News from the Grant Professionals Foundations

GPC Scholarship Changed My Career and Life

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Kim JoyceBy Kim Joyce, GPC of Kim Joyce & Associates, LLC

2013 GPC Scholar

Nearly six years ago, I went out on my own as an independent grant professional. In the span of two short weeks, I landed my first two clients, quit my full-time job, became self-employed, and never looked back. At the time, I didn’t know what I was doing. But I quickly came across a professional organization with people just like me – the Grant Professionals Association – Arizona Founding Chapter. It was a myriad of personalities and job titles, but we all had one thing in common – we were all grant professionals. In an instant, I belonged to a professional group, and this sea of unknown faces became friends who were there to help.

As I navigated my way through the consulting world, I learned something very quickly. While interviewing with new potential clients (and often the first 6 months of having a new client where they instantly wanted to know what their “ROI” was going to be), I was constantly trying to prove my worth.

At GPA chapter meetings, our President would talk about becoming certified and the benefits of becoming a GPC (gypsy). What did that mean? Why did I need to do that? Would I pass the test? If I didn’t pass the test, would I be able to show my face again?

I thought about it and thought about it, and wanted to take the test. But as a consultant, it is sometimes feast or famine, and it was quite expensive. Could I afford it, and what if I didn’t pass? I desperately wanted to join the ranks of the many colleagues I admired. I too, wanted those three little, yet powerful, letters behind my name (GPC).

After months of perusing the GPCI website, studying the timelines, and figuring out what I thought I should study, I completed my application to see if I was eligible to sit for the exam. Success! Now what? Since I was self-employed and the test was costly, I decided to fill out the application for a scholarship. This application, and becoming a scholarship recipient, changed my career and my life.

I found out at the GPA National conference in Baltimore that I had received the scholarship! I took the test several months later and passed. That was all I had originally wanted – to pass the test. However, looking back, I see how this has changed the path of my career and I am even more grateful now, than I was on that day when I received the scholarship (the same day that Michael Phelps’ mom was a speaker at the conference!).

Since then, amazing things have happened as a result of my certification. I can say that I am among an elite group of 19 in Arizona who are GPCs; I can negotiate contracts at a higher rate; I have been able to secure clients over other grant writers who are not certified; I can explain to others “my worth” and why I am not “just another grant writer”; and most of all, I can mentor others who want to take the test but are afraid – I can give them the push they need to do it (as others did for me), encourage them to apply for the scholarship, and let them know the benefits it can have on their career.  I am so grateful for the opportunities that have come as a result of the scholarship I received from the Grant Professionals Foundation. My consulting business has grown by leaps and bounds, and it is my hope that all scholarship recipients are able to use their strengths, talents, and their certification to advance in, and elevate this profession. Thank you GPF – I am forever grateful!

Today the Grant Professionals Foundation (GPF) released its sixth annual “Grant Professionals Impact Survey.”

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The GPF seeks the feedback of grant professionals in the U.S. and around the work, as the results of this survey will be used to define the significant impact grant professionals make in our world every year. The Grant Professionals Association, its affiliate organizations (GPF and the Grant Professionals Certification Institute), and the public may use the results to make a case for support to grant makers and donors.

The Grant Professionals Impact Survey will be open for six weeks, closing on October 8, 2016. All responses will remain strictly confidential, and the survey takes 10 minutes or less to complete. Please go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2016GPAImpactSurvey and complete the survey today. All survey participants can choose to enter a drawing for a $100 Visa gift card.

Visit us online www.grantprofessionalsfoundation.org for more information about the GPF, other grant research projects, or our scholarship programs. Support your grants profession by giving to the GPF. Please Donate Now!

 

Grant Professional Foundation Awards 7 Conference Scholarships!

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Grant Professional Foundation Awards the first 7 Conference Scholarships in August!

It is our great pleasure to announce the following grant professionals have won scholarships to attend the 2016 GPA national Conference in Atlanta. The Foundation expects to make additional announcements later in the month. We send our deepest appreciation to all of our deserving scholarship applicants.

GPA Conference Scholars for the first announcement of 2016 are…

  • Liz Ratchford
  • Debra Burns
  • Nancy Ellis
  • Karen Watkins-Watts
  • Rachel Smoka-Richardson
  • Lisa Yalkut
  • Linda Maddox

Congratulations one and all!

The GPF is grateful to our donors, and volunteers who make all our scholarships possible!

One at a Time

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BMike Chamberlainy Mike Chamberlain, CEO, Grant Professionals Association

Ten years ago this month, I made the decision to start on a journey. A journey to better health and well-being. The first thing I did was schedule a physical exam with my Family Doctor, something I had not done on my own in my adult life. I met with my Family Doctor and after the poking, prodding, measurements and battery of questions, she said, “You know you really should lose some weight.” I replied, “Yes, but I really do not know where to start.” That is when the real journey started. She provided me with a diet plan and a guide to better eating, and told me it was important to watch portion size. I started slowly, first by changing lunch, then breakfast, and really watching portions at dinner. I added in a dose of daily exercise to build muscle and improve my health.

Over the next 12 months, I began losing weight and getting healthier every day. I had co-workers, friends and family ask me about my secret for making the change. My simple answer was “Diet and exercise”, which was often met with disappointment. However, one thing I learned during this journey was the importance of taking small simple steps and building on each success. For me, it was watching the scale go down one pound at a time and tightening my belt one notch at a time, that encouraged me to continue. Ten years later, I am happy to report that I lost the weight and have kept it off.

This journey taught me the importance of starting with small steps, being persistent and knowing that in the long run, it is through these efforts that you can reach your goals.

The Grant Professionals Foundation works to fund professionalism in the grants field through its many efforts. One of those efforts is Giving Well which is the opportunity to make a difference one small gift at a time. By giving as little as $10 per month, you can start to make an impact. I know this as a current contributor through Giving Well. I have seen the impact it has in providing scholarships for grant professionals to attend conferences, participate in local chapters, and contribute to the grants profession. I know mine is a small contribution that added with other small contributions over time can make a significant impact in the grants profession. I invite you to join me on this journey by taking a first small step and start Giving Well today.

Grant Professional Foundation Awards 4 Membership Scholarships in July

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It is our great pleasure to announce the following grant professionals have won scholarships for one year of GPA national membership plus one year of local chapter dues. The quality of the applications this cycle was quite high, and we send our deepest appreciation to all applicants.

Membership Scholars for the first half of 2016 are…

  • Lucien Meadows
  • Carolyn Caldwell
  • Rebekah Collins
  • DeaRonda Harrison

Congratulations one and all!

Remember: the GPF has two membership scholarship application cycles a year. You can apply today at https://grantprofessionalsfoundation.org/membership-scholarship-application2/. Just click on the link for the Membership Scholarship Application, and you’ll be redirected to ZoomGrants to complete  the application.

The GPF is grateful to the GPA, ZoomGrants, our donors, and volunteers who make all our scholarships possible!

 

Four Simple Ways to Recharge

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Teri BlandonBy Teri S. Blandon, GPC, CFRE; Vice President for External Relations, PAI

In the midst of proposals, reports, meetings, and other demands, finding time to recharge may seem like a luxury. It’s not — it’s a necessity. I recently attended a panel on leadership with executives from major nonprofits, consulting firms and corporate foundations. All are supremely busy people and all said the same thing: you need to step away from the job physically and mentally. Otherwise, you are not doing your best work.

So as we enter the prime months of summer (and for some of us, the mid-point of our fiscal year), I offer you four ideas for recharging your personal batteries.

