As grant professionals, communication is the root of our work. Not only are we responsible for conveying information through the written word, but we must communicate with a variety of colleagues, subject matter experts, program directors, finance personnel, leaders, elected officials, funders, and more. We’re talking with Michelle Gladieux about the value and importance of communication, plus how we can be direct and vulnerable and diplomatic (through practice) to improve our communication skills.

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WHERE TO FIND OUR GUEST: Michelle Gladieux

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Amanda and Kimberly have a combined 50+ years of grant work. To say our cohosts have learned a few things along the way is an understatement. They are sharing their top 10 lessons learned along the way – maybe a few of them will resonate with you.

For many grant professionals, the leap from working for an organization to starting your own grant and/or fundraising consultancy is a scary one. There are so many questions, from wondering if you should be an LLC or sole proprietor to what to charge and how to market your business.

The Fundraising HayDay cohosts partnered with Allison Boyd, Owner of Boyd Grants, to create Morphology, an on-demand training to help you create a consultancy business that works for you. On the podcast, we are sharing why we leapt into the world of consultancy, how to define success, and what you can expect from Morphology.

Foundation and corporate grants are a funding source for many nonprofit organizations, but since these funders are not required to have a website, your best source of information is their annual Form 990. On that document they are required to share information about their assets, board members, recent grantees, and a few details about how to submit an application (or not if they do not accept unsolicited applications). Sounds easy, right? Oh, if only it were so. Today, we’re discussing where to find what you’re looking for on Form 990s and venting our frustrations when things are not where they’re supposed to be.

SHOW NOTES

Tax Exempt Organization Search on IRS Website HERE

Have you ever worked at an organization where you were expected to bring in all the funding plus a million other things? Your title might be Development Director, Grants Administrator, Director of Fundraising, or anything along those lines. But that title alone doesn’t mean you have the time, skills, capacity, and energy to do all the things dumped in your lap. Multi-tasking is a total myth, so we’re here to breakdown how you can be a successful fundraiser while juggling everything else on your plate. Here’s a hint: without outside help, you can’t do it all.

SHOW NOTES

To better understand the origins of nonprofit work, go back and listen to Fundraising HayDay’s Season 6, Episode 21 – How to Have Uncomfortable Conversations About Race, Bias, and More with Fleur Larsen – How to Have Uncomfortable Conversations About Race, Bias, and More - HayDay Services

People come to the grant field from a variety of backgrounds and their work varies depending on their clients, focus, and experience. Dr. Janelle Harvey’s passion is nonprofits and ensuring they have the resources needed to thrive. She shares her insights on being mentored, working with faith-based organizations, her recent experience with the Milestone Circles program at the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, and so much more.

Show Notes:

Faith and Fundraising Podcast on Kingdom Purpose Radio - Kingdom Purpose Radio – Harvey (drharveywrites.com) & Christian Radio | Kingdom Purpose Radio

Harvey NPO Consulting, LLC - Harvey – Harvey NPO Consulting Group (drharveywrites.com)

Many grant proposals allow, and sometimes require, letters of support. Whether you call them support letters, letters of endorsement, or commitment letters, this is a means for funders to see the wide range of “support” for your project or program. They can be gathered from individuals, nonprofits, government agencies, elected officials, businesses, school systems, civic organizations, and more. But getting quality letters in a timely manner isn’t always as simple as you think.

The fastest road to burnout is overloading your staff. Boards, elected officials, executive directors, and other leaders must understand the capacity of time and resources necessary to develop and manage grant proposals. It is not a solo sport. So before chasing the dollars, ensure the right people with the right skills are on your agency’s grants team to ensure success and longevity of your grant funded programs.

It’s a bonus episode! In January 2024, Kimberly and Amanda (your Fundraising HayDay cohosts) attended Courageous Leadership training led by Julie Boll. Over 8 weeks we each built and refined our calls to courage, affirmed our skills, and learned what courageous leadership looks like for us. Today, Julie is taking the reins and interviewing us about this process and the changes in our business and daily lives. Sometimes you need a little push to dream big, and Julie helped give us the nudges we needed.

Show Notes:

Announcing Fundraising HayDay’s first Patreon experience. Join our Ear Buddies membership at $5 to support the podcast AND access member only benefits: https://patreon.com/FundraisingHayDay

Julie and Dana’s January 2025 Retreat in the Redwoods – visit  www.juliebollconsulting.com/hayday for a discounted price and more details

What two things are necessary for a sustainable nonprofit? Fundraising and administration. What two things are nonprofits often judged for spending money on? Fundraising and administration.

Programs serve people, but you cannot have programs without funding and staff. Nonprofits need oversight. They require finance personnel, fundraisers, executive directors, and more.

Too many organizations and people perpetuate the overhead myth – the notion that overhead costs (like administration and fundraising) should be 10% or less. Let’s debunk that myth together.