show me the money
DESCRIPTION
An overview appropriate for non-profit and academic environments on the fundraising cycle, how to raise money, where to start when looking for grants. A very appropriate presentation for fundraising trainings and newcomers to fundraising/grant-seeking. Fun slide at the beginning that shows how fundraising is like dating to find a spouse.TRANSCRIPT
$ Show Me the Money $a brief introduction to a much larger topic
Finding grants, getting grants and other money + a brief intro to the cultivation
cycle
Why fundraising is the one thing you will do that is most like dating to pick a mate but isn’t
You have to:
● figure out where the funders are and go where they are
●get to know the good people through other contacts
●show funders why this relationship would be good for them (not just for you)
●be willing to answer all questions, even if they are vague
●play to win. If you don’t try, try, try again, you can’t win.
●ask for things even if you might be told ‘no’ and not take ‘nos’ personally
●learn to strategize to turn a ‘no’ into a ‘yes’
●be in the relationship for the long haul
●know who you are and what you are and why you are important: what makes you original but fit in
●have plans, not just ideas--an idea without a plan is just a bad idea
●hold up your end of the bargain
●have patience: sometimes it takes time to make a good match
●be flexible, but firm—know where your line in the sand is
●strive for the best case scenario to be the asked, not the asker
Know who you are and what you are and why you are important: what makes you original but fit in
Have plans, not just ideas--an idea without a plan is just a bad idea
• Have a bag of ideas to shop
• Concentrate on proposals you can shop to more than one “buyer”
• Have a list of “buyers” to shop to
• Diversify your list of buyers: foundations, competitions, post-docs, corporations, etc. (Products??)
Where to find the money?
Taken from MIT Media Lab's Neil Gershenfeld
Big projects, university-based projects, projects with professors, etc.... lots to
search & know.... sample search on one website
http://www.philanthropyjournal.org/news/new-foundation-support-women-girls
October 5, 2010
Robertson Foundation for Government has committed $50 million to new program it plans to expand over time supporting top U.S.
graduate students who plan to pursue federal government careers in national security, foreign policy and international affairs, and
has named 11 students at four universities as its first class of fellows.
Dell has committed itself to give $10 million in cash and Dell technology for education technology initiatives in 2011.
Exxon Mobil Corporation expects to spend over $120 million on U.S. math and science education through 2012.
Walmart Foundation giving $3 million to members of Alliance for Equity in Higher Education to increase college success rates at
institutions serving minorities.
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation awarded total of $2.23 million to vive projects that use technology to help residents take
action to strengthen their communities -- Craigslist Foundation, Jumo, Code for America, Community PlanIt, and CEOS for Cities.
Newly-formed Women's Self Worth Foundation says it will grant $10 million to aid, advance and empower girls and women,
including initial $1 million grant to The Women's Funding Network to benefit ACCION's U.S. micro-lending programs.
Meet your new BFF
Expand
16th edition 2007 No Loan On Shelf
Main Library Stacks LB2336 .F598
FNDNGRANINDIV16
There is a copy in most
Reference libraries !!
GO TO THE PLACES WHERE THE PEOPLEARE THAT YOU WANT TO GIVE YOU MONEY
Nonprofit & Gov & Unis● Council on Foundations,
http://www.cof.org● Conferences● Competitions● Networking events
Business● Conferences● Competitions● Networking events● Social events● Alumni events
How do I get them to give the money?
Graph of Cultivation Cycle (courtesy of Larry Haskell)
Figuring out whohas the money &am I a good fit? Would a mutually
beneficial relationshipcome out of this? AmI worth their time andare they worth mine?