  1. Get out of the office. Let’s start with the obvious: take some time off. If your deadlines make getting away impossible in the summer, then plan to take some extended time off when the deadlines have passed. Even the process of planning a future break can help relieve some of the pressure. If a post-Labor Day vacation won’t work for you, consider taking a day here or there during the summer to give yourself a long weekend. If your organization offers flex days, take advantage of them — don’t talk yourself out of it. Yes, the work will still be there when you get back, but you will be in a much better frame of mind to tackle it.
  1. Shake up your routine. Work routines are good — they make us feel in control and help us get things done. Personally, if I don’t get my lunch and work clothes ready the night before, chances are good I’m going to miss that 7:05 bus in the morning. But routines have a way of becoming ruts, controlling us instead of helping us. I’m not suggesting total chaos (I do have to catch that bus, after all), but change what you can. For me, that can mean taking an alternate exit out of the subway so I’m walking down different streets to work.
  1. Do something different. Pick one thing to do this summer that you haven’t done before. Maybe it’s something you’ve always wanted to try, like ballroom dancing or a drawing class. Or checking out that funky art gallery down the street. Or randomly selecting a podcast and listening to it. Or going to a library and picking a book from a genre that you haven’t tried before (for me, that would be science fiction). Or writing a blog — GPF and GPA are always looking for good articles! Doing something different expands your horizons.
  1. Practice mindfulness. “Mindfulness” has been used to mean a whole host of practices, including meditation and yoga. At its simplest, it means “the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.” Here’s an easy experiment — the next time you go to the coffee shop, grocery store or dry cleaners, notice how many times you make eye contact with the person behind the counter. I was shocked to realize how little it actually was for me — not because I’m not a people person, but because I’m busy with pulling out my credit card or swiping my phone for payment, gathering up the items and getting out of the way of the person behind me. But in doing so, I was missing a moment of humanity, of connecting with the other person involved in the transaction. Now, I purposefully make eye contact with the other person (it doesn’t always work, but it’s worth a shot). Sometimes we have a chance to exchange pleasantries in addition to money. And I’ve learned that it doesn’t take much more time — literally, five seconds. Five seconds and more often than not, a smile that wasn’t there before – on both of our faces.

So these are the things I’ve come up with to relieve the pressure, be more productive and make life worth living. What are some things you’ve tried? I’d love to hear about them — I’m always on the lookout for ways to bring balance to a busy life. Email me your tips and ideas at tblandon@pai.org.

Realizing My Worth as a Grants Manager

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Meghann AdamsBy Meghann Adams, GPC – Grants Manager at Zoo Atlanta

2014 GPC Scholar

I grew up wanting to be an English teacher just like my dad. Or I could be a movie director. My dad and I even joked about me growing up to be a beer truck driver. You get to travel at least, right? Well, needless to say, I did not pursue any of those career paths. I decided to be a grant professional. When I tell people what I do for a living, they either cringe at the thought of writing or they instantly become my best friend (because they could really use a grant writer!).

I recognize the need to educate others about our commonly misunderstood occupation. We need to share with others not only the purpose of grants, but also our role as a grant professional. All of us are making a positive impact in some way within our organizations, our communities, our world. Most of us collaborate with so many different people or ghost write for our organization’s leaders that we forget we are an important piece of the puzzle too. We need to trust in ourselves and speak up because we are a vital part of the team.

Now that I know I am on my most fulfilling career path, I am focused on improving my skills, knowledge and experience as a Grants Manager. I became involved with the Grant Professionals Association on a local and national level. I had been considering pursuing the CFRE, but when I learned about the GPC, I knew that was the credential that made the most sense for me.

Thanks to the GPC scholarship that I received from the Grant Professionals Foundation, I was able to pursue my professional development goal of earning my GPC in a short amount of time. My husband and I were ready to start our family, so time was of the essence. When I found out we were expecting twins, I realized I needed to obtain my GPC NOW or it may never get done. My life was going to change tremendously in a short amount of time, and I needed to do this first for myself and my career.

The fact that I had two babies on the way motivated me to study hard, read everything I could get my hands on and chat with seasoned colleagues to prepare for the GPC exam. As I sat down to take the exam, morning sickness in full swing, I hoped that my hard work would pay off. It did. Less than a year after earning my GPC, my employer promoted me to Grants Manager and I received a nice raise as well. I was also asked to conduct an organization-wide workshop about grants for our employees that was well received. I am fortunate because my supervisors understand and value the importance of professional development. They fully support my efforts to continually grow and learn as a grant professional. By earning my GPC, I have shown them that I am committed to my profession and my employer. I help put our best foot forward when I cultivate grantmakers. Going through the process of becoming certified has made me realize that people value me and my contributions.

