Comments for Pamela Grow's Grantwriting Blog

Comment on Do you say thank you when you don’t get the grant? by Pamela Grow

Pamela Grow — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:59:19 +0000

It always depends on the situation. Are you just beginning to build your base of foundation funding? If you’re unable to connect via the phone, you can still send a thank you letter — it will set you apart. There will always be foundations you will never get an answer from. But I have obtained funding after as many as five declinations (and that funder became a regular funder). Persistence, constantly improving and tweaking your proposals, and connecting one-on-one with the funder when you can is key.

Comment on Do you say thank you when you don’t get the grant? by Shuttlebug

Shuttlebug — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:53:37 +0000

Pamela, is there anything useful we can ask after our proposal has been declined? Most foundations seem to be trying to head off questions by giving vague “reasons” why a proposal was not accepted. I don’t think it would be reasonable for foundations to explain to each applicant how their proposal could have been stronger, but is there a polite way of asking? Or would you suggest a simple not saying thank you for your review?

Comment on Easy Money for Nonprofits! by Erin

Erin — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:55:48 +0000

You make a lot of good points. I have found the hardest point to drive home with folks is the need for persistence! Enjoyed the article.

Comment on Easy Money for Nonprofits! by [Headlines] Shaping Your Story to Motivate Action |

[Headlines] Shaping Your Story to Motivate Action | — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:05:56 +0000

[...] Easy Money for Nonprofits! That’s how many nonprofits view the topic of grants. One of your board members sees that XYZ Charity just landed a three-year $100,000 grant from the ABC Foundation…and shouldn’t you drop everything and apply? Foundation grantseeking is is a strategic process, not a one-time grant submission … by Pamela Grow [...]

Comment on Easy Money for Nonprofits! by Mixed Links for Nonprofit Communicators

Mixed Links for Nonprofit Communicators — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:45:39 +0000

[...] Grow has Easy Money for Nonprofits (or maybe [...]

Comment on Easy Money for Nonprofits! by Nonprofit Grant Proposal Success (Beyond Writing) - Nonprofit Hub - Nonprofit Hub

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:03:09 +0000

[...] Easy Money for Nonprofits [Pamela’s Grant Writing Blog] [...]

Comment on How Much Should You Request in Your Grant Proposal? How Much Do You Need?! by Grants | Easy Money for Nonprofits! | Pamela Grow's Grantwriting Blog

Grants | Easy Money for Nonprofits! | Pamela Grow's Grantwriting Blog — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 22:51:24 +0000

[...] Study the foundation’s giving histories, preferably for the past three years. Note the range of grants – and tailor your request accordingly. Is this your first request? Come in on the low end. [...]

Comment on Nonprofit email fundraising: Are you overlooking the role consistency plays? by Angie from TX

Angie from TX — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:58:59 +0000

We have created urgency with a matching gift just recently and that worked very well. Also, if we really feel passionate about our cause then I think there is always urgency. People are dying, animals are suffering, orphans need families, natural resources need protecting and the list goes on and on. Whatever you are working toward every day, there are people out there who care about it, too.

Comment on Fundraising in a Recession – 7 Tips by Home Builders Baltimore

Home Builders Baltimore — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 02:22:56 +0000

Retention, retention, retention. Not that research shouldn’t be iterated 3 times.

I just know that times are hard for everyone in a recession, and sometimes good people are hard to find.

Comment on Nonprofit email fundraising: Are you overlooking the role consistency plays? by Mixed Links for Nonprofit Marketers

Mixed Links for Nonprofit Marketers — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 20:38:10 +0000

[...] Grow disagrees with a few points SOFII made in a recent blog post. Check out her post Nonprofit Email Fundraising: Are You Overlooking the Role Consistency Plays? Whom do you agree [...]

Comment on Nonprofit email fundraising: Are you overlooking the role consistency plays? by Mazarine

Mazarine — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:28:05 +0000

Wow Pam!

I agree.

It’s important to get the point across in a clear and compelling way, and it’s definitely important to ask yourself, “Would someone else share this?”

AND it’s important to be consistent with your emails. Because every time I get an enewsletter, I ask myself, “Did I sign up for this?” And if I don’t remember the sender or signing up, I unsubscribe.

By sending email once a week, you allow people to understand that you’re thinking of them, that you have relevant information to share, and that they can trust you through your consistency.

