In the Grant Writing Business, the Customer is Always Right…Even When He’s Not

We got some really good news this weekend.  I learned that one of the federal grants I wrote last spring was funded. This was not the only good news we have received or will receive from the latest grant writing season, but it was particularly satisfying because of how much this client really needs the program we wrote.

Because the client is in such need to get the program going, the program administrator hit the ground running today to get the budget in the system and get the program up and running as soon as possible.  His plan hit the skids, though, as soon as it hit the desk of the head of the fiscal department who informed him that the amounts we had budgeted for personnel and benefits were too low.  So, he set up a conference call between me, the fiscal person, and himself to try to work it out.  I gave the best advice I had for revising the budget quickly so they could get going.

Then my client (the program administrator) said something interesting.  He said,”I don’t know how this happened because I know we gave you the correct numbers when we were in the grant development process.” That’s one of those moments when what you want to say and what you know you have to say are different. What I wanted to say was, “Are you kidding? I can prove that we used the numbers you sent.  I have the old emails….”  But no, that’s not what came out of my mouth.  I knew this was a “fall on your sword for your client” moment.  I really hate those moments, but I said it anyway, “I’m really sorry.  I can’t explain how we made such an error, but I can certainly help you move forward from here and I’ll do my best not to put you in this position again.”

Like in every other business, in grant writing, the customer is right, whether or not he really is.  Preserving the relationship is the important part, not being right.

This has been a particularly hard lesson to learn for me because I really, really like to be right.  Don’t get me wrong – I have no problem standing up to my clients when they need some corrective direction in the planning or evaluation processes, but those of in business for ourselves need to be able to discern when it’s appropriate to correct the client, and when it’s appropriate to help them look better with their own organization so the relationship can continue smoothly.

——————————–

Want some free grant writing tips on your iPhone?  Check out our FREE Grant Tips iPhone App!

Free webinars – The Basics of Program Evaluation, Parts 1 and 2.

There is still time to sign up for Grant Writing 101, our online grant writing course.  Learn grant writing on your time, in the convenience of your own home or office. Get a free e-book, 12 Secrets of Successful Grant Writers, just for looking into it.

Published by Creative Resources & Research http://grantgoddess.com

In the Grant Writing Business, the Customer is Always Right…Even When He’s Not

We got some really good news this weekend.  I learned that one of the federal grants I wrote last spring was funded. This was not the only good news we have received or will receive from the latest grant writing season, but it was particularly satisfying because of how much this client really needs the program we wrote.

Because the client is in such need to get the program going, the program administrator hit the ground running today to get the budget in the system and get the program up and running as soon as possible.  His plan hit the skids, though, as soon as it hit the desk of the head of the fiscal department who informed him that the amounts we had budgeted for personnel and benefits were too low.  So, he set up a conference call between me, the fiscal person, and himself to try to work it out.  I gave the best advice I had for revising the budget quickly so they could get going.

Then my client (the program administrator) said something interesting.  He said,”I don’t know how this happened because I know we gave you the correct numbers when we were in the grant development process.” That’s one of those moments when what you want to say and what you know you have to say are different. What I wanted to say was, “Are you kidding? I can prove that we used the numbers you sent.  I have the old emails….”  But no, that’s not what came out of my mouth.  I knew this was a “fall on your sword for your client” moment.  I really hate those moments, but I said it anyway, “I’m really sorry.  I can’t explain how we made such an error, but I can certainly help you move forward from here and I’ll do my best not to put you in this position again.”

Like in every other business, in grant writing, the customer is right, whether or not he really is.  Preserving the relationship is the important part, not being right.

This has been a particularly hard lesson to learn for me because I really, really like to be right.  Don’t get me wrong – I have no problem standing up to my clients when they need some corrective direction in the planning or evaluation processes, but those of in business for ourselves need to be able to discern when it’s appropriate to correct the client, and when it’s appropriate to help them look better with their own organization so the relationship can continue smoothly.

——————————–

Want some free grant writing tips on your iPhone?  Check out our FREE Grant Tips iPhone App!

Free webinars – The Basics of Program Evaluation, Parts 1 and 2.

There is still time to sign up for Grant Writing 101, our online grant writing course.  Learn grant writing on your time, in the convenience of your own home or office. Get a free e-book, 12 Secrets of Successful Grant Writers, just for looking into it.

