Grant and NonProfit Resources

Legare Farms Fundraiser Jan. 21

noreply@blogger.com (Summerbreeze) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:59:00 +0000

A fundraiser to benefit Legare Farms will be held at Legare Farms, 2620 Hanscombe Point Rd. on Johns Island, Saturday, Jan. 21 starting at 2 pm.

There will be barbecue, a silent auction, and children's games and activities including face painting, pony rides, hay rides and a jump castle.

Tickets are $15 for ages 2 and up. To purchase tickets or for more information call (843) 559-0788.

noreply@blogger.com (Summerbreeze) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:55:00 +0000

Charleston Area Grant Professionals meeting Jan. 17

The Charleston Association of Grant Professionals (CAGP) will meet Tuesday, Jan. 17, from 5:45 - 7:30 pm in the auditorium of the Charleston County Public Library, 68 Calhoun St.

The topic is "The Galloping Grant Gourmet!" and the speaker will be Lynn Austin. Learn healthy strategies and nutritious tips on how to grow your grant program. Great recipes for organizations just beginning (breakfast), somewhat established (lunch) or those with a full plate (dinner).

Writing the grant is only a piece of the pie. This session will look at how each grant fits with the whole menu of funding options.

Lynn Austin is a long-standing member of CAGP and has experience with all sizes of nonprofits. She has written and received grant awards ranging from thousands to over a million dollars. Lynn is currently working as a free lance nonprofit consultant.

The Importance of Training in Fundraising Effectiveness -- and How to Get Started

noreply@blogger.com (Summerbreeze) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:06:00 +0000

The Foundation Center recently produced a whitepaper entitled, The Importance of Training in Fundraising Effectiveness—and How to Get Started. It discusses why an organization should invest in training for their staff even when nonprofit budgets are tight, and how training can really pay off when it comes to the business of seeking grants.

From the whitepaper:

"Many nonprofits have long relied on individual or government donations for their funding. But grants from corporate and community foundations are becoming an increasingly important piece of the pie.

"Foundations have tremendous giving capacity, and they continue to seek community partnerships that align with their mission. Indeed, the more than 76,000 grantmaking foundations in the U.S. gave an estimated $45.7 billion in 2010. But how do you position your organization to receive these grants? How do you set your nonprofit apart from others who need the money just as badly?

"One essential part of the strategy is training. When it comes to the business of seeking grants -- and managing them -- development teams need to craft compelling proposals, develop strategic relationships, match their nonprofit to the right foundation, solve problems effectively, and otherwise set themselves up for fundraising success...

"Training is all the more critical in today's fast-changing philanthropic landscape, where new kinds of funders are entering the scene, best practices are always evolving, and technology is changing the way some fundraising gets done. It's no wonder the organizations that invest in training have better operating results than those that don't, according to the American Society for Training and Development..."

To access the whitepaper:
The Importance of Training in Fundraising Effectiveness -- and How to Get Started

Tips for proposal writers and nonprofits

noreply@blogger.com (Summerbreeze) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 14:02:00 +0000

Richard Hendry, Program Officer with the Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina, gave an informative and, as always, entertaining, talk at the Dec. 6 meeting of the Charleston Area Grant Professionals (CAGP). His practical and very useful advice for grant writers and nonprofits, is always well-received at CAGP meetings. The talk was titled: "10 Things Non-Profits Say That Drive Me Nuts."

He emphasized that the proposal for a grant should be for a service that fills a niche that no one else fills. In other words, it creatively fills a need and does not duplicate what others are doing.

Other points:

-- Avoid including excess printed materials such as brochures and pamphlets with the proposal. Keep proposals concise and provide exactly what is asked for by the grantmaker.

-- Engage board members in actions that can advance the work of the nonprofit or organization.

-- Avoid voluminous and overly ambitious strategic plans

-- Be visible out in the community and let people know what you are doing. Don't be the "best kept secret in town."

