News from the Grant Professionals Foundations

GPA Membership = Networking & Collaboration

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Janell Harvey

By Dr. Janell Harvey, Associate Professor of Business, DeVry University

Renewing Member Scholar – S. Shore Indiana Chapter

As a Professor of Business and fundraising professional, membership in the Grant Professionals Association has afforded me a wealth of opportunities. Networking with like-minded people has allowed me to better understand fund development trends in a number of areas. For example, I am a member of the Faith Based Special Interest Group (SIG). Recently, the group leader sent out information allowing members to introduce themselves and the groups that they advocate for. This engagement certainly sparked interest between members resulting in ongoing communication. Most importantly it shed light on the causes that we care for most. I anticipate that great collaboration will emerge from there.

My involvement with the Grant Professionals Association has also led to the publication of a journal article and participation on both the GPF and GPA’s national board of directors. I am so elated to have the opportunity to work with such brilliant individuals while promoting integrity and sustainability within the grant profession.

Last year, I was awarded a membership scholarship by the Grant Professionals Foundation. I have a wonderful seven year old son who is hearing impaired. Costs associated with some of his necessary equipment led to the need for additional support. When I received the funds, I was so elated. I couldn’t imagine any gaps in my membership. I whole-heartedly thank the foundation for rendering their support as I know there were others who too were in need.

I look forward to the lifelong learning experiences that the Grant Professionals Association provides. Ultimately, I look forward to sharing my knowledge with other professionals who are not yet members with hopes to spark their interest.

GPC Exam and Conference Scholarships deadline is July 1st

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The 2016 GPA Conference and GPC Exam Scholarships close, July 1!

These applications are only open once a year, so get your apps in while there is still time!

Want to earn your GPC, or go to the GPA Annual Conference 2016 in Atlanta? Below is the link to apply.

Conference & GPC Exam Scholarship: https://zoomgrants.com/gprop.asp?donorid=2218&limited=1080

Special thanks to our partners at ZoomGrants and the Grant Professionals Association!

 

The Grant Professionals Foundation offers three types of scholarships.…

Grant Professionals Association Conference – offered annually (closes July 1, 2016)

Grant Professionals GPC Exam – offered annually (closes July 1, 2016)

Grant Professionals Association Membership – offered two times per year (October – March and April – September)

 

Available Scholarships

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PLEASE NOTE: We’re in the process of creating new application portals for all of our scholarships. This new process will make it easier for you to apply and for volunteers to select the most qualified Scholars. Look for an announcement about the scholarships soon in the GPA Grant News and GPF News!

The Grant Professionals Foundation offers three types of scholarships.

 

 

Please visit the links above to learn more about GPF scholarship offerings. We hope you’ll consider applying!

 

GPF Silent Auction Seeks Items and Volunteers

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Please consider joining the GPF Silent Auction to help advance the careers of grant professionals.

GPF’s annual Silent Auction raises money that makes a difference for grant professionals nationwide. Last year, lucky auction winners went home with One-Day Disney Park Hopper passes, high quality handcrafted jewelry, free registration to the 2016 conference, and more!

In 2016, this outstanding fundraising event will take place November 9-12 at the GPA’s Annual Conference in Atlanta. The auction is full of fantastic gifts donated by generous GPA chapters, dedicated GPA members, and friends of GPF.

We’re putting out a call for donations to the auction and volunteers to help at the event. Ready to donate or volunteer?

Please visit: http://bit.ly/GPFSA16 to tell us about your item today or you may contact us anytime at GPFSilentAuction@gmail.com.

 
Remember, when you donate or bid on an item, you support funds that keep the members of your profession in the know through scholarships for GPA members, conference registrations, and GPC exams. And, your donation is tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

 

Pajama Work: Don’t Give Up About Giving Back

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By Kimberly Hays de Muga – Director of Development, Fraser Center

Board Chair, Grant Professionals Foundation

 

Oversized tees, sweatpants, tunics, sweatshirts, leggings, sweatpants—we’re in the throes of an increasingly comfort based, casually dressed society.  All hail “Athleisure!” Gone are the power suits, power ties, buttoned-up button downs, creases, and pleats from the 80s. (I was, of course a child prodigy in my non-profit career then, and could only observe these inexplicable fashions from afar :-))

 

Besides common sense and the joy of being comfortable, part of this trend comes from telecommuting.  According to the August 2015 Gallup’s annual Work and Education poll 37% of U.S. workers say they have telecommuted, up from 30% last decade but four times greater than the 9% found in 1995. Enormous strides in IT and telecommunications makes working from home so much easier and more efficient. Many employers seem willing to sanction working remotely, and most consultants often work from home.