To Do Lists Keep This Grant Writer on Task…Sometimes

Making a list of things to do at the beginning of the day is usually a useful exercise for me, especially when I am extremely busy like now with web work, or when I am in the middle of grant writing.

If I don’t make myself a list, I find myself blundering about chasing windmills and perhaps not finishing something important or failing to finish something from the day before.

I like my lists and I draw a blue line through finished tasks with a highlighter as I complete each one. It makes me feel more competent to finish things and be able to cross them out throughout the day.

Of course there are days like today when things not on my list intrude and rudely insert themselves into my neatly ordered agenda for the day. I have fourteen things on the list today and I’ve only crossed off two of them. And besides my walk I have worked steadily. I’m not sure what all I did or why it was so important, but I got it done and it’s not on the list and now I am a little panicked that I haven’t made nearly as much progress on what I decided was important at the start of the day.

What to do, what to do? I could refocus and begin a new eight hour shift working into the night, but I’ve already eaten the last piece of fruit in my lunchbox and the rest of my provisions are far away in my kitchen.

So I’ll probably have to start with the same list (-3 now, this blog post is another item HA!) tomorrow that I am finishing with today. I don’t feel as competent as I do on days when there is only one leftover task.

But that’s life isn’t it? Sometimes things just go the way they’re expected, sometimes good planning is interrupted by new realities, and sometimes, work simply has to end in order to answer the call of the grumbling stomach and drive home for some chips and salsa.

———————
This post was contributed by Non-Profit Consultant and Expert Grant Writer, Derek Link.

———————

Free e-book —Using Social Media to Increase Your Business

Online Seminar!  Secrets of Successful Grant Writers

Published by Creative Resources & Research http://grantgoddess.com

To Do Lists Keep This Grant Writer on Task…Sometimes

Making a list of things to do at the beginning of the day is usually a useful exercise for me, especially when I am extremely busy like now with web work, or when I am in the middle of grant writing.

If I don’t make myself a list, I find myself blundering about chasing windmills and perhaps not finishing something important or failing to finish something from the day before.

I like my lists and I draw a blue line through finished tasks with a highlighter as I complete each one. It makes me feel more competent to finish things and be able to cross them out throughout the day.

Of course there are days like today when things not on my list intrude and rudely insert themselves into my neatly ordered agenda for the day. I have fourteen things on the list today and I’ve only crossed off two of them. And besides my walk I have worked steadily. I’m not sure what all I did or why it was so important, but I got it done and it’s not on the list and now I am a little panicked that I haven’t made nearly as much progress on what I decided was important at the start of the day.

What to do, what to do? I could refocus and begin a new eight hour shift working into the night, but I’ve already eaten the last piece of fruit in my lunchbox and the rest of my provisions are far away in my kitchen.

So I’ll probably have to start with the same list (-3 now, this blog post is another item HA!) tomorrow that I am finishing with today. I don’t feel as competent as I do on days when there is only one leftover task.

But that’s life isn’t it? Sometimes things just go the way they’re expected, sometimes good planning is interrupted by new realities, and sometimes, work simply has to end in order to answer the call of the grumbling stomach and drive home for some chips and salsa.

———————
This post was contributed by Non-Profit Consultant and Expert Grant Writer, Derek Link.

———————

Free e-book —Using Social Media to Increase Your Business

Online Seminar!  Secrets of Successful Grant Writers

Don’t be like Barney Frank

O.k., I can think of lots of reasons why you should not be like Barney Frank, but the reason on my mind today has to do with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Apparently, after learning that the new law exempts the SEC from Freedom of Information Act requirements, many folks are upset about what’s in the new law, so Barney Frank has agreed to hold a hearing to discuss the issue. Call me crazy, but isn’t the discussion supposed to happen before the law is passed? In fact, Mr. Frank has given several different accounts of how that provision got into the bill and how much he knew about it.

I, like many other Americans, have been appalled at how our Congressional representatives seem to be OK with voting on bills without reading them; however, I am truly amazed that an author and sponsor of a bill would not have a better handle on what’s in the bill.

Because this is a grant writing blog, yes, I will share with you how this relates to grant writing and why I’m warning you not to be like Barney Frank.

