Nonprofit organizations often seek grant support but fall short in receiving an award. Competