what they’re looking for: #1) Become a grant-seeking pro There are a number of free, online resources to help get you up-to-speed with the process of applying for grant funding. The Foundation Center, a service organization that connects nonprofits with grantmakers, offers a free Guide to Funding Research. The Minnesota Council of Foundations dedicates a section of their website to grantseeking and provides an overview of the grantseeking process. #2) Be sure you’re barking up the right tree It is crucial to find funders that are interested in your type of work. The Foundation Center has many wonderful resources in this area; they offer a free, basic online search of grantmakers throughout the U.S. More extensive resources are available online for a monthly subscription. In all 50 states, the Center offers free electronic and print grantseeking resources in Cooperating Collections, housed in libraries or other nonprofit resource centers. #3) Make a case for the needs in your community Funders want you to demonstrate a need for the service you will provide. The more targeted your population is (in terms of factors such as geographic location, race or ethnicity, or age) the more challenging it can be to find up-to-date data. City, County and State Department websites can be a rich source of data for your population. Also be sure to check out the U.S. Census’ American FactFinder – just type in your city, town or zip for population counts and estimates. #4) It’s all in the details Grantmakers often make requirements about how proposals are submitted – ranging from font and margin size to method of delivery. Do yourself a favor and read the fine print of the proposal requirements; then follow each one to a tee. #5) Get a little help from your friends Most grant reviewers are not experts in your field, so any “insider language” must be explained in layman’s terms. Ask a friend or colleague outside of your agency to read your proposal and to make sure that it’s easily understood by an “outsider.” #6) Show funders the value of your programs Through evaluations, organizations show funders the successes that can be attributed to their programs and areas of unmet need in the community. Evaluation data provides a compelling story to funders because it is so specific to the program or organization. Visit the Improve Group website to access free resources to help build your skills in evaluation. **For more on this topic, please join us online on August 12 from 8:00 am to 9:00 am CST for the Improve Group’s next virtual Brown Bag: Show me the money, competing for funds in today's economic reality. Resources from this article can be found at: Capital Venture. 10 tips for getting the grant. Available at: http://www.cvfundraising.com/resources/tip_sheets/getting_the_grant Council of Foundations. “Foundations respond to the needs of families even as their assets have declined.” May 6, 2009. Available at: http://www.cof.org/economicdownturn Dane, Michele. “Successfully competing for grant funding.” May 10, 2009. Available at: http://nonprofitfundraising.suite101.com/article.cfm/successfully_competiting_for_grant_funding |
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LGM: What expertise do you bring to your work? LC: I have nearly 20 years experience teaching mathematics and statistics at the undergraduate level. In addition, I have also worked at MathSoft, Inc. (now TIBCO Software, Inc.) in Seattle, WA, where I consulted with clients at companies or organizations such as Pfizer, Inc., Hewlett-Packard, the Centers for Disease Control, and the U. S. Geological Survey, on using the software package S-PLUS to perform their statistical analyses. My interests include statistical computing and statistical modeling. I've also supervised students working on statistics projects provided by companies such as Northwest Airlines, Target Corporation, CMS Direct, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. More recently, I've become interested in tools and techniques for analyzing spatial data and have become involved in initiatives at Carleton College promoting spatial literacy and spatial statistics. LGM: What do you hope to learn or get involved in through your work with the Improve Group? LC: I'm interested in learning more about non-profit groups and public agencies and the challenges that they face. By becoming involved in some of the Improve Group’s projects, I hope that I can give my students more real-life "examples of the types of problems they can expect to encounter when they graduate. LGM: What are some of the things with which you hope to help nonprofits and public agencies through the partnership with the Improve Group? LC: I also can offer assistance in designing some of the studies the Improve Group will be conducting. I am eager to contribute in the areas of data analysis and statistical modeling. In addition, some of the Improve Group's data projects might benefit from spatial analysis so I would like to help out in that regard. LGM: What do you do when you are not partnering with the Improve Group? LC: When I am not teaching, I enjoy reading, biking and hiking. I am involved with Glacier Park Foundation, a non-profit group that is devoted to promoting the public interest in Glacier National Park. |
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by Susan Murphy An office atmosphere is always special when there are interns present. Over the years the Improve Group has worked with high school, college, graduate and post-graduate interns. Each time we find their assistance, talent and ideas keep us energized. Internships offer many benefits to those who undertake them; for example they can:
For the summer of 2009 the Improve Group hired three outstanding interns: Daniel Goldstein, Samantha Richard and Angela McCollow. Dan is about to start college at the University of Minnesota. Samantha will soon begin her senior year of high school and Angela is a sophomore at the U of M. Their main project for this summer involves scanning and cleaning data from thousands of surveys. I asked each of them to take a minute out of their busy schedules to tell me if they would recommend interning to others. Dan: I would recommend interning to others because it is a good way to get out there and explore your options. It really gives you a good image of what to expect if you pursue a certain career depending on what company your internship is for.
I would recommend interning. It’s fun, it gives you great experience, and it puts a good chunk of change in your pocket. I like it a lot.
I would recommend interning to others, because it gives you a feel for a specific career field. You actually can find out if that type of career would be best for you. Also, it helps you meet new people from different fields, and learn about other careers. What about life after working with us? Collectively our interns’ summer plans include going to Florida, continuing to work to save up money for school, travel to Wisconsin and getting acclimated to living in a dorm at college. The distinctive experience of interning imparts unique learning to those who intern and those who employ them. Everyone brings something different to the experience and we appreciate Angela, Samantha and Dan for all that they bring to us. |
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What Funders Want
Talking with Laura Chihara
