"Alicia" finally gathered the courage to contact the program officer for a federal grant and get some helpful pointers. But when she had more questions, she wanted someone else to ask them, believing the program officer would think her "bothersome."

We gave this GrantProse client some advice about cultivating relationships with funders: 1) rather than being bothersome, she would send a signal that she wanted to "get it right" and submit a strong proposal; and 2) continued, direct contact would prevent lost-in-translation communication errors and create an invaluable record of input and information from the funding source.

Here are our tips on building funding relationships:

1. Don't throw spaghetti

Sending off grant applications one after another is like throwing cooked pasta at the wall to see if it sticks. Why spend time and effort on an experimental method? Make contact with the funding agency first, and discover whether your program is a good fit.

Initial contact acquaints the funder with your organization's mission and capabilities. Continued but respectful contact (don't be a stalker, do have a purpose) helps the funder really know your organization, which could lead to an invitation to submit a proposal.

2. Practice your elevator pitch

Whether you make an initial approach by email or phone, keep it brief. Jot down the main points you want to make: "I represent the ABC Nonprofit; our XYZ project works with [   this target population   ] to effect [   these changes   ]. I see you fund [   this focus area   ], and before we submit an application, I'd like to confirm that we're a good fit for funding." Think through and word your questions carefully so the program officer will have a clear understanding of what you're asking.

Research the funder before you call! At the very least, review their website for focus areas, agency history, and staff. Foundation Directory Online provides background info; get current developments from Twitter, Facebook, or the agency's website. It also helps to review past RFPs and funded projects.

3. Pay attention to timing

Don't approach a program officer in the middle of a big RFP period, when they're busy answering applicants' questions. Avoid calling or emailing early on Monday or late on Friday.

Approach program officers as early in the process as you can -- before you apply, they can help you decide if your project is a good fit, and after you've started a proposal, they can help guide your approach. If you're lucky enough to have a program officer invite you to send a draft of your proposal, as one GrantProse client was, do it, and do it early! Don't wait until you have a "perfect" draft.

Relationship building continues to be important after you get funding -- you'll need to go back to the program officer for help with budget changes and reporting -- and even if you get rejected. A candid conversation after an unsuccessful but promising proposal can lead to a revised proposal with a better chance of funding.

4. Help the helpers

Turn the tables and identify how your project answers the funding agency's needs. How can you help further their mission? Solid experience and a strong possibility of success? The opportunity to expand their new focus area? An innovative project to rejuvenate an established focus area?

Remember: Most people work for foundations and giving agencies because they like helping others and being part of positive social change. If you're not right for their agency, and you've established a healthy relationship, they might point you toward a funder that's a better fit.

REL Southeast, a regional educational laboratory affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences, has produced a report on measuring student engagement, which is associated with academic achievement and rates of attendance, retention, graduation, and dropout. Available as a full-text PDF, the report describes 21 instruments for measuring engagement: what each instrument measures, its purposes and uses, and technical information.

Brandeis University's Institute for Child, Youth, and Family Policy has launched an interactive database that offers hundreds of data indicators on well-being for children of all racial and ethnic groups, as well as indicators on structural inequities and policy equity analyses. Diversitydatakids.org allows users to create profile reports or rankings (e.g., on infant mortality), explore maps (e.g., on relative performance by race/ethnicity on Grade 4 reading tests), and read policy analyses (e.g., on Head Start).