 

So if working from home may work for many of us, why not consider volunteering from home?  Become a GPF Board Member or Committee Member and “tele-volunteer” your way to new friends, new skills while supporting the growth and recognition of the grants profession. And you can do your health a favor in the bargain. Researchers at the London School of Economics found the more people volunteered, the happier they were. According to a study in Social Science and Medicine, the odds of being “very happy” increased 12% for people who volunteer every two to four weeks compared to those who never volunteered. (http://www.health.harvard.edu/special-health-reports/simple-changes-big-rewards-a-practical-easy-guide-for-healthy-happy-living)

 

Don’t let your favorite loungewear keep you from stretching outside your comfort zone to take on a volunteer service role. As the Chair of the Grant Professionals Foundation, I’ve seen firsthand that the busiest GPA members often step up effortlessly when asked to take on a different role or committee task. How do they do it? Current GPF Scholarship Committee Member and former GPA Board Member Johna Rodgers said it best when she agreed to lead the management and distribution of GPA scholarship applications (https://grantprofessionalsfoundation.org/available-scholarships/).  “I need work I can do in my pajamas, on the weekend,” said the super-busy consultant and long-time GPA/GPCI board member and volunteer.

 

The GPF Board meets face to face, once a year, during the GPA Annual Conference. Yet together we connect with GPA members and supporters like you to provide scholarships for regional conferences, membership, GPA annual conference registration and the Grant Professional Certified Exam (GPC). But while we’re all conference calling, emailing and texting in our PJs or tailored suits, we’re volunteering, networking, getting our names known and more importantly, helping to advance the grants profession. GPF Board and Committee service also earns points toward maintaining your GPC.

 

GPF Board Member terms begin in January and are for three years with the option to extend to a second term.  In my five and a half years on the GPF board, I’ve made some fantastic friends and learned so much from them. Leadership, the fine art of delegation, recruitment, administration and collaboration are just a few of the skills I’ve developed or honed while helping forward the grants profession. Maybe three years, even in pajamas, is more than you can commit to right now.  Consider service on one of GPF’s committees; meetings are online or by conference call.  Committees include:  Silent Auction, Scholarship, Marketing, Every Chapter Challenge and Individual Giving.  Contact info@grantprofessionalsfoundation.org for more information.

 

So get comfortable, and get ready to make a difference for the grants profession today!

Before the Exam

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By Bethany Turner – Grant Writer, Big Sandy Community & Technical College

GPC Scholar

 

When I first learned about the Grant Professional Certification (GPC) exam, I knew I wanted to become a GPC. I understood the importance of the certification to my career and our profession. I’m an achiever by nature and by nurture. If there is some credential to obtain or a way to set myself apart, I want to do it. There are not many degree options specific to the nonprofit sector, and there are none specifically relating to grantsmanship. The GPC is the only way to set yourself up as an authority and expert in the field.

 

At the time, I was not eligible to sit for the exam. As soon as I reached the three-year mark as a grant professional, I started thinking more and more about taking the exam, but the cost of the exam kept standing in my way. So when members of the #GrantChat community tweeted the link to the scholarship application, I jumped on the opportunity to apply. The application was not difficult. It takes just a little time and thoughtfulness. In September 2015, I submitted my application. During the Grant Professional Association Conference in November, they announced the winners. I was ecstatic and so thankful to learn I had been awarded the scholarship!

 

Earning the scholarship has relieved the stress of figuring out how to pay for the GPC exam. It means taking the exam will not be a financial burden to my family. It is giving me the motivation to study hard for the exam, learning and growing as a grant professional. The scholarship means I am now able to take the next step to further my career. It also means I can better help others because I am becoming a better grant professional.

