Grant Professionals Foundation Scholarship

I was one of the very fortunate recipients of a scholarship to attend the 2020 virtual Grant Professionals Association Conference. This was my first experience taking part in this conference and actually my first ever experience attending a conference completely dedicated to all things grants.

I have been in the grants world for the past 14 years and have worked in all aspects of the process from project development and proposal submission to post-award administration. What has kept me completely immersed in this world is that every day is different- every application, and project or program funded, is so unique from the one before it. Compliance issues change, programs are modified to make a greater impact, and new RFPs are launched to address pressing current societal needs and issues. Plus, let’s face it- grants change lives, communities, and systems. Grants are powerful catalysts for change and this idea motivates me everyday to act. Us grant professionals can be a part of changing the world for the better- what an exceptional field we work in!

The opportunity to participate in last year’s conference allowed me to see where my strengths and weaknesses are in the field and how I need to invest in my professional development efforts to continue to improve my job performance. I attended several sessions that addressed the importance of serving as a proposal reviewer. I have already reached out to several foundations as well as state and federal agencies to request to participate in the next grant proposal review panel. Many of the agencies were quick to welcome me to the task, and I look forward to learning a lot as I begin the review process. I also want to mention that I think it is important to review proposals in fields that you may be less familiar with. I have written grants in areas such as health; animal welfare; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and education. I found that my state’s department of revenue was seeking reviewers for some of their tax preparation grants and this is both an agency I have not submitted to in the past or a program area I am skilled in- the perfect opportunity for a rapid learning curve.

Additionally, one of the conference sessions highlighted strategies to promote efficiency in grants offices. This session spoke to me, as the post-secondary institution I am currently working for, has a small grant team that is in the process of formalizing some internal processes to help the office run more proficiently. A few of the suggestions from the session I implemented in our office right away. We now have a general email account set up so my colleague and I can receive updates from funders simultaneously, and it also helps us stay on top of important emails when one of us is out of the office. We also created a grant log spreadsheet that allows us to track each application and secured grant from the start of the proposal process to the closeout of the grant project. Finally, we are in process of fine-tuning some of our grant policies and protocols and creating succession planning documents for a smoother transition when staff are added or leave the institution. These simple changes have led our little grants office to begin the strategic planning process to progressively expand into a full-fledged sponsored programs office in the years to come.

Another session that really stuck out to me was on seeking out publication opportunities through the Grant Professionals Association. As with many of us grant nerds, I love to write and fancy empirical research that helps to support our profession. I already have several articles I would like to submit this year for publication. It is an excellent professional development opportunity no matter where you are in your grants career, and you are able to share insight and expertise on a particular topic with your colleagues. It is often thought that those in the grants world should not or do not communicate with each other- we are all fighting for the same funding sources so we should keep to ourselves and not share any secrets. This is such a silly suggestion, as we need to bolster the great people and work taking place in our profession. We need to continue to share knowledge, ideas, and simply serve as a support and mentor to each other. I look forward to submitting an article or two in the coming months and hope this submission process will serve as a networking tool to connect with other grant professionals.

Beyond the sessions, I really appreciated the vast diversity of vendors and exhibitors that were available to review. With the advent of the pandemic, my passion as a lifelong learner has taken a dramatic upswing. I just want to engross myself in educational opportunities whenever possible, and I really focused on those vendors that offered trainings in federal compliance, procurement, audits, etc. My current position is focused more on the pre-award side, and many of the post-award compliance and reporting requirements I have less exposure to. I am really hoping to further my education in these areas with the assistance of several of the exhibitors that I learned about through the conference.

I do also want to say that I so appreciated the diversity of attendees. I was amazed by the number of attendees from all over the country and the breadth of knowledge and experience from a variety of different fields. It was really humbling to hear the positive comments in each session. I felt like the GPA attendees are a team of like-minded, passionate individuals who want to move the profession forward. I just felt truly welcomed and not an outsider. The entire conference was an energizing experience that I look forward to participating in again.

Overall, the conference in this new virtual world was well-executed, and although there were a few technical issues along the way, it was a great space for learning. In fact, I really hope the virtual component continues to be offered for both the conference and the Grant Professionals Certification. Outside of the pandemic, these remote opportunities create accessibility for those with mobility issues or other disabilities, those who have financial barriers, or those who simply prefer to take part in activities from the comfort of their homes. The only downside that I struggled with from a virtual standpoint, is it is not as easy to generate conversation with those around you and so the opportunity to network requires more skill and creativity to achieve. I am not sure if this is possible but I wonder if in this year’s conference attendees can list their areas of expertise (e.g., compliance, procurement, proposal development, post-award, etc.), fields in which they have experience (e.g., arts, mental health, K-12, higher education, medical, etc.), and maybe their geographic region. If there was a page on the site where this information is posted and a link to connect with various attendees, it may make it easier for other attendees to comfortably reach out and converse with one another. I am not sure what is feasible, but I would love to see some strategies in future conferences (if virtual) to assist in attendees making connections with other attendees.

My hope for future conferences is to have the opportunity to present on a unique and engaging topic. I have already been letting the creative juices flow, making notes on various ideas. I hope to be able to pitch a compelling presentation proposal for the 2022 conference.

This experience has also fueled an interest in completing my GPA certification and possibly starting a chapter in my area. Through this chapter development, I look forward to meeting other grant professionals in my region and learning from and supporting each other. This conference also provided me with the little nudge I needed to explore launching my own part-time grant consulting business. I have always wanted to share my knowledge and passion in a consulting capacity, but I will admit that I am scared to take the leap. I want to be a supportive and guiding resource for non-profits, but I simply don’t know where to begin. Attending a few of the sessions on grant consulting, helped me realize that I am certainly not alone in my hesitations about moving forward with this business venture, but I also appreciated that the presenters were willing to provide support to newcomer consultants even after the conference ended. I feel like I have some resources to help me along once I am ready to take on my own business. Even saying the words, “my own business” feels uplifting and empowering. 

My sincerest appreciation to all those who were part of helping me to secure this scholarship to attend the 2020 Grant Professionals Association conference. It was an absolute pleasure that has fueled my energy and passion to do more in this field and participate more actively with GPA going forward.

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More information about Conference Scholarships, including application dates and eligibility criteria, is available here.

Arizona Southern Chapter Conference Scholarship

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When I found out the 2020 GPA Annual Conference was going to be held virtually, I was thrilled because it would possibly give me the opportunity to participate for the first time. However, funds were an issue as I work less than part-time as an independent grant-writer and consultant to care for my special needs’ daughter. I am so grateful to GPA for selecting me to receive a conference scholarship that allowed me the opportunity to hone my skills and learn from other grant professionals.

Working as an independent contractor can be very isolating and I often feel like I am working in a vacuum. It does not allow the opportunity to easily confer with colleagues. I have three main clients who, while they have different missions and needs, are sometimes eligible for the same funding opportunity. It is a challenge at times to write creatively for each when answering the same questions three times over. I registered for the conference with the expectation that I would gain fresh perspective, renewed insight, and practical skills that I could use immediately to help my clients realize their grant goals. I also longed for an influx of energy from others who understand the challenges of being a grant professional.

However, could this all happen in a virtual conference? Could GPA, or any organization for that matter, possibly pull off an interesting, interactive conference that would keep one engaged for not one, but three days? I am a veteran of other conferences including the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the YWCA Leadership Conference, and several conferences hosted by the University of Arizona, and have come to anticipate a level of excitement, engagement, and networking that I thought could only happen on site.

Well, all I can say is congratulations to GPA for hosting an extremely well-run, interesting, thought provoking conference that provided ample opportunity for attendees to network. And if that were not enough to celebrate, attendees also received a swag bag that contained a door hanger that says “Amazing Grant Professional at Work: Please do not Disturb (cool, right?)  and the most amazing caramels I have ever had in my life. Thank you for introducing me to Bequet Caramels!

Each morning attendees were greeted by opening remarks from Jess Pettitt. If you do not know who this ball of energy is, do yourself a favor and look her up. She clearly did her homework to understand her audience and was delightful while also delivering poignant and relevant messages.

 For me, one of the most difficult conference tasks is to create a personal agenda when there are too many interesting sessions to choose from. As a seasoned professional with 25 years of experience, I was a bit apprehensive at first that the sessions would overwhelmingly be geared towards those who are new to grant writing or have just a few years under their belt. However, the conference offered an ample selection of sessions for those more advanced in their careers. I was humbled by how much I gained from these sessions. The level of expertise and excellence of the presenters was impressive, and I walked away with new strategies confident that I had learned from the best of the best.