First, whether you have hired a grant writer to write your grant proposal or you have assigned it to some folks within your organization, keep in mind that you, Mr. or Ms. Executive Director or Superintendent, are responsible for what is in that proposal. That means that you need to know what is in it and you should have been at least somewhat involved in the collaborative process of having the conversations that led to the development of the program described in the proposal. Pointing your finger after the fact and saying that you a) didn’t know what was in the proposal or b) didn’t think anyone would object to what was in the proposal makes you looks both a) stupid and b) out of touch with your staff and community.

I know some of you may be thinking, “But wait a minute!  Our organization is so big that there is no way I can review every grant proposal and be involved in every proposal planning process!” Personally, I don’t think that’s a good excuse.  That’s why you get paid the big bucks; however, you should at least have a close supervisory relationship with someone who is keeping a close watch on the process so you can monitor it.

I can’t tell you how many times I have attended Board or community meetings to make an evaluation presentation on a grant-funded program, only to hear the Executive Director or Superintendent actually admit to the Board and/or community that they didn’t know something was in the grant.  They usually hint that it must have been the result of a rogue grant writer’s visions.  What?  You signed the proposal, for goodness’ sake! Don’t you pay attention to what you sign?  If the proposal was submitted at the last minute and you signed before seeing the final product, didn’t you at least know what was supposed to be in it? Did you see a draft?

So, please read grants that you submit on behalf of your organization.  Please be involved in the planning and writing process.  Please have collaborative discussions with staff and community partners about your plans.  Otherwise, you’ll look like Barney Frank, and nobody wants that.

———————————————–

Free e-book —- Here are tips from 14 experts on Using Social Media to Increase Your Business.  This is a valuable tool for non-profit organizations, too.

Published by Creative Resources & Research http://grantgoddess.com

Don’t be like Barney Frank

O.k., I can think of lots of reasons why you should not be like Barney Frank, but the reason on my mind today has to do with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Apparently, after learning that the new law exempts the SEC from Freedom of Information Act requirements, many folks are upset about what’s in the new law, so Barney Frank has agreed to hold a hearing to discuss the issue. Call me crazy, but isn’t the discussion supposed to happen before the law is passed? In fact, Mr. Frank has given several different accounts of how that provision got into the bill and how much he knew about it.

I, like many other Americans, have been appalled at how our Congressional representatives seem to be OK with voting on bills without reading them; however, I am truly amazed that an author and sponsor of a bill would not have a better handle on what’s in the bill.

Because this is a grant writing blog, yes, I will share with you how this relates to grant writing and why I’m warning you not to be like Barney Frank.

First, whether you have hired a grant writer to write your grant proposal or you have assigned it to some folks within your organization, keep in mind that you, Mr. or Ms. Executive Director or Superintendent, are responsible for what is in that proposal. That means that you need to know what is in it and you should have been at least somewhat involved in the collaborative process of having the conversations that led to the development of the program described in the proposal. Pointing your finger after the fact and saying that you a) didn’t know what was in the proposal or b) didn’t think anyone would object to what was in the proposal makes you looks both a) stupid and b) out of touch with your staff and community.

I know some of you may be thinking, “But wait a minute!  Our organization is so big that there is no way I can review every grant proposal and be involved in every proposal planning process!” Personally, I don’t think that’s a good excuse.  That’s why you get paid the big bucks; however, you should at least have a close supervisory relationship with someone who is keeping a close watch on the process so you can monitor it.

I can’t tell you how many times I have attended Board or community meetings to make an evaluation presentation on a grant-funded program, only to hear the Executive Director or Superintendent actually admit to the Board and/or community that they didn’t know something was in the grant.  They usually hint that it must have been the result of a rogue grant writer’s visions.  What?  You signed the proposal, for goodness’ sake! Don’t you pay attention to what you sign?  If the proposal was submitted at the last minute and you signed before seeing the final product, didn’t you at least know what was supposed to be in it? Did you see a draft?

So, please read grants that you submit on behalf of your organization.  Please be involved in the planning and writing process.  Please have collaborative discussions with staff and community partners about your plans.  Otherwise, you’ll look like Barney Frank, and nobody wants that.

———————————————–

Free e-book —- Here are tips from 14 experts on Using Social Media to Increase Your Business.  This is a valuable tool for non-profit organizations, too.

Help! Grant Writer Drowning in Paper!