After obtaining my GPC, I am more confident in myself since I took the extra steps to prove that I have the education, experience, community involvement and ethics of a certified grant professional. Sure, it is not required to have a GPC to be a successful grant writer, but in my experience, it has furthered the success of my career and helped me gain respect for the experience and knowledge that I bring to the table.

Mastering the Grants Profession

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Tracey DBy Tracey Diefenbach, GPC – Director of Grants, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri

2012 GPC Scholar

I feel truly blessed to work for an organization – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri – that is an innovative, one-of-a-kind agency – where we push from good to better to best, embrace challenges, study our craft, and strive to achieve the highest levels of performance. It is this environment and that of my local St. Louis GPA Chapter, where I serve on the Board of Directors, that really inspired me to master my profession.  For years, I attended regular GPA programs, I participated in community training, I read GPA literature and grant blogs, yet I often wondered what more I could do to set myself apart and become an expert in the field. That is when I discovered the GPC exam. This professional credential really goes far beyond three little letters or a piece of paper that says you are certified….it proves your knowledge of the grants field, your ability to perform at the highest level, your integrity and commitment to ethics. It was very clear to me that this was the next essential step in my journey to master my craft.

I can honestly say the timing was far from good –

  • I was five months pregnant with my second child and had a four-year old at home that already demanded a lot of my time and attention.
  • I had no less than 15 looming deadlines, including everything from those tedious 1,200-character count corporate online applications to long and complex government proposals.
  • The cost of the GPC exam – it is extremely reasonable especially in comparison to other professional certifications, but let’s be clear – there are many costs that come with the bundle of baby joy I was preparing for…from medical to diapers, formula and need I mention daycare!

While there were hundreds of excuses to postpone the exam, there were two powerful reasons which prompted me to take that exam and clearly outweighed everything else:
First, thanks to funding from the Grant Professionals Foundation, I was extremely fortunate to have been awarded a GPC scholarship covering the cost of the exam. Second, and even more significantly, for me GPC defines mastering the grants profession.

And so I did it. I took the exam and the rewards, opportunities, and satisfaction I have received are immeasurable.

  • GPC is highly valued in the field by: public and private agencies who benefit from highly qualified grant professionals working to further their mission; funders who are now, more than ever, looking for transparency and accountability; and employers who seek out and pay more for those with three powerful letters behind their name – GPC.
  • GPC puts you in the rankings of a community of grant professionals who are continuing to grow and learn each and every day. Receiving this certification is not the end, rather it is just the beginning. Much like Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri has inspired me, the Grant Professionals Certification Institute pushes its members to reach new heights through mentoring others, learning new skills and giving back to the community.

I challenge each of you, just like I have been challenged to master your profession and go get your GPC!

ROI from GPC Scholarship: Promotion, Expanded Knowledge, Stronger Network

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Julie Boll

By Julie Boll, Director of Grants, Quincy University

GPC Scholar

Let’s cut to the chase: the most obvious and measurable Return on Investment of the GPC scholarship was a promotion to Grants Director and a raise. It wasn’t just the GPC credential, of course, but the credential was absolutely part of a series of events and achievements that led to my promotion. The GPC scholarship literally catapulted me into a new level of grant professionalism. I now have a broader knowledge of the grants profession, I have a much stronger network of grant professionals (you guys are awesome people!), and I have seen a greater level of respect from my colleagues.

Now back to the beginning: I was awarded the GPC scholarship in the fall of 2014 at the GPA conference in Portland. This was the second time I had applied for the scholarship. I took that initial step because, like all of us, my life is crazy-busy and it was a way of “forcing” myself to take action on this particular professional goal. When I won the GPC scholarship, it was no longer optional for me to pursue my GPC. The scholarship held me accountable: I had a timetable and I had a deadline. And more importantly, other people knew about it!

Preparing for the GPC exam prompted me to explore subjects and topics I otherwise “didn’t have time for,” so it launched an intense period of learning and growing for me. As an avowed introvert, I generally stay in my “lane”. Like many introverts who end up in the grant-writing field, I thought if I did enough research (in my office, by myself), I could figure it out. When I was confronted with the comprehensiveness of the exam, I realized that I needed resources beyond the study guide. I needed to step outside my comfort zone and get to know other professionals in the field. I would never have done such a thing on my own because of a myriad of respectable reasons, but mostly because I am an introvert.