-- Use library resources such as the Foundation Center grants database to research new prospects for grant sources that might not have been considered or even known about before. Don't just get training, but actively use the database.

-- There is money out there for operational expenses.

-- Avoid the latest buzz words and sweeping generalities.

-- Be careful to craft a good mission statement that hones in on the mission without vague, feel-good generalities that could apply to any number of other organizations or mission statements.

-- Don't depend on one or two major funding sources.

-- Explore and get ideas and useful information from the Web page of SCANPO (The South Carolina Association of Nonprofit Organizations) www.scanpo.org and also the Web page for the Coastal Community Foundation (www.coastalcommunityfoundation.org)

-- It's good to go to professional meetings but don't rely on them or overdo it.

Charleston Association of Grant Professionals (CAGP) meeting Dec. 6

noreply@blogger.com (Summerbreeze) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 21:04:00 +0000

The Charleston Association of Grant Professionals will meet Tuesday, Dec. 6 from 5:45 - 7 pm in the auditorium of the Charleston County Public Library, 68 Calhoun St. in Charleston.

The speaker will be Richard Hendry, Program Officer for the Coastal Community Foundation. Richard oversees grant making from most of the Foundation's donor-advised funds and from several competitive funding programs and provides program support to the Foundation's four supporting organizations.

The topic of his presentation will be " A Few Things that Drive Me Nuts about Non-Profit Organizations!"

Richard has been with the Coastal Community Foundation since the early 1980s. During that time he has provided guidance and information to new, emerging and existing charitable programs.

Reservations are requested but not required.

noreply@blogger.com (Summerbreeze) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:05:00 +0000

Tools and Resources for Assessing Social Impact

TRASI is a searchable, expert-reviewed database of over 150 approaches to measuring the impact of social programs and investments. It also features a community portal for nonprofits, grantmakers, and social enterprises to connect with peers and evaluation experts. First launched in 2010, TRASI has been updated and redesigned to be even more user-friendly and resourceful.

Explore the new TRASI portal

noreply@blogger.com (Summerbreeze) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:05:00 +0000

The Journal Report for Nov. 28 in the Wall Street Journal has some useful articles for nonprofits. These include: "Should Philanthropies Operate Like Businesses?"; "Before You Join That Board;" and "Putting Charities to the Financial Test."

The Journal Report: Philanthropy

The Report also includes this interesting article on fundraising:

Philanthropy experts offer their do's and don'ts on how charities should solicit donations

Grant Writers' Forum Nov. 18 in North Charleston

noreply@blogger.com (Summerbreeze) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:21:00 +0000

The Charleston Association of Grant Professionals, in partnership with the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, will sponsor a Grant Writers' Forum on Friday, Nov. 18 from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. at North Charleston City Hall Council Chambers, 2500 City Hall Dr.

To register, click here

The Charleston Association of Grant Professionals (CAGP), established in 1998, meets monthly at the Charleston County Public Library, 68 Calhoun St. in Charleston. Meetings are free and open to anyone interested in the grants process. Memberships are available but not required. Contact ChasGrantPros@gmail.com to receive meeting notices.

The mission of the CAGP is to assist and strengthen nonprofit, governmental, and community service organizations by providing opportunities for grant-related training, networking, mentoring and collaboration.

Grant Writing and Evaluation Workshop Nov. 15 in Charleston

noreply@blogger.com (Summerbreeze) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 23:05:00 +0000

Nonprofit organizations are always looking for funding to support their programs. However, it is crucial to grant writing to show the success of the program. Funders are looking to make an investment in nonprofit organizations, and where there are investments there is accountability. Thus, evaluation is key. Through this interactive workshop, Schrendria Robinson will teach nonprofits how to demonstrate a solid concept and produce favorable outcomes in the grant proposal.

Apply for the Grant Writing and Evaluation Workshop on Tuesday, November 15 from 10 am - 4 pm at the Lowcountry Food Bank, 2864 Azalea Dr. in Charleston. Applications are due by Monday, November 7, 2011.

Learn more about the Carolina Academy for Nonprofits and its offerings.