I know it’s hard to make time to send an email onec a week, but even once a month is better than most nonprofits manage.

I have never looked at a nonprofit newsletter and thought, “Oh, this is totally irrelevant, why did they send me this?” I know why they sent it. They told me about a new issue, they gave me a new way to engage, they wanted to say thank you.

Peace,

Mazarine
http://wildwomanfundraising.com

Comment on On the anniversary of Roe v. Wade…reflections by Pamela Grow

Pamela Grow — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 19:03:58 +0000

Ellen,
Thank you for writing. I understand. We are all shaped by our own personal experiences and I appreciate and accept yours.
Best,
Pam

Comment on On the anniversary of Roe v. Wade…reflections by Ellen Murphy

Ellen Murphy — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 18:19:49 +0000

Pamela, I am a new subscriber to your newsletter and happened upon this entry. I am against abortion. I sympathize with your story about illegal abortion and the effect it had on you. Please understand that for many of us, the stories of late term abortions, abortion as birth control, abortion for sex selection, abortion for birth defects, and forced abortion have the opposite effect. Roe v. Wade made abortion legal, saving some lives, but extinguishing many more. Ellen

Comment on On the anniversary of Roe v. Wade…reflections by Mazarine

Mazarine — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 02:29:12 +0000

Dear Pam,

Thank you for standing up for a woman’s right to choose what she does with her body. I appreciate you. And this issue is very near and dear to my heart. I fully believe in people’s right to have abortions, even though I’ve never had one.

For me, all of my friendships are predicated on similar values, one of which is,

“We believe women have the right to equality, and the right to do what they wish with their bodies, no matter their age, religion, sexual preference, or where they are in the world.”

Whoever doesn’t like your stance on abortion is not committed to women’s rights anyway. And there are fewer and fewer of these people.

I loved your enewsletter last year, and I wrote a response here:
http://www.wildwomanfundraising.com/abortion-line-sand/

Peace,

Mazarine

Comment on What to do When Your Proposal is Declined. (Hint: It’s the Beginning, Not the End!) by Tracy Moavero

Tracy Moavero — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 07:13:13 +0000

“… be sure to explain how your project can help each foundation meets its own goals, not only how the foundation can help you meet yours.” I need to work on this! I have told many jobseekers this, since I’ve had way too many applications that tell me that the applicant could learn to much in the job. To be blunt, the response to that is “who cares?” I hire people to help our organization do its work, and to help make my own job easier. I need to keep that in mind when I work with foundation staff.

Comment on Fundraising in the Trenches | Surveying by In the Cloud « FundraiserBeth

In the Cloud « FundraiserBeth — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:45:40 +0000

[...] next donor survey that asks respondents to describe your charity with three to five adjectives (donor surveys are a terrific way to engage donors). It’s a good way to garner some insight and may be [...]

Comment on The dreaded red pen by Underdeveloped: A National Study of Challenges Facing Nonprofit Fundraising - small shop fundraising | Pamela Grow

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 17:21:49 +0000

[...] and let’s not forget the dreaded red pen! [...]

Comment on Are You Throwing the Baby Out With the Bath-water? Long-term vs. Short-Term Development Success by If you’re not committed to funding your mission, you’re not committed to your mission - Pamela Grow | Pamela Grow

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 13:32:32 +0000

[...] posts: Are you throwing the baby out with the bathwater? Creating a Culture of Philanthropy | Cara’s Motivations Nonprofits Need to Lose the Free [...]

Comment on A short lesson in email asks for your nonprofit year-end appeal by Make your emails shorter » Kathleen Pequeño

Make your emails shorter » Kathleen Pequeño — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 22:06:02 +0000

[...] only send short emails (NOI’s Tip of the Day springs to mind, along with MoveOn.org, those hundreds of Barack Obama fundraising emails that clogged your email inbox over 2012, and many other large-scale and popular [...]

Comment on Nonprofit Newsletters – Are You Making These Mistakes? by Bethany

Bethany — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 20:55:04 +0000

How have people done effective e-mail newsletters? Almost every e-mail newsletter I get goes straight to trash–not because I don’t care, but because I don’t have time, and it’s so easy to get rid of. I’d like to save printing costs by moving some of our newsletters online, but ONLY if they’ll still be read.