I will - very gratefully - be speaking at the Troy Non-Profit Network Conference again this year.

Topic: 4 x 4: Four Tips for Effective Fundraising Packages

4th Annual Nonprofit Management Conference
Thursday, April 23, 2009. 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Walsh College, 3838 Livernois, Troy
$50 Troy Chamber members/$95 Non-members
To register, call 248-641-8151, e-mail: theteam@troychamber.com, or click here for a registration form.

Sponsored by National City Bank and Walsh College This affordable, day-long management conference is for nonprofit professionals, board members and volunteers.

Attendees will have the opportunity to choose one of five seminars at each of the four breakout session times. With seminars ranging from writing a fund development plan and creating high performing boards to surviving economic times with partnerships and collaboration, attendees can expect to receive information to help them improve their operations in seven core areas specifically geared toward nonprofit organizations: Fund Development/Donor Relations, Marketing, Governance/Operations, Leadership, Finance/Accounting/Risk Management, Technology and Strategic Planning.

A continental breakfast and hot buffet lunch will be included with each registration. Space is limited and reservations must be made in advance. Cancellations must be received by April 16 for full refund.

Luncheon Keynote Speaker: First Gentleman, Dan Mulhern — Topic: "Vision On a Matchbook"

Don’t miss this opportunity to receive affordable training for your entire staff. Attendees will choose one seminar per session during the course of the day. Seminars will not be reserved in advance. For a description of individual seminars, click here.

Are you or someone you know currently (or formerly) involved in the military and interested in starting a new business or expanding an existing business?

Check into the The U.S. Small Business Administration's Patriot Express Loan Initiative. Loans are available up to $500,000, and can be used for most business purposes, including start-up, expansion, equipment purchases, working capital, inventory, or business-occupied real estate purchases.

Eligible military community members include:

• Veterans
• Service-disabled veterans
• Active-duty service members eligible for the military's Transition Assistance Program
• Reservists and National Guard members
• Current spouses of any of the above
• The widowed spouse of a service member or veteran who died during service, or of a service-connected disability

For detailed information, visit the SBA Patriot Express Loan Initiative web page.

Confused about what a Grant Writer is "supposed to" do for your business or organization?  Here is a quick (but comprehensive list):

1. Collect {more than enough} information and data, through interviews and research, to understand and clearly present the organization and the project or program for which funding is sought.
2. Research and analyze appropriate grant-making organizations for likely funding sources specific to the project at hand.
3. Organize the proposal, and write compelling copy for the grant application.
4. Review the project budget for clarity and intent relative to the grant-making organization's guidelines.
5. Create individual grant proposals in line with the guidelines and specifications of each of the grant-making organizations published guidelines.
6. Maintain contact with each of the grant-making organizations to which a proposal has been submitted, and provide additional information or materials if requested.
7. Create and maintain project progress reports, if required by a funding organization.

A grant writer who accomplishes these tasks is successful - whether there is a grant award or not. It's not the grant writer's job to "get" the grant - only to make a compelling case to appropriate funding organizations.

Have a question?  Contact Us

We are proud to announce the addition of Stephen Price and Randy Leipnik to the TWC Grant Writing Advisory Team.

Stephen Price (Educational Resource Consultants/Fresno, CA) serves on the team as a Grant Writing Consultant.

Randy Leipnik (Semper Media Group/Oak Park, MI) serves as Media Consultant, and Capital Campaign Consultant.

Their broad and successful career histories add great depth to The Write Concept's capabilities, and we are grateful for their presence, their wisdom, and their counsel.