 

Thank you to all who support the Grant Professional Foundation. Without you, I would not be sitting for the GPC exam later this year.

 

 

Bio: Bethany Turner knew she wanted to work in the nonprofit sector from a young age. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Studies at Ball State University, she started her grant profession as an AmeriCorps VISTA and fell in love with the profession. Bethany is the Grant Coordinator for Muncie Civic Theatre, the Grant Writer with Big Sandy Community and Technical College, and a consultant. She loves reading, traveling (everywhere and anywhere), and cheering on the Ohio State Buckeyes and Denver Broncos.

Hetrick Thrilled to Receive Scholarship

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Danell Hetrick – Director of Grant Writing & Communications, Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce

Arkansas Chapter Conference Scholar

danell.hetrick@mybatesville.org

 

Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce Director of Grant Writing & Communications, Danell Hetrick received a Grant Professionals Foundation scholarship to attend the Grant Professionals Association National Conference in St. Louis last November. The GPA Conference is the premier comprehensive professional development conference for professionals in all areas of grantsmanship. It is the only international professional development conference of its kind.

 

Hetrick said of the award, “I was truly thrilled when I received the award announcement. The GPA National Conference is a fantastic professional development opportunity, and I am excited to get to learn from some of the world’s elite grant professionals. I am honored that the Grant Professionals Foundation Scholarship Committee selected my application.”

 

Hetrick was one of 15 people to receive a scholarship for the 2015 GPA Conference through the Grant Professionals Foundation (GPF). Hetrick received her GPF conference scholarship through the Arkansas Chapter of GPA, which is one of many chapters that offer scholarships. In 2015, the GPF distributed nearly $20,000 in scholarships and sponsorships that support professional development through national membership in the Grant Professionals Association, national and regional conferences, and credentialing through the Grant Professionals Certification Institute.

 

You Made the World a Better Place

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By Teri S. Blandon, GPC – Vice President for External Relations, PAI
teriblandon@hotmail.com

 

This week, the Grant Professionals Foundation (GPF) released its 2015 Annual Report, available on its website here. Long-time supporters of the Foundation will notice a new, streamlined approach to the report, covering a year’s worth of achievements in just eight powerful pages—about half the size of reports in previous years. This was a strategic decision designed to place emphasis on the impact of the people who are the Foundation: donors, volunteers, and scholars.

 

The report’s theme of “Making the World a Better Place, One Grant at a Time” has an important double meaning. The initial meaning is obvious. As grant professionals, the grants we help procure make an important impact on our communities, our countries, and the world. This is underscored at the bottom of the report’s page 6, where it discusses the findings of the 2014 Grant Professionals Impact Survey. Among the most astonishing statistics is the fact that survey respondents secured more than $1 billion in grant funding. Whether you worked on a proposal for $1,000, $10,000 or $10 million, you contributed to an immense amount of resources that were invested in changing people’s lives for the better.

 

The second meaning of “Making the World a Better Place” refers to the difference the Foundation’s donors and volunteers make in the lives of fellow grant professionals. This year’s report provides a representative snapshot of the people who received GPF scholarships. The Foundation provides support for attending GPA annual conferences, organizing GPA chapter regional conferences, joining GPA, and applying for the GPC credential exam. The four people highlighted on pages 3-4 of the report received different types of scholarships, but a common theme runs through their stories: GPF scholars feel like they are part of a community that understands their professional challenges. Every single GPF donor and volunteer makes a tremendous impact by helping to build a cadre of educated, connected, effective, and successful grant professionals.

 

As GPF Chair Kimberly Hays de Muga, GPC, so eloquently writes in the report’s opening letter, “Your gifts of time, talent, and treasure are building a long-term legacy for the grants profession.” Read the report to see that truth in action.

 

I’m Not Lost at Sea Anymore

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By Amy Grosso – Grant Coordinator at Round Rock ISD

2015 Conference Scholar

Amy_Grosso@roundrockisd.org

 

I am an introvert. Many people are surprised when I make such a declaration, because I am a sociable person. I enjoy public speaking and spending time with friends. On the other hand, I shy away from large settings where I do not know anyone. My life as a grant coordinator for Round Rock Independent School District in Texas plays perfectly into my introversion.