Thankfully, I am just a couple hours’ drive from the St. Louis Regional GPA Chapter, which offered a weekly GPC study session that was enormously helpful as I prepared for the exam. There I found a small band of accomplished grant professionals willing to teach and mentor others. The study sessions covered everything from the fundamentals, to ethics, to effective communication tools for managing a grants team. I learned how grant professionals from a variety of nonprofit sectors operated and found success. I learned from one-man-shop grant professionals and professionals who specialized in a specific type of funding. What a diverse field we are in!

There is a level of credibility the GPC credential brings, and more importantly, a level of confidence that results from earning it. I feel more equipped to face the ever changing challenges of the grant field. I can create a logic model, I know how to look up guidelines in the CFR, and I have learned better ways to create and manage grant development teams. With that knowledge and confidence, I am more direct with my colleagues and as a result, more effective.

For those of you toying with the idea of pursing your GPC credential: apply for the scholarship. Make a case for yourself, your institution, and your region. If at first you don’t succeed, apply again.

You actually LIKE writing grants?

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Katy

By Katy Shoemaker, Grant Writer, Thanksgiving Point Institute

Leadership Member Scholar – Utah Chapter

Upon graduating college or entering the first few years of your career, the question, “What is your direction and what are you going to do for a profession?” is constantly posed. Society creates a pressure for those entering their career, those exploring new careers and those who have lost their way to find direction. Directions could be found in the most unobvious places, when one is most unsuspecting. My direction, whether it be life, career or both, was found through writing grants and becoming a part of the Grant Professionals Association-Utah Chapter.

GPA has been my connection and entry-way into the grants field in so many ways. My year of public service that I completed with AmeriCorps VISTA led me blindly into a GPA-Utah Chapter training one sunny afternoon, and I was hooked. The people, professionalism, topics and the networking were just profound. I immediately felt as though I was among a group of my peers in the grants field and this was a welcoming feeling. After this training, I was graciously provided with a membership to GPA through the organization that I was employed with. I joined the Communications Committee and was soon asked to be the Vice President of the chapter. This soared me to levels I never even imagined possible. I found myself representing GPA everywhere I went, to whomever would listen. I wanted everyone in our community to know what a great organization GPA is and what a wealth of helpful professional development resources for grant and development professionals it provides.

As such, the feeling was profound when I was notified that I was selected to receive a membership scholarship through the Grants Professionals Foundation, a smile fell across my face and I felt so grateful. I was at a point in my career where I was unsure if I would be able to financially afford the cost of the membership on my own, and this was detrimental to my professional growth and development. I couldn’t imagine my life without being involved in GPA and this scholarship allowed me the opportunity to continue to be not only involved, but to professionally grow and develop within my grant community.

Being involved in GPA in fact has made me become a more passionate grant professional in my community. My favorite question is, “You actually LIKE writing grants?”. Every time I am asked this question I actually laugh out loud (which probably makes me seem even more crazy), but it is true, I find it so funny that other people, especially in the nonprofit sector ask me if I like my job. Well of course I like my job, if I didn’t like it; I would choose something else to do. I choose to be a grant writer because I want to make a difference in my community. Grant writing and being a grant professional makes a different type of impact than say someone who is working directly with clients in a programmatic way and oftentimes, it is hard for the other half to see how I am making a difference. Being involved with GPA though, has taught me that no matter how small or large, grant professionals make a huge impact. We are the wheels making the vehicle run and are essentially vital to the success and impact that our organizations make for our communities.

My GPA membership is invaluable and I would not trade it for anything else. This membership scholarship has allowed me to continue to lead my chapter into great and innovative directions. My career has grown because of this opportunity, meeting other professionals in the field and even becoming involved in contract grant writing work. It has allowed me to reach my professional goals, attend training that furthered the fundraising mission of the organization I am employed with and to push myself as a grant writer and fundraising professional. I am so completely grateful for this opportunity and for being selected to receive a scholarship from the Grant Professionals Foundation.