Tech Tips for Non-Profits Nov. 8 at the library

noreply@blogger.com (Summerbreeze) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:40:00 +0000

The next Networking Luncheon at the Charleston County Public Library will feature Michael Carnell, computer consultant and co-founder of PalmettoTechnologyHub.org. He will be discussing some easy ways non-profits can take advantage of cutting edge technology to advance their cause. He will tackle your computer, Internet and social media questions. Space is limited. To register for the workshop call 805-6930.

Where: Meeting Room B, Main Library, 68 Calhoun St.
When: Tuesday, Nov. 8 from 12-1:15 p.m.

"Fusing Arts, Culture and Social Change"

noreply@blogger.com (Summerbreeze) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:38:00 +0000

"Fusing Arts, Culture and Social Change: High Impact Strategies for Philanthropy." A report from the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropies.

From the executive summary: "...Every year, approximately 11 percent of foundation giving -- about $2.3 billion in 2009 -- is awarded to nonprofit arts and cultural institutions. The distribution of these funds is demonstrably out of balance with our evolving cultural landscape and with the changing demographics of our communities...

...There are some hopeful signs, however. A growing number of funders outside the arts -- foundations with a primary focus on education, community development, health or social justice -- are partnering with artists and arts organizations to reach their programmatic goals..."

To access the full report:
Fusing Arts, Culture and Social Change: High Impact Strategies for Philanthropy

Charleston Association of Grant Professionals (CAGP) meeting Oct. 18

noreply@blogger.com (Summerbreeze) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 15:29:00 +0000

The Charleston Area Grant Professionals will meet Tuesday, Oct. 18 from 5:45 - 7:30 in the auditorium of the Charleston County Public Library.

The speaker will be Joseph R. Leonard, retired Investor Relations Professional who volunteers his services as a Web site designer and Web marketing consultant targeting smaller non-profits.

His topic will be "Web Design and Implications for Grant Writing." He will cover such subjects as dynamic Web site design; marketing objectives in adding value, using East Cooper Community Outreach as a client case study; and implications of this for grant writing.

For more information email Carolyn Lackey at carolynlackey@comcast.net. Reservations are not required but are requested.

Nonprofit Research Collaborative Summer/Early Fall 2011 report

noreply@blogger.com (Summerbreeze) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:57:00 +0000

From the Introduction

While charitable giving forms about 20 percent of all nonprofit organizations’ funding in any one year, it is as much as 90 percent a year in many charities that do not have other forms of revenue, such as government grants, membership fees, or investment proceeds. As these and other revenue sources stay level or decline, charitable contributions become even more important for overall nonprofit organization funding.

Charitable giving comes primarily from four sources, according to Giving USA. Over the past 50 years, giving by living individuals constitutes approximately 75 percent of all charitable giving in the United States. Currently, foundations provide about 14 percent of the charitable giving total, estates provide about 6 percent, and corporations and corporate foundations give about 5 percent of the total.

Fundraising data are typically collected at the organization level and seldom aggregated across different types and sizes of charitable organizations. This Nonprofit Research Collaborative Summer/Early Fall 2011 report is one step in the direction to collect data about current charitable organizational practices around fundraising. The survey asked about the directions of change in giving in the first half of 2011, fundraising methods used, where organizations are investing more in fundraising, and when (or if) organizations track fundraising costs, including direct expenses and staff time. A special section of the survey asked about campaigns—including special projects, capital, endowment, or comprehensive campaigns.

This report provides a six-month glimpse into giving in the first half of 2011 with analysis of survey results from 813 responding charities. For most questions, we look at responses for all responding charities, then provide more detailed examinations by size of charitable organization, by region of the U.S., and by type of service provided (called type of recipient or subsector).

