Tag Archive for: GPA National Conference

I Drank the Kool-Aid: Learning Best Practices from Seasoned Pros at GPA National Conference

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By Jayson Babel – Strategic Non-profit Consultant at Florida Academy of Professional Mediators, Inc.

South Florida Chapter Scholar

 

As a relatively new grant writer, seeking best practices is a top priority to enhance skills and make our applications as competitive as possible. The opportunity to attend the Grant Professionals Association Conference 2015 in St. Louis presented itself as a chance to not only receive the hard facts and application guidance that is required, but it was also the opening to speak directly with the veteran grant writers whose experience is often untranslatable to text. I knew going into the conference that their experience, tips and, advice would be a great asset; however, their willingness to share and coach was more than I could have hoped. When arriving back at my workplace, post conference and working through a debrief with my superior, the two most significant “takeaways” from the conference were the Federal grants guidance and the wealth of knowledge from seasoned professionals.

 

Arriving at the Conference, I was excited to participate in the Special Interest Group (SIG) for Human Services. But before the SIG, I met a participant at breakfast who worked on similar disability issues. She was absolutely fantastic. We spoke at great length regarding the challenges and opportunities for grant funding and I must say, I was a sponge! This introduction to the conference was absolutely fantastic. Here I was, not even in my first session and with two pages of notes on where I should be looking for opportunities and how to navigate the vast expanse of information and resources. The conference continued on this high note working with the team from the Grant Professionals Foundation as a scholarship recipient, the staff were very kind in assisting in navigating the different sessions and dissecting what each session would offer me as a new writer. I then attended the First Timer’s Welcome and Breakfast where I learned I was not the only one who was working through the challenges of being a first-time attendee.

 

Needless to say, by the time I attended the SIG Human Services session, I had “drank the Kool-aid!” In my limited experience as a grant writer, I’ve experienced challenges…and as the only grant writer in my agency, I’ve often felt alone in the process. Listening to other professionals indicate they had the similar challenges and sharing our methods of navigating those challenges was invaluable. Not only did it offer guidance, but a shared experience that somehow invigorated my zeal for securing funding for the individuals with disabilities that I serve.

 

Overall, this was an exceptional experience with a plethora of information and grant coaching from the presenters AND the participants. I look forward to attending next year’s conference and continuing the relationship with the connections I made during my first GPA Conference experience.

 

GPA: I Finally Found My People

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By Elaine Finn, GPC – Owner of Elain Finn Consulting

Grant Professionals Foundation Scholar

 

For me, it’s all about the instant gratification.

 

Being chosen as a GPF scholar to attend the Grant Professional’s Association Annual Conference last November in St. Louis provided me with immediate opportunities for professional and business growth. All those industry experts, all in one place…. grant writer’s heaven!

 

Within two hours of landing in St. Louis, I had a hot lead on a prospective business opportunity. “You’re a consultant from New Jersey? I’ve been looking for someone who can….” I practically cut off my new best friend in mid-sentence at the Welcome Reception to run back up and grab the forgotten business cards from my hotel room.

 

The next day was social butterfly boot camp for my introverted self, who needed to take a deep, focusing breath before introducing myself to tablemates in each new conference room. But the effort was well worth the brief moments of anxiety as I made connections with other attendees who gave me ideas on new industry niches to pursue, marketing strategies, and just a sense of belonging to a community of like-minded people serving the nonprofit world. And the access to conference presenters is priceless. Where else can you sidle up to a representative of one of the biggest philanthropy service organizations in the country and get detailed, constructive advice on that application question that’s been giving you fits for the past three weeks?

 

A highlight, by far, was the Human Library, advertised as an opportunity to “check out” experts in the field for a 15-minute, one-on-one session. It’s a back stage pass to the rock stars of our grant writing world, and it was a popular session. I scored a slot with Micki Vandeloo of Lakeview Consulting who so generously, and genuinely, answered my specific questions on how to improve the “back office” business side of my consulting work. If anyone’s tracking success measures (grant writer’s inside joke, right?) I’ll be ready to quantify for you next year in Atlanta how much money those 15 minutes saved me in more efficient business practices and how much it earned me in focusing on where my best clients are likely to be. 🙂

 

And back to the networking, oh the networking! Every session, every break, every meal was an opportunity to connect with others in the business. Sometimes to commiserate, sometimes to toss out ideas for future collaboration with the promise to connect on Linked In, social media, or email. I came home from the annual conference with a better team behind me. If a client should come calling who’s just a bit outside my area of expertise, I can now say yes knowing I’ve got back-up from other grant writers I’ve connected with across the country. Whether through collaboration, or being able to pass the work along to another grant writer, it adds value to what I can offer prospective clients.

 

The consistent theme of the conference, and in fact all my experience with GPA members both nationwide and within my local chapter, is one of generosity. I have yet to meet a single member who wasn’t willing to share advice, encouragement, grant opportunities and even workload to advance the profession, support personal success and, of course, win some grants for highly deserving causes.

