Demystifying Grantseeking

TAKE THE FIVE STEPS TO BECOME A FEARLESS GRANT SEEKER In Demystifying Grant Seeking, authors Larissa Golden Brown and Martin John Brown offer down-to-earth advice on implementing an effective grant-seeking process based on the art of fearless grant seeking. Written for nonprofit professionals and fundraisers--no matter what their level of expertise--this hands-on resource outlines a five-step program that will help to dispel myths, overcome fears, and lead to grant-seeking success. Using the suggestions outlined in Demystifying Grant Seeking fundraisers will:

• Learn about their organizations, communities, and funders
• Match requests to funders
• Invite funders to invest in their organizations
• Follow up both internally with funders
• Evaluate results, methods, and opportunities

"At last! A practical, hands-on--and most importantly, realistic--guide to the entire grantsmanship process. Unlike so many how-to guidebooks which promise what they cannot deliver, while propagating the myth that successful grants require nothing more than a 'winning proposal, ' Demystifying Grant Seeking correctly places the proposal in its proper context alongside the 'other 90 percent of the process' that funders truly consider. As a former foundation program officer, I heartily recommend Demystifying Grant Seeking!" --Marilyn L. Gross, president, Educational Funding Strategies, Ltd., and publisher, THE INTERNET INSIDER--for Grantseekers & Fundraisers

Foreword by Judith E. Nichols, Ph. D. , CFRE.

PROLOGUE: GET INSPIRED AND READY TO GO.

1. Clear Away Myths and Fears.

2. Understand the Grantseeking Cycle.

3. Set Up a Simple Office.

STEP ONE: LEARN ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION, COMMUNITY, AND FUNDERS.

4. Learn About Your Organization and Programs.

5. Synthesize What You've Learned So Far.

6. Learn About Your Community.

7. Learn About Funders.

STEP TWO: MATCH YOUR REQUEST TO A FUNDER.

8. Move From Lead to Prospect to Match.

STEP THREE: INVITE A FUNDER TO INVEST IN YOUR ORGANIZATION.

9. Invite a Funder to Give .

10. Guide Relationships, Meetings, and Tours.

STEP FOUR: FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION AND YOUR FUNDER.

11. Communicate After Mailing a Proposal.

12. Follow Up After a Funding Decision.

STEP FIVE: EVALUATE YOUR RESULTS, METHODS, AND OPPORTUNITIES.

13. Evaluate the Past, Strategize the Future.

14. Personalize Your Grantseeking Cycle.

15. Set Your Grantseeking Ground Rules.

EPILOGUE: GET INSPIRED ALL OVER AGAIN.

16. Grow From Efficiency to Expertise.