Tag Archive for: logic models

GPA National Conference: A Grant Professional Pep Rally

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Meghann Adams, Grants Specialist
Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia
madams@zooatlanta.org
March, 2015

When I walked into my supervisor’s office for our check-in meeting the Monday after GPA’s 2014 National Conference in Portland, I actually had a smile on my face. The GPA conference schedule was packed, but I returned home feeling motivated and surprisingly refreshed, like I had hit a restart button somewhere in my brain. Never had I seen so many introverts (myself included) willingly together in one place, seemingly enjoying the opportunity to learn from others and share their own experiences. It was truly a grant professional pep rally!

Attending the GPA Annual Conference has enhanced my professional growth, and I believe it will also improve my performance as a grant developer in a number of ways. The conference featured an extensive selection of workshops covering a variety of topics that provided expert views and proven strategies for me to learn and apply to my own work. I attended discussions that focused on how to be successful in preparing specific aspects of a proposal, such as need statements, evidence-based outcomes, logic models and evaluation plans. There were also a few workshops I participated in that presented a broader, “big picture” view on subjects like grant seeking for arts and cultural organizations, grant development systems, program design and the GPC credential and exam.

One thing that surprised me is that I found the networking opportunities at the conference to be just as valuable to me as the workshops. It was clear that most of us are a “one-person show” and we wear multiple hats in our positions. Hearing about the strategies and resources that other grant professionals use to solve some of the same issues I face was very helpful to me. I especially enjoyed the special interest group session because the group discussed the distinctive opportunities and challenges that face our specific sector in the non-profit realm.

In addition to connecting with conference attendees who work for similar organizations, I was able to meet individuals from across the nation that I have worked with over the phone during the past year. I am a committee member on GPA’s Pioneer Award and Bylaw Committees, so it was a real pleasure to talk with some of the other committee members in person and to be able to spend some time to get to know them better. It was also very rewarding to be able to see the recipients of the Pioneer Awards receive their honors in person. Both of them gave very inspiring speeches, and I was pleased that the recognition was truly meaningful to them and their foundations.

The conference also gave me the opportunity to get to know a few GPCs and some members of the GPCI Board, which has motivated me to continue moving forward with submitting my eligibility packet and making the commitment to obtain my GPC credential within the next year. I would like to become certified to increase my credibility and show my employer that I am invested in my professional development and that I am in line with the professional standards within the grant development industry. It would be an honor to obtain this credential to support not only my own goals but also the standard of excellence for the grant profession.

As the Vice President of the Georgia GPA Chapter, I plan to share my experiences and promote the benefits of attending the National Conference during one of our upcoming chapter meetings. The conference also provided me with some ideas of presentation topics and guest speakers for our chapter’s monthly meetings. I think it is important to have a diverse line-up of speakers who appeal to grant writers from different backgrounds and experience levels. The Annual Conference workshops can also serve as a model for the Georgia Chapter as we seek guest presenters for our third Regional Conference this spring.

All of these experiences would not have been possible for me without the conference scholarship, which has proven to be an investment in my professional development. Once again, I would like to express my gratitude to the Grant Professionals Foundation and its donors for providing this opportunity for me to attend my first GPA National Conference. I am looking forward to attending next year’s conference in St. Louis, and I plan to get involved in the conference planning committee when my local chapter hosts the conference the following year in Atlanta.

 

 

 

 

Building Bridges to a Better World

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Lisa Deem, Grant Specialist, City of Flagstaff
ldeem@flagstaffaz.gov
December, 2014

I had the distinct honor of attending the 2014 Grant Professionals Association Conference in Portland, Oregon through a Jerry Dillehay Scholarship, sponsored by the Arizona Chapter. I became a GPA member in December 2011, supported by my position at the City of Flagstaff. I have attended state conferences, but never able to participate at the national level.  What an experience! The positive energy generated at the conference created an air of support for success. The hosting chapter and planning team were on target and on time, with logistical information and anticipating our every need. Kudos for a job well done!

The keynote speakers on Thursday and Friday were professionals at the top of their fields, providing strategies and insightful perspectives from both sides of the funder-grant seeking forum. I was pleased to hear the underlying reasons for why we were all there – the human element; building relationships in our community, bettering the world around us. Each and every person at that conference recognizes our ultimate mission – funding people, not paper.

Gil Tran, in the Plenary Session, provided critical insight on the rollout of the federal super-circular with his entertaining anecdotes and personal stories. The human element was very active in this lively discussion of OMB regulations, offering simple methods to navigate these new waters.

The variety and number of workshop sessions available were mind-boggling. I often found myself wishing I could clone to attend multiple workshops at once. I was amazed at the vast amount of knowledge and expertise present in each session, both by presenters and the audience.

  • I learned Grants Management is manageable.
  • I learned that FFATA is not a four-letter word, nor is 2CFR200.
  • I learned the importance of building your project team.
  • I learned the difference between “should” versus “must”.
  • I learned that performance indicators, inputs and outcomes are a grant professional’s friend.
  • I learned about logic models, and how they have the capacity to bring a project from good to great outcomes.
  • I learned about the importance of written policies and procedures to accommodate managerial controls and compliance.
  • I learned that grants are similar to one’s garden, requiring vision, planning and constant care.
  • I learned how to find statistical data to support my project.
  • I learned consistent, ethical management practices are the gold-standard.
  • I learned how to align your project with your funder’s objectives and demonstrate a compelling needs statement.
  • I learned that, while many grant professionals operate on a lonely field within their organizations, they have the capacity to bring together their “village” to create lasting, positive change.
  • I learned that grant professionals require an extensive skill set including concise writing, financial accounting, organizational management, setting policy standards, understanding technical-industry jargon, compassionate listening and exceptional human interaction skills.

Most importantly, I learned that grant professionals are some of the warmest, most-giving people I have known. They work tirelessly to improve the world around them, one grant at a time. I am proud to be counted in those numbers. And I thank the Grant Professionals Foundation for the opportunity to interact with other grant professionals in a supportive and educational environment. We were certainly Building Bridges in Portland, and creating lasting relationships. I wish to extend sincere thanks to all involved, for this learning experience.