 

At the conference, GPA unveiled a great new tagline that in a nutshell captures the essence of GPA and its value to the industry. But from my insider perspective, GPA’s unofficial slogan is “GPA… I Finally Found My People.” A hearty thank you to the Grant Professionals Foundation and its supporters who provided the scholarship that allowed me to attend. In the spirit of GPA, GPCI, and GPF, I absolutely plan to pay it forward as my business grows.

 

It’s More Than A Learning Opportunity: Make Friends & Build Networks at the GPA Annual Conference

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By Rhonda McDonald, Owner of RM Grant Writing

Chuck Howard Memorial Scholar

 

Last November, I took a trip to St. Louis, Missouri to attend the Grant Professionals Association 17th Annual National Conference: Gateway to Grant Success. I attended as a Scholar, having received a scholarship from the Grant Professionals Foundation that paid for my conference fees. At home reflecting upon my attendance, roughly 3,000 miles away from St. Louis, I am contemplating what elements of the conference had the biggest impact on me.

 

The breakout workshops were extraordinary; the greatest problem was selecting just one each session. Reading the list of workshops over the summer is, after all, what led me to want to attend. But that is not the only reason I am excited to attend future GPA annual conferences. As important as all the information learned from the breakout sessions can be, they are not what will drive me to attend future gatherings. I look forward to being able to network with fellow grant professionals. To see my new grant friends again face to face. To work alongside or even attend workshops with, these new friends. To talk with and get feedback from those who have been in the trenches of the grant professionals.

 

I am an introvert by nature, and meeting new people is never easy for me. I started my conference attendance by volunteering to help set up the GPF’s Silent Auction booth. This simple activity provided me a jumpstart to the conference by meeting other grant professionals right out of the gate. Throughout the conference, the Silent Auction booth provided me an anchor: a place to go between workshops, to see familiar faces before rushing off to the next session. I enjoyed working alongside the members of GFP so much, that when I was asked if I would be a member of the Silent Auction Committee for the 2016 GPA Conference in Atlanta, I was more than happy to say, “Yes!”

 

In addition to volunteering, other opportunities to network with fellow grant professionals were numerous. Meals provided time to chat with and swap business cards with like-minded grant professionals. Meeting and chatting with vendors provided additional opportunities other meet fellow grant professionals. Workshops were yet another venue to network with those in the field. To make connections with those who have been there, done that, and who are willing to help someone new like me.

 

I look forward to attending next year’s GPA Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. I anticipate continuing my professional development with the excellent workshops that will be available there. More than anything, I am excited to be able to network face to face with other grant professionals, and spend my spare time helping at the GFP Silent Auction!

 

Professional Development That Never Disappoints!

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By Marissa Cassellius, Grants Manager for Youth on Their Own

Susan Kemp Memorial Scholar

 

It’s been a month since I prepared myself for the 17th Annual GPA Conference. Packing those cold weather clothes that have been stuffed in the back of my closest for years (I hail from Wisconsin, but have become a winter wimp since moving to Tucson). Sorting through the conference workshop schedule with multiple highlighters on hand, color coding my top picks. Preparing myself for three full days of learning, networking, more learning, and more networking.

 

This is both my third year in the grants profession and the third GPA conference I have attended. Let me tell you, the conference NEVER disappoints! Despite the ever growing attendance each year, it’s remarkable how many familiar faces I saw strolling through the halls of the Hyatt Regency. But for every recognized face, there are dozens of new faces eager to meet you— to learn about your organization, to comprehend the needs of your clients, to hear why you do what you do, to just say hello.

 

That’s the thing about GPA—everyone is so warm and welcoming. Whether you are brand new to the field or have been a part of the GPA family for years, there is a place for you. There were no “silly questions” in any of the presentations I attended. In fact, I found that many of the questions I had brewing in my mind happened to have been asked by someone else before I got my hand up!

 

One key takeaway for me this year was the well-known notion that success in grants is based on relationships, relationships, relationships. This entails developing relationships with funders prior to proposal submission, as well as after, even if you don’t get the grant that time around. However, what really stuck with me at this year’s conference is how this also pertains to relationships among potential partners for collaboration.

 

Being a young grant writer for a medium-sized nonprofit exploring the possibility of applying for federal funds, I have come to understand how important this truly is. In conversations with other conference attendees on the topic of relationships, we discussed how funders can tell when collaboration seems rushed on paper. While this seems obvious, endless deadlines often get in the middle of imperative (and ongoing) tasks such as this. It is important to begin building those relationships now, before the RFP is out, to avoid this common pitfall.

 

It’s the little tips and tricks such this, heard during workshops, at the lunch table, or among the halls between sessions, that reinforce why I am a part of GPA and attend the annual conferences. How often do you get to immerse yourself for three days among passionate professionals from a variety of tenures and career tracks? The conference scholarship was such a blessing and I am grateful for being able to attend yet again!

