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GrantProse, Inc., Newsletter
May 19, 2009
Vol. 2, No. 10
Newsletter Editor: Rita Lewis
North Carolina's leading newsletter for information on grants.
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Dear Colleagues,
The GrantProse vision is to provide high quality, personalized services and resources that are reasonably priced and widely accessible. Toward this end, we provide this newsletter free and hope you will forward it to your colleagues. We welcome your suggestions--please email ideas to Rita Lewis, newsletter editor.
We have launched a new design for the GrantProse website. Please be patient with us if you encounter problems . . . we are our own webmasters! We will continue to support favorite links such as Grant Alerts and Web Resources in a more user-friendly environment that provides you the latest and best information on grant development resources.
Also, we are in the process of developing webinars to provide training over the Internet. We anticipate hosting our first webinars in the next couple of months. As always, thanks for your appreciation of our work.
Bill CarruthersGrantProse, Inc.
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Bulletin Board
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May 2009. The NC Office of Economic Recovery & Investment (OERI) is holding a series of Economic Recovery Workshops in various locations around the state. The workshops, led by OERI director Dempsey Benton, feature representatives from state and federal agencies administering recovery funds in North Carolina, and provide information and guidance to local municipalities, businesses and interested citizens on how recovery funds will be administered. Three workshops have been held to date in Winston-Salem, Clyde and Kinston; check OERI's website for remaining dates and locations.
May-June, 2009. The NC Office of the State Auditor offers free courses across the state featuring various aspects of grants management (e.g., policies and procedures, basics of internal controls, etc.). Participants are encouraged to sign up now for scheduled courses; budget cuts may limit availability after this series ends on June 25. Visit NCOSA's online registration system to register and to view course offerings.
June 2-October 15, 2009. GrantProse will conduct a series of two-day grant-writing workshops at the Western Wake campus of Wake Tech Community College. These fast-paced, individualized workshops are designed for those with beginning to intermediate grant-writing skills and experience. Participants will create text in response to common proposal sections (e.g., problem statement, project design, evaluation plan) and practice budgeting. Rather than "sitting and getting," you will be writing and budgeting...bring your laptop and be prepared to have your work critiqued. Visit the GrantProse website for more information and to register for any of the following dates: June 2-3, July 7-8, August 18-19, September 15-16 or October 13-14.
June 11, 2009. Grants Information Network (GIN) of NC meeting, 9-11 am. Speaker TBA.
June 15-16, 2009. The Grants Information Network of NC will conduct its popular two-day grant-writing workshop in coordination with Wake Tech Community College. This workshop is designed for the novice to beginning grant writer. Contact Mary Brady for information.
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In the Spotlight
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Many organizations are moving into high gear to apply for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding, which will be subject to reporting requirements designed to improve accountability and transparency. The federal government is soliciting comments from the public on the proposed guidelines for reporting requirements recently issued by the Office of Management and Budget. To submit a comment, visit Regulations.gov, which contains a link to the proposed guidelines. The comment period ends June 22, 2009.
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Tips & Resources
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DonorsChoose
Many school districts make it a policy not to apply for smaller grants that tax the patience and resources of their accounting departments. But teachers have another way to obtain supplies, materials and resources for smaller projects. DonorsChoose is an online charity that allows donors to view requests of teachers from across the nation, and choose classrooms and projects to support. DonorsChoose buys and ships materials directly to the school. In exchange, teachers and students write thank you letters and send pictures of project implementation. Does your school serve students with parents in the military? DonorsChoose is currently running a "special" for projects that benefit these students.
Get LinkedIn with GIN
The Grants Information Network (GIN) of North Carolina has established a professional networking group with LinkedIn, affording you more opportunities to network and share information about developing grant proposals and managing grant programs. If you already have a LinkedIn account, search for "Grants Information Network (GIN) of North Carolina" using the "Search Groups" query and then request to join the group. If you do not have an account, sign up for one for free on LinkedIn, and then search for the GIN group and request to join. If you have questions about GIN on LinkedIn, please email RV Rikard.
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Guest Column
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Birds of a Feather
By Michele Oros
For better or worse, we are often judged by the company we keep. Our choice of collaborating partners and board members can critically influence the decision of a funding agency, which may evaluate our trustworthiness by investigating the history and affiliations of our supporters.
Assembling a board of directors with strong professional credentials and building a roster of respected partners is especially important for organizations with a limited track record. Respectable partners will not risk their reputations to support questionable organizations. Experienced partners can provide valuable assistance with grant implementation and management. And board members with diverse skills enhance organizational capabilities.
Conversely, collaborating with partners whose financial or legal status is questionable can diminish your credibility and impair your ability to attract funds. Avoid partnerships with organizations or individuals on record as adversaries of a potential funder, or whose prior dealings with a funder have been contentious. Likewise, get to know your board of directors; many nonprofit organizations have begun requiring background checks for board members to avoid surprises and protect their interests.
With this in mind, choose sound collaborating partners who genuinely support the mission of your organization or project. Seek board members with diverse skills and clean background checks. Build strategic alliances that enhance organizational capacity and positive public relations.
Michele Oros has written and managed grant-funded projects for Beaufort County Schools since 2003. She also helps organizations in her community find and obtain grants, and teaches grant-writing workshops through NC's community college system.
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Grant Opportunities
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Deadline: 6/15/09
Program: Gang Prevention Youth Mentoring Program
Agency: US Dept. of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
Description: Funding to establish mentoring programs offering a mix of core services to youth at risk of gang activity, delinquency and violence.
Award Amount: Up to $500,000 (for 3-year project)
Website: OJJDP
Eligibility: K-12, colleges, nonprofits, government agencies
Deadline: Ongoing thru 10/1/09
Program: Ribbon of Hope Mini-Grants Program
Agency: NC GlaxoSmithKline Foundation
Description: Grants to establish or expand local programs in health, science and education that serve identified needs of local communities.
Award Amount: $25,000
Website: Ribbon of Hope
Eligibility: Nonprofits
Fifteen new grant alerts have recently been uploaded to the GrantProse website. To view these and many more opportunities, visit www.GrantProseInc.com.
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