Joanne shared powerful and practical writing tips on how to tell your nonprofit's story and make your mission come alive

2012-01-11

Joanne shared powerful and practical writing tips on a panel of experts focused on Telling Your Story: Reaching The Hearts and Minds of Donors and Foundations Through Grant Writing. The panel discussion, was co-hosted by ADO (Association of Development Officers) and GPLH (Grants Professionals of Lower Hudson) at ADO's monthly meeting and facilitated by Lydia Howie, President of GPLH. 

A record breaking 105 attendees were treated to a lively, extremely candid and enlightening panel discussion with 3 foundation representatives and 2 grant writing consultants.

The panel capped and built on a morning workshop and roundtable discussion with over 66 attendees, led by William E. Jeffries, MCP who provided specific strategies on how to develop your unique nonprofit story, how to maintain a consistent level of passion in your grant proposals and how to find your own grant writing voice.

A record breaking 105 attendees, learned these “Do’s” and “Don’ts” for telling your story in a way to increase your chances of success:

Do:     

  1. Use clear and concise language, leave the jargon out and be able to communicate your mission, need and program comprehensively, but quickly- Write your nonprofit elevator speech.
  2. As you answer all questions in the grant application, think about what a major donor will want to know as an “investor” in your program and organization.  Make sure your writing explains:
    1. Why a funder should invest in you.
    2. How this investment will move the funder’s mission forward.
    3. How you will achieve what you set out to do.
  3. Use measurable outcomes for your goals and objectives. Testimonials and quotes are a nice addition, but are not a substitute for data and evidence.

Don’t:

  1. Forget it takes time to cultivate a relationship with a funder. To be successful, the grant application should not your first contact. Organize a site visit.  A mental picture of your program in action is worth a thousand words.
  2. Ignore the budget page. Some funders look at the budget page of a proposal first, so make sure the budget is solid and makes sense, reflects the funder’s financial guidelines, and all budget line items are explained in the proposal narrative.
  3. Be discouraged if you are applying to the same funders and your program has not changed. Focus on the continued or growing need for services, your record of success, and personal stories of the impact you are making.

 

Panelists included:

Lydia Howie, Facilitator, President of GPLH and Howie Marketing and Consultants, Inc.

Betsy Hills Bush, Senior Consultant at Mathiasen Associates

Carolyn Gray, Senior Director of Foundation Relations at the Wildlife Conservation Society (Bronx Zoo)

Peter Samaha, Vice President of Ronald McDonald House of New York

James F.X. Steets, Director of Communications at Entergy Nuclear

Joanne Stewart, VP of GPLH and Partner, goodworks Advisory Group, LLC