As an added, and surprising bonus, was the selection of sessions that were for the early and mid-career professionals that caught my interest. For example, I sat in on Make it “Worth 1000 Words”: Maximizing Effectiveness of your Graphics and Tables which was geared for those early in their career. Knowing that I have a deficit in this area I added this to my agenda.

Amanda Paveglio took participants step by step through the process of creating graphics and tables that were interesting to read and relevant for the information being relayed. Many participants learned for the first time, including me, how to attach or link them to online applications and other hacks that while simple enough to execute could take some time to figure out on your own. While Amanda did an amazing job with her presentation, participants would need time to practice the techniques taught. GPA in their wisdom has allowed access to all the presentations for a full year after the conference. Thank you, GPA, for that added benefit. It is like winning the grant lottery!

Having a year of access to the presentations also alleviated some of the pressure of choosing which sessions to attend knowing that I could view what I missed later. It also allows, as I alluded to previously, the opportunity to watch some of the sessions over again.

Another excellent presentation was Marginalized Communities Need Data Too: How to Get it? What to do When You Don’t Have It? by Michelle Molina and K. Scott Nelson. I confess I am not an enthusiastic researcher, due in part to many of the challenges that Michelle and K. Scott brought up in their presentation, such as finding data that you know would support your case but is simply not available or is difficult to find. I was so impressed with this presentation that as a board member of the Southern Arizona GPA Chapter I hired them to present to our membership a month later.

When I wrote my scholarship application, I mentioned specifically that I hoped there would be a session on answering the sustainability question.  Grants4Good provided an excellent session that addressed this sticky question. Content provided a fresh perspective on how to break down this question by defining it and de-constructing it and was a great reminder about the importance of being clear and concise in your answer. To me, this provided some excellent materials that will help me with clients who have a hard time articulating a good answer to this question.

Each day there were lunch break-out sessions on different topics. This allowed the opportunity to network informally while discussing topics that were of mutual interest.

In every aspect of the conference, it was evident that GPA was meticulous in their planning and selected topics that were relevant for the times. COVID has changed the landscape of the grant world and attention was paid to this topic.

Every one of the professionals I encountered during the conference were gracious in sharing their ideas and were willing to help others. The congeniality and energy were just what was needed during these unprecedented times when we are so isolated from each other.

Thank you again for the opportunity to participate. I deeply appreciate GPA staff and board and the care they took in creating this conference.

More information about Conference Scholarships, including application dates and eligibility criteria, is available here.

Arkansas Chapter Conference Scholarship

In late February 2020, I went into my bank to discuss opening a business account for my freshly minted consulting firm of one employee (me). When I was called into the customer-service representative’s office, I remember we almost shook hands. We joked about the novel coronavirus and how that exchange of germs might not be such a good idea.

The rep explained he needed a copy of my letter of determination and the operating agreement. As a former grant writer, I knew exactly what he was talking about and promised to bring those documents in the next day, wanting to head out to the Arkansas river for a hike on an unusually warm and bright winter afternoon. The next morning, I saw a message from the bank in my e-mail, not something that happens very often. I immediately opened it and read that, due to concerns around COVID-19, the lobby would be closed for all business until further notice. I guess the rep and I were almost literally whistling past the graveyard when we greeted each other jokingly.

I’ve been working on grants from application to closeout since 2009 when I was the assistant director of the University of Central Arkansas’s (UCA) Writing Center. Most of these were small grants to support guest speakers from other, more famous, writing centers around the country. In 2012, I was recruited by the director of UCA’s Sponsored Programs to become the grant writer for the university. I loved the work as much as I loved teaching because I could see my position gave me the opportunity to change the world, to make it a better place for others whether through an NIH grant I was editing or an NEA grant I was writing as a co-PI. After I sold a house in another state, I had quite a bit of savings built up, and I realized that this might be a chance to go it alone, an opportunity that would allow me to work toward funding of projects I was really invested in. Having taught a graduate-level grant writing class in a community and economic development program, I was interested in working with nonprofits and municipalities to improve the quality of life for underserved populations. When I saw the chance to work for myself, I took it!