 

 

My Top 10 #GPAConf15 Insights

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By Dr. Judy Riffle, Pam Van Pelt Memorial Conference Scholarship Recipient

Santa Cruz Grants & Consulting, LLC

 

Thanks to the Grant Professionals Foundation and generous peers, I was a first timer this year at the annual GPA conference. This experience led to so many ideas about diversifying my consultant offerings, and reinforced my love of the grants world. As a former educator and administrator, I never wanted to feel I was an expert in any area. When I feel there is nothing left to learn or a different way to view something, it will definitely be time to crawl under a rock. Every moment of the conference provided something worthwhile to my career and future.
Grant professional rock stars are just real people like us and have so much to offer. The #HumanLibrary at the conference was a great way to get one on one mentoring. GPA, please bring it back in 2016!

The ethical arena of grants has SO many gray areas. Make it a habit to regularly review and reflect on the GPA Code of Ethics: http://bit.ly/1gqrkDO. Go over it with clients and people in the nonprofit world. Incorporate it into your grant related presentations and workshops. #JustGoogleGPACodeofEthics

Networking, networking, networking. I met so many social media friends in the flesh, made great new friends, and discovered how willing grant pros are to share their expertise and tips. #grantchat

Don’t underestimate the #power of partnerships and mentoring. Dr. Beverly Browning and Kimberly Richardson made it clear how even an informal mentoring relationship started at a GPA annual conference can lead to new endeavors, introductions, and much needed advice. Instead of swimming in isolation as the intense work of grant writing often involves, branch out and collaborate. Nonprofits should form more partnerships as well in order to succeed in the crowded landscape of fundraising. Win more grants by remembering this!

You don’t have to write in a strict Ph.D. style to get articles accepted into GPA publications. Plus GPA will support you along the way! Newsletter submissions can turn into strategy papers, journal articles, books, or future presentations/workshops. #GPANewslettersStrategyPapersJournal

Present at #GPAConf16 in Atlanta and get a significant registration discount. Feel the fear and do it anyway!

The Chapter Leadership Pre-Conference workshop provided useful tips for recruiting, retaining, and making members want to volunteer such as Claim to Fame announcements, hot buttons, and using exciting themes for chapter meetings. #LearnHelpMeet

I learned about excellent digital #productivity tools to check out such as Nozbe, Evernote, Hootsuite, Harvest, Time Master, TimeClock Pro, FreshBooks, Foundation Center maps, Google Scholar, and Natural Reader (text to speech). For example, put an RFP into Natural Reader to listen to while exercising or gardening instead of reading it and trying to stay awake!

Grant Pros are some of the most giving people on earth. We should all feel free to share our knowledge, expertise, and referrals to others in our profession. For instance, international grant writers provided me with tons of tips for my daughter’s new nonprofit, ‎Obwaagazi Children’s Foundation, in Uganda. #It’sNotAboutTheCompetition

Peter F. Drucker: “When you find a unique opportunity to make a real difference, you focus on it and constantly reassess results.” The conference revitalized me to hone my craft and to focus on careful reflection in all areas. #LifeLongLearning

In closing, I cannot wait until #GPAConf16 in the wonderful city of Atlanta. A year seems such a long time to wait………are we there yet?

 

 

An Award that was Really Rewarding!

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By DeaRonda Harrison, MBA – Consultant, June First Firm LLC

GPF Conference Scholar 2015 – Peach State Scholarship

 

The GPA Annual conference is always the highlight of my grant year. The conference kicked off with a hit linking up Special Interest Groups! I always look forward to the SIG session and the Consultants SIG did not disappoint. Those in the group were open and honest in telling us what to do and what not to do. There were members with over 20, 30, and even 40 years of experience in the room and I absorbed it all. The key takeaway for me, partner with others in your field in order to expand your services to help more people. I truly believe in partnerships and this solidified that belief for me.

 

I enjoyed learning about the benefits of earning GPC and pursuing writing in the GPA newsletter, which later could become a contribution to the GPA Journal. What I loved most was learning from other seasoned grant professionals’ experience to avoid difficulties in my own practice. I saw that the role of mentorship highlights that it is really about relationship building and being more than a mentor—being a giver, being an inspiration. I enjoyed networking with like-minded professionals, because unless you do it you don’t understand this work. The GPA conference encouraged me to keep moving forward and taught me who to call when it is time for me to partner with another professional.

 

Tinsear Forrest kept it real in the “Are you Grant Ready,” session and Amanda Day whipped me into shape by putting the GPC on my radar. Heather Stombaugh taught me that I’m not a magician even though my clients may feel this way. And Kimberly Hays de Muga and others showed me that even I could put an article in the newsletter that could be the start of an eventual scholarly article in the GPA journal.

 

I’m glad I was there and didn’t miss this year. As this year’s theme states, “Gateway to Grant Success,” this conference continues to help me achieve success as a grant professional.