To access the full report: http://foundationcenter.org/gainknowledge/research/pdf/nrc_sept2011.pdf

CAGP Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Misty Jones) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:09:00 +0000

The Charleston Association of Grant Professionals will meet Tuesday, Sept. 20 at the
Charleston County Public Library (5:45 – 7:30)

Speaker: Sandy Clair, Executive Director,

Charleston Area Senior Citizens

Topic: “What Grant Writers Need to Know About In-Kind Donations”

§ Does your organization rely heavily on in-kind donations?

§ Do you know what to include as in-kind donations?

§ Do you know how to track the current value of volunteer time?

Tomorrow’s program will be very informative, and you’re sure to leave with a new appreciation of the value of in-kind donations.

Please join us! For more information, email carolynlackey@comcast.net. Reservations are not required but requested.

The Power of Email Marketing

noreply@blogger.com (Misty Jones) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:31:00 +0000

CAGP Meeting Tuesday August 16

noreply@blogger.com (Misty Jones) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:28:00 +0000

The Charleston Association of Grant Professionals will meet Tuesday, August 16 at
the Charleston County Public Library (5:45 – 7:30)

Speaker: Dwight McInvaill, Director, Georgetown County Library

Topic: “The Creative Art of Grant Writing”

Grants are a way to make dreams happen! They
• depend upon having a vision for your organization.
• involve a personal and institutional commitment to experimentation.
• derive from a familiarity of one’s own landscape with the ability to relate that setting serendipitously to the wider world.
• succeed through a capacity to visualize things in a vivid and engaging manner and to communicate those images of what can be done in a precise, evocative way through techniques and strategies which comprise good tools for a successful grant composition.

Dwight McInvaill has served as the Director of the Georgetown County Library of South Carolina since 1996. His focus is on providing innovative and effective service for the benefit of the community. In 2009, the Carnegie Foundation and New York Times presented him with an “I Love My Librarian Award,” an honor granted in that year to only ten librarians. In 2008, he accepted at the White House – from First Lady Laura Bush – South Carolina’s first National Medal for Library Service, merit presented to five libraries annually. In 2007, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation featured some of his library’s accomplishments in a nationally-distributed video on innovation in four libraries entitled “Your Public Library: Keeping Your Community Connected.” In 2005, he was given a national advocacy award by the American Library Association. He is currently a board member of the Association for Rural and Small Libraries. He believes in the power of libraries to transform lives, especially in rural communities.

For more information, call 843-452-4492 or email carolynlackey@comcast.net. Reservations are not required but requested

KOMEN LOWCOUNTRY OFFERS GRANTS TRAINING WORKSHOPS

noreply@blogger.com (Misty Jones) — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 15:27:00 +0000

The Lowcountry Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® will offer two grants training workshops for all prospective grantees in Charleston and Conway. The first workshop will take place on Wednesday, August 17 at the Trident Community Center in North Charleston from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The second workshop will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 20 at the Coastal Carolina University Wall Boardroom from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The cost for each workshop is $15 for the first person and $10 for any others from your organization. Tickets for both workshops can be purchased online at http://www.komenlowcountry.org/grants/. Lunch will be provided at both workshops.

Komen Lowcountry’s grants training workshops will highlight findings from the organization’s 2011 Community Profile research project, their new funding priorities and important changes to the grant process. In addition to the training, the workshop will provide an excellent opportunity for networking and developing collaborations with new partners. A representative from all prospective grantees is required to attend a session in order to submit a funding proposal.

Questions about the grant workshops can be directed to the main Komen Lowcountry office at (843) 556-8011.

Trio Solutions Extends 2011 CreateAthon Deadline

noreply@blogger.com (Misty Jones) — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 18:41:00 +0000

Trio Solutions Inc., a Mount Pleasant-based marketing communications agency, invites Lowcountry-area nonprofit organizations to apply for the 14th annual CreateAthon®, scheduled for Thursday, September 15, 2011.

CreateAthon is a collaborative, 24-hour creative marathon experience that changes the impact of nonprofits and the lives of creative thinkers. Trio Solutions, the official CreateAthon agency for the Charleston-metro area, will provide marketing services to Lowcountry nonprofit organizations on a pro-bono basis from 8 a.m. Thursday to 8 a.m. Friday. The selected nonprofits should have little or no marketing budgets.