Get to know each otherConferences; personal references;
Colleagues; peers; publishing;Blogging; PR; articles about you;
Speaking engagements;Social activities (Do they want you
around? Do they want tohave you on their list? Can
they afford not to?) {Yes, this iseven possible
with gov't agencies}
Make them an offer they can't refuse:proposals, grants, direct asks (meet
& just ask for the money), get“higher ups” to ask on your behalf
Keep involved with them: invite tohear you speak, send personal notes
of thanks, keep cultivating -[Yes, this is even possible
with gov't agencies]
#1 RULE FOR GRANT &PROPOSAL WRITING
(after you have completed the appropriate parts of the Cultivation Cycle)
ANSWER EVERYTHINGANSWER EVERYTHING
& GIVE THE GRANTORGIVE THE GRANTOR
WHAT THEY WANTWHAT THEY WANT
HOW THEY WANT ITHOW THEY WANT IT
WHEN THEY WANT ITWHEN THEY WANT IT
WHERE THEY WANT ITWHERE THEY WANT IT
#2 RULE FOR GRANT &PROPOSAL WRITING
(after you have completed the appropriate parts of the Cultivation Cycle)
GET THEM TO ASK YOU GET THEM TO ASK YOU FOR A PROPOSALFOR A PROPOSAL
BYBY GETTINGGETTINGIN FRONT OF:IN FRONT OF:
FOUNDATION LEADERSBUSINESS LEADERSBUSINESS LEADERS
GOVERNMENT LEADERSGOVERNMENT LEADERS
#3 RULE FOR GRANT &PROPOSAL WRITING
(after you have completed the appropriate parts of the Cultivation Cycle)
PROMOTEPROMOTEYOUR WORKYOUR WORK
HELP OTHERS PROMOTE HELP OTHERS PROMOTE THEIRSTHEIRS
GET OUT AND GET KNOWNGET OUT AND GET KNOWN
#3 RULE FOR GRANT &PROPOSAL WRITING
(after you have completed the appropriate parts of the Cultivation Cycle)
ASKASKASK AGAINASK AGAIN
ASK SOMEONE ASK SOMEONE ELSEELSE
A few links, etc. to get you started
http://www.macfound.org/site/c.lkLXJ8MQKrH/b.947073/k.4CD8/Domestic_Grantmaking__Education__Recent_Grants.htmhttp://www.hewlett.org/global_developmenthttp://www.iie.org/fulbrighthttp://www.callingallinnovators.com/venture_challenge.aspx
1) Look for competitions to enter. These are just a couple:M.I.T. Entrepreneurship Competition: $100k to get a business idea funded.
http://www.mit100k.org/ Technology-focused business plans seem to become winners.Buckminster Fuller Challenge, $100,000: For everyone in our Dept.... a PhD student won this the second year of the award. They also have a very influential ideas index...
energy,environment, and agriculture seem to be in the winning categories.http://www.socialedge.org/features/opportunities/archive/2010/08/04/2011-buckminster-fuller-challenge
2) Grants & other important e-updates: The Foundation Center is the most central of these. Sign up for and scan lists. Keep up with who funds what.Philanthropy News Digesthttp://foundationcenter.org/pnd/profile/register.jhtml;jsessionid=KG3VTWFUBZKF1LAQBQ4CGXD5AAAACI2FThe Foundation Center: http://foundationcenter.org/profile/register.jhtmlThe Chronicle of Philanthropy – the “New York Times” of giving Sign up for the free newsletter versions of grant updates, news, etc: http://philanthropy.com/help/emails/Stanford Social Innovation Review: Click in the left corner to sign up for their free newsletter. A ton of good ideas: http://www.ssireview.org/Government grants: http://www.grants.gov/International development: http://www.efc.be/projects/eu/efprf/ Email them to get on their list: [email protected] overview of development issues around the world in the weekly e- news update. Helps you know how you compare to other places being funded by bilaterals, etc. Everyone involved in international development in some way should be on their mailing list: http://www.dev-zone.org(international). Go to the right side of the page to register and also to get free email updates.International tenders for large projects http://www.devex.com/projects-and-tendersProjects are often looking for experts to join a team... and need professional expertise. If interested in international development, also a very good list to be on to see what is garnering large foreignaid support.Relief Web: http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/dbc.nsf/doc100?OpenForm Register here to get free email updates (more relief oriented, but it also lets you know what’s going on):http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/MyRW.nsf/doc900Register?OpenForm&mode=subscription&link=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/dbc.nsf/doc100?OpenFormI really like this newsletter out of Africa… always LOTS of interesting projects supporting change in Africa through technology: http://www.comminit.com/africa/Sign up here to get their e-news: http://www.comminit.com/en/subscribe_drumbeat.htmlAlliance Magazine(on philanthropy and social investment worldwide)http://www.alliancemagazine.org/en/content/whats-new-allianceFor US grants – sign up here for US gov grants by sending an email tothem. [email protected] Pioneers Fellowship/Analyst FellowshipGlobal Focus AotearoaSometimes lists grant or partnership opportunities..... always lists interesting stuff...... especially with technology in the developing world- Click here http://www.globalfocus.org.nz/emails/devissues.htm for a web copy of this email.
A career-long processLike other relationships or career skills:
not learned in a day but refined over time