 

As I started my job in May, I was introduced to GPA and quickly learned about the annual conference. I was eager for an important professional development opportunity and a scholarship through GPF made it possible for me to attend. Even though I was ready to learn from others and network, my anxiety slowly rose as I thought about not knowing one person! I was going to be alone in a sea of five hundred people.

 

I was relieved and happy to find my first GPA conference nothing but positive. It started with the newcomers’ breakfast. As I looked around the room and spoke with a few people at my table, I realized many others were just like me. They were new to the conference and did not know anyone.

 

I really felt welcome once I got to my Special Interest Group (SIG). I found myself surrounded by others working in similar settings. As I listened, I identified with things being said and took note of new ideas and things to consider. The best part was meeting many individuals also working at school districts in Texas. We discovered we were applying for some of the same grants and discussed how we each were approaching the process. We exchanged contact information and some of us even went to dinner one night.

 

As I left the SIG time, I no longer felt lost in a sea of five hundred people. I now was part of the five hundred and experienced a sense of community. I am a department of one and during the GPA conference I realized many others are in similar situations. By networking and meeting others, I no longer feel isolated in my work. I returned home with people to contact when I get stuck or need new ideas of how to approach grants in my setting.

 

Although I had to break out of my introverted shell, attending the GPA conference assisted me in feeling more confident in my career. I look forward to continuing to be part of a remarkable community and nurturing relationships formed.

 

 

Developing International Relationships for International Grants

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By Pat Christian – Executive Director

Caleb Missionary Relief Services in Decatur GA
info@calebmissionaryrelief.org

 

This blog brought to you as part of International Grant Professionals Week, when we focus on how grant professionals “make the world a better place, one grant at a time“.

 

For two decades, I’ve worked in the humanitarian educational sector globally. I’ve had the privilege of being the founder and executive director of a small international nonprofit organization that has impacted thousands of children in Haiti through education. I’ve also served as the grants administrator/writer and successfully obtained grants to improve the quality of education of children in Haiti. These grants built a new school after the earthquake, provided clean drinking water, decreased learning gaps, and established a hunger response program.

 

The guidelines for writing an international grant are similar to a domestic grant, but the grant process is different. Eighteen years ago, I attended a PVO Partnership workshop in Virginia hosted by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) that provided pertinent information on their grant programs for the upcoming fiscal year. One consistent point of discussion among the smaller NGOs at the workshop was their ability to compete against the larger NGOs for USAID grant funds. USAID recommended the small NGOs form collaborative partnerships with the large NGOs with organizational capacity to manage USAID grants. This strategy provided access for me to secure international grant awards and brought new investment to our mission.

 

Many large international NGOs have local offices in host countries. These country offices are responsible for the management of grant-funded programs. Also, large NGOs will collaborate with other NGOs to implement their program initiatives. Developing relationships must take place with the NGOs’ Country Offices and Country Directors. This focus on relationships works: I have successfully done so, submitted a grant, and then received a portion to implement the initiative. It’s a win-win-win!

 

The importance of relationships was critical after the earthquake in Haiti and resulted in prioritized funds. This disaster caused collapsed school buildings and deaths. Afterward, the government required school buildings to be more earthquake proof during post reconstruction. The school our organization sponsors was thankfully not in an area affected by the quake, but it was poorly constructed and created a health risk for students. The needs assessment addressed several structural building violations and created a sense of urgency that resulted in a grant eights month later but obtaining this grant was based on several key factors such as:

  • Submitting a well-written grant proposal to the corporate NGO office in the US
  • Developing a relationship with the country office
  • Traveling by car on a bumpy road for eight hours to another section in Haiti to develop a relationship with the NGO grant manager
  • Developing relationships with people in the corporate office in the US
  • Documenting every expenditure

 

The grant was awarded in four phases and took almost an entire year to receive full funding. After each stage of the award, the NGO grant manager would inspect the project. All funds had to be accounted for prior to receiving the next phase of the grant. This type of distribution in not uncommon when working cross-culturally with nationals where there is a lack of accountability in the leadership of the host country.

 

In closing, building effective international relationships can tap significant resources for development and humanitarian response and make the process easier to secure funding.