My operating agreement is quite clear: any income I receive as a grants consultant must first go into a business account. I can then pay myself out of the account. So now what was I to do? I had money saved from the sale of the house, so I knew I could get by for a little while, but not forever. My GPA membership was coming due, and I knew I wanted to attend the annual conference. As reasonable as these costs are, I didn’t see how I would be able to make money to offset them. So I applied for the scholarships available through the Grant Professionals Foundation. Fortunately, I won both the membership and the conference scholarships, which tided me over until my bank pivoted to a new reality where I managed to open my business account from the comfort of my own vehicle. With that, I was able to start doing business.

I wasn’t too concerned with the shift from in-person to online sessions, for the grant writing classes I taught in two different graduate-level programs for five years were completely virtual. I adjusted easily to the new format. In fact, since I’m not able to be in two places at once, I was relieved not to have to choose one session over another: I could go back and listen to the recordings of those sessions I missed and have been since November.

I mentioned in my applications that if I won the scholarships, I could promise a high return on investment for the Grant Professionals Association, the Arkansas Chapter, and the communities I serve. By attending the conference, I can honestly say I have returned the favor of the scholarship many times over. For one, I am the vice president of the Arkansas Chapter of GPA. As a member of our Communications and Membership Committee, I have managed to pull together a communications plan, schedule, and set of procedures for all the channels of communication we have at our disposal, reviving dormant Facebook and Twitter accounts.

I could go into detail about the various tips and tricks, references to OMB guidance I was unaware of, or the growth mindsets I established through different kinds of sessions. But I think the main takeaway for me is the re-affirmation that I am a professional: I know what I’m doing, I’m successful at my vocation, and my instincts will guide me in the right direction. I could also provide several examples of how this has played out since the end of the conference. I’ll leave you with one.

I had my first consultation with a potential client in the nonprofit world a few weeks ago. I have a list of questions I send in advance to keep the initial discussion on track and ensure both parties have the information they need. As the conversation unfolded, I began to feel something wasn’t quite right. The client had worked with a previous grant professional (not a member of GPA) who had, he was confident, ensured he was grant-ready. Except he kept mentioning “articles of incorporation.” I was honest with him: “I’m not quite sure what you mean by that term.” Because I had attended several sessions devoted to working with nonprofits and starting one’s own consulting agency, I knew the minute I saw the letter of determination that someone had made a mistake. As far as the IRS was concerned, his nonprofit was an S-corporation. I dug a little deeper to discover that it was listed with the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office as a domestic nonprofit corporation…not a 501(c)(3). I shared the bad news and suggested he work with a tax attorney to dissolve both the S-corporation and the domestic nonprofit corporation and start afresh pursuing the 501(c)(3) status that would ensure his organization can apply for federal, state, foundation, and corporate grants.

My instincts are based on other people’s experiences. When someone at a conference shares a story, whether the outcome was positive or negative, I remember. I could read about tax code and nonprofit status for years; I would still find it difficult to apply in the real world. But when someone tells a story about how they almost submitted a grant for a nonprofit that was not in good standing with the IRS, I remember to check Guidestar before proceeding. Such was the case with this potential client.

When I first started thinking about opening my own consulting firm, I had hoped to work with institutions of higher education and municipalities since that’s where my experience is. What I’ve found is that I need to build up a reputation (another benefit of attending the annual conference) and subcontract until Grantfully Yours has name recognition. I also discovered there are a lot of struggling nonprofits in need of my expertise. As I work with each one, I notice they hang too much hope on grants to help with operating expenses. Several sessions I attended at the 2020 annual conference were focused on fundraising and development. Operating expenses aren’t usually eligible for grant funding. Because of what I learned at the conference, I’m able to advise these nonprofits on fund and friend raising and developing donations to pay for budget items ineligible for grant funding.

I am very thankful to the Grant Professionals Foundation for providing support for me to attend the conference. It boosted my self-esteem and helped me connect with others in the profession both during networking lunches and on LinkedIn. As a gesture of my thanks, I volunteered to moderate a session at the conference and hope to join the Grant Professionals Foundation board to help carry out the work you do to lift others. I am grateful to have attended the conference and to the individuals and organizations who donate for the cause.

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More information about Conference Scholarships, including application dates and eligibility criteria, is available here.