The deadline for CreateAthon 2011 applications has been extended to Friday, July 29, 2011. Trio Solutions will select five local organizations to receive free creative services and will announce the winners on August 31. Please visit http://www.trio-solutions.com/ for more information and to download an application.

Grants.gov Stakeholder Webcast Announcement

noreply@blogger.com (Misty Jones) — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 18:37:00 +0000

The next Grants.gov Stakeholder Webcast will be on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET. This meeting will be a webcast only and registration is NOT required. *Please read below as RealPlayer software is required to view this webcast.

Agenda:
Introduction – Webcast Participants
Grants.gov Status Update/Priorities
Grant Fraud Prevention
Conflicts of Interest
Misuse of Funds
Embezzlement
Grants.gov Support
Audience Questions

Instructions:
Registration is NOT required. Click here: http://videocast.nih.gov/ at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 20,2011.
*Please note RealPlayer software is required. The free player software is at: http://www.real.com

Craniofacial Clinic Fundraiser

noreply@blogger.com (Misty Jones) — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 18:34:00 +0000

Come out to Your Pie on Thursday July 21 from 5-9pm for a night of fun and the best pizza ever! We have lots of games and prizes for the kids including a jump castle from Milestone Rentals. A DJ will be there playing great music. Door prizes will be given away every 30 minutes. Bring your kids to help our kids from MUSC's Craniofacial Clinic. A percentage of the sales will go to the Craniofacial Clinic.

CAGP Meeting Tuesday July 19

noreply@blogger.com (Misty Jones) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 16:04:00 +0000

The Charleston Association of Grant Professionals will meet Tuesday, July 19th, at
the Charleston County Public Library (5:45 – 7:30 p.m.)

Topic: "How Logic Models Improve Chances of Funding". The talk will provide an overview of Logic Models, how they work, and why they are important to use to design and evaluate a project. There will also be examples of the Logic Model and its use in funded projects.

Speaker: Marilyn A. Laken, PhD, RN, FAAN, Professor Nursing & Medicine, Director, Office of Special Initiatives , Medical University of South Carolina

Logic Models are very important to use to design and evaluate a project.

Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn all about the Logic Model from an expert!

Reservations are requested. Please email Susie Goss at goss5165@bellsouth.net if you plan to attend.

July 14: City of Charleston Grant Application Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (Misty Jones) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:30:00 +0000

Sorry for the short notice but I just found out about this.

The City of Charleston is holding a Grant Workshop Presentation tomorrow afternoon (July 14) from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the Charleston County Library for anyone planning to apply for City of Charleston Community Assistance and Accommodations Tax Grants.

Check the website for application and more information: http://www.charlestoncity.info/dept/content.aspx?nid=1649

Grant Deadline: August 17.

Art for Charity – Michael Mitchell :: Charleston

noreply@blogger.com (Misty Jones) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 17:24:00 +0000

Art for Charity – Michael Mitchell :: Charleston

Small Business/Nonprofit Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (Misty Jones) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 13:06:00 +0000

Are you interested in starting a business or nonprofit? Attend this free SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) workshop, and get answers to your questions from SCORE mentors.

Tuesday, June 14, 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
St. Andrews Regional, 1735 N Woodmere Dr

CAGP Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Misty Jones) — Sat, 14 May 2011 15:14:00 +0000

The Charleston Association of Grant Professionals will meet Tuesday, May 17th at the Charleston County Public Library (5:45 – 7:30)

Speaker: Thomas C. Keith, President, Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

Topic: “What is happening in Philanthropy? - A look at the current landscape for Grant Making Foundations and Non-Profits”

Please visit the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina website http://sistersofcharitysc.com/ to learn more about the foundation and its grant making opportunities. Also, check out the recently revised guidelines.

For more information, call 843-452-4492 or email carolynlackey@comcast.net. Reservations are not required but requested.