Many of us feel passionate about something, but few have the heart and courage to follow through on those passions. We get caught up in “life,” right? But what is life without a commitment to something bigger than ourselves? Just like One Spark, a crowdfunding festival that connects great ideas to resources, Foundation Center believes “one spark can start a fire.” To fuel that fire, however, you need capital to turn your passion into impact!
Grants from foundations can definitely be a strong source of funding to fuel your idea. Are you scratching your head and thinking, “But, how do I find them?” and, “How do I approach a foundation?” Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. To get you started, here’s a quick list of do’s and don’ts.
Don’t…
Ø …ask foundations questions you can find the answers to elsewhere.
Ø …approach foundations without having a well-thought-out plan of action.
Ø …cold call or be unprepared.
Ø …ignore the funder’s interests and focus only on your own.
Ø …spend too much time on the need instead of the solution.
Ø …overpromise and under produce.
Do…
ü …make a convincing case for support.
ü …tell a compelling story.
ü …connect to the foundation’s priorities—but stay true to who you are!
ü …make sure the numbers add up and make sense.
ü …go from promise to performance.
ü …focus on building relationships with funders beyond asking for money.
If you’re interested in learning more about these topics and understanding how to find funders to support your project or idea, write an effective proposal, put together a comprehensive budget, and build relationships with potential funders, then we’ve got just the class for you.
Proposal Writing Boot Camp, being held from August 4 – 6 in Jacksonville, Florida at the Jacksonville Public Library, is a three-day comprehensive learning experience that focuses on the essential knowledge and skills you need to get your idea funded. You will become familiar with the key components of a competitive grant proposal and a well-organized budget, and learn how to develop a targeted list of foundation funding prospects.
So, if you’re ready to ignite your passion, this is the place to be! What are you waiting for? Click here to find out more and register.
David Holmes and Leeanne G-Bowley are members of Foundation Center’s capacity and leadership development team. They are the instructors for this Proposal Writing Boot Camp, and look forward to working with the nonprofit community in Jacksonville for this exciting workshop.
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