This post was written by Non-Profit Consultant and Expert Grant Writer, Derek Link, but I must admit that his desk looks quite tidy compared to mine. The issue he struggles with is the same one I struggle with, except that the piles of paper on my desk are threatening to take over. This is how it always is at the end of the grant writing season.  Now I have the joy of cleaning it up. Enjoy Derek’s thoughts.  Can you relate?

——————

It’s hard not to get buried in an avalanche of paperwork as a grant writer. Sometimes my desk starts to look like a paper recycling operation. I collect so many pieces of information necessary to the work, grant samples, a grant outline, pieces of research, books, booklets, digital disks, notes, charts, graphs, tables – some of it hard to find, and some of it needed once for one sentence, and then never used again.

The trouble is that when I do some research and toil away to find some precious piece of information for a grant, I tend to place a value that piece of paper that it may not merit. After all, if I can find it once, I can find it again, so why am I in angst about throwing it away? The truth is that my filing skills are not going to make it any easier to find in a file cabinet anyway. I’d be much better off doing another Google search or creating a bookmark for the location.

I’m afraid that my computer desktop looks a lot like my physical desktop much of the time. I place things there that I am working on and then before I get them filed away neatly and logically where I can find them the next time I need them, I am on to the next task and these files sit there sullenly until I get annoyed at the clutter and throw them in the virtual trash can.

I know I should be more organized and diligent about keeping order in my papers and megabytes but I don’t often have the motivation to do those things. I used to have a secretary to hand things off to. I’d say to her, “File this please”, and she would, and when I needed it again, she would know where to find it. It was magical.

But alas, for many years now I have been my own secretary and on Secretary’s Day I am not tempted to treat myself for my excellent work. In fact, if I could find a stack of pink slips, I’d give my inner secretary one.

———————————-

Don’t make these 5 grant writing errors!

Download this free Budget Detail Worksheet to help you with your grant budget development.

New grant samples are now available on GrantSample.com. Take a look. Sometimes, seeing a sample of a successful grant can give you the ideas you need to succeed!

Published by Creative Resources & Research http://grantgoddess.com

Help! Grant Writer Drowning in Paper!

This post was written by Non-Profit Consultant and Expert Grant Writer, Derek Link, but I must admit that his desk looks quite tidy compared to mine. The issue he struggles with is the same one I struggle with, except that the piles of paper on my desk are threatening to take over. This is how it always is at the end of the grant writing season.  Now I have the joy of cleaning it up. Enjoy Derek’s thoughts.  Can you relate?

——————

It’s hard not to get buried in an avalanche of paperwork as a grant writer. Sometimes my desk starts to look like a paper recycling operation. I collect so many pieces of information necessary to the work, grant samples, a grant outline, pieces of research, books, booklets, digital disks, notes, charts, graphs, tables – some of it hard to find, and some of it needed once for one sentence, and then never used again.

The trouble is that when I do some research and toil away to find some precious piece of information for a grant, I tend to place a value that piece of paper that it may not merit. After all, if I can find it once, I can find it again, so why am I in angst about throwing it away? The truth is that my filing skills are not going to make it any easier to find in a file cabinet anyway. I’d be much better off doing another Google search or creating a bookmark for the location.

I’m afraid that my computer desktop looks a lot like my physical desktop much of the time. I place things there that I am working on and then before I get them filed away neatly and logically where I can find them the next time I need them, I am on to the next task and these files sit there sullenly until I get annoyed at the clutter and throw them in the virtual trash can.

I know I should be more organized and diligent about keeping order in my papers and megabytes but I don’t often have the motivation to do those things. I used to have a secretary to hand things off to. I’d say to her, “File this please”, and she would, and when I needed it again, she would know where to find it. It was magical.

But alas, for many years now I have been my own secretary and on Secretary’s Day I am not tempted to treat myself for my excellent work. In fact, if I could find a stack of pink slips, I’d give my inner secretary one.

———————————-

Don’t make these 5 grant writing errors!

Download this free Budget Detail Worksheet to help you with your grant budget development.

New grant samples are now available on GrantSample.com. Take a look. Sometimes, seeing a sample of a successful grant can give you the ideas you need to succeed!

Rantings of an Opinionated Grant Writer

I try to keep the posts of this blog positive and informative, and I do my best to keep my whining to a minimum, but today I have a few rants to put out there in the world.  Maybe someone will be able to learn from them.

Every now and then someone tells me, “Veronica, maybe you shouldn’t be so outspoken about your opinions.  Won’t you risk losing business?”  Maybe, but I like to remember what Bill Cosby said — “I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is to try to please everyone.”

So, here are the rants running through my mind today:

  1. Why do the people doing the best work in the community seem to have the hardest time to getting money to fund their work?  I see it over and over again. Small non-profits that are really doing amazing work who struggle to stay afloat while large organizations with tremendous waste seem to have more cash than they can use. Of course, I know the answer to the question.  There is much more to the funding equation than just doing good work. And never forget the other explanation:  Life isn’t fair.
  2. Speaking of tremendous waste.  I have a client (a public agency) that is giving $700,000 back to the federal government at the end of a four year grant period because they have a lousy fiscal accounting system and they didn’t spend all of the $6 million grant they were awarded.  It’s not that they couldn’t use it or that there isn’t plenty of need in their community, but the combination of poor accounting, poor communication among administrators, and incompetence has essentially stolen almost three quarters of a million dollars from folks who desperately need the support.  As the grant writer and evaluator for that program, I’m disgusted.
  3. Speaking of being disgusted, I’m currently working with a school district that seems to be doing everything it can to keep the public away.  One day they say they want parents more involved, and the next day they take actions to make it harder (sometimes nearly impossible) for parents to be involved. Then we loop back full circle to their finger pointing at parents for not being involved.  Enough already!
  4. I was at a meeting yesterday discussing some pretty significant changes to a local school for students who have been expelled from their regular public schools.  We were discussing incentives for students and I had the wild and crazy idea to ask the students what incentives would inspire them. I got that condescending, “awwww, the poor woman doesn’t understand the real world” look from one of the school administrators present.

OK, I’d better stop now.  I think I’ve been reading Cranky Blog too much.

Now I’ll get back to my regularly scheduled positive and uplifting posts……

————————————-

Don’t make these 5 grant writing errors.

Take a look at what’s new at GrantGoddess.com!

Published by Creative Resources & Research http://grantgoddess.com

Rantings of an Opinionated Grant Writer

I try to keep the posts of this blog positive and informative, and I do my best to keep my whining to a minimum, but today I have a few rants to put out there in the world.  Maybe someone will be able to learn from them.

Every now and then someone tells me, “Veronica, maybe you shouldn’t be so outspoken about your opinions.  Won’t you risk losing business?”  Maybe, but I like to remember what Bill Cosby said — “I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is to try to please everyone.”

So, here are the rants running through my mind today:

  1. Why do the people doing the best work in the community seem to have the hardest time to getting money to fund their work?  I see it over and over again. Small non-profits that are really doing amazing work who struggle to stay afloat while large organizations with tremendous waste seem to have more cash than they can use. Of course, I know the answer to the question.  There is much more to the funding equation than just doing good work. And never forget the other explanation:  Life isn’t fair.
  2. Speaking of tremendous waste.  I have a client (a public agency) that is giving $700,000 back to the federal government at the end of a four year grant period because they have a lousy fiscal accounting system and they didn’t spend all of the $6 million grant they were awarded.  It’s not that they couldn’t use it or that there isn’t plenty of need in their community, but the combination of poor accounting, poor communication among administrators, and incompetence has essentially stolen almost three quarters of a million dollars from folks who desperately need the support.  As the grant writer and evaluator for that program, I’m disgusted.
  3. Speaking of being disgusted, I’m currently working with a school district that seems to be doing everything it can to keep the public away.  One day they say they want parents more involved, and the next day they take actions to make it harder (sometimes nearly impossible) for parents to be involved. Then we loop back full circle to their finger pointing at parents for not being involved.  Enough already!
  4. I was at a meeting yesterday discussing some pretty significant changes to a local school for students who have been expelled from their regular public schools.  We were discussing incentives for students and I had the wild and crazy idea to ask the students what incentives would inspire them. I got that condescending, “awwww, the poor woman doesn’t understand the real world” look from one of the school administrators present.

OK, I’d better stop now.  I think I’ve been reading Cranky Blog too much.

Now I’ll get back to my regularly scheduled positive and uplifting posts……

————————————-

Don’t make these 5 grant writing errors.

Take a look at what’s new at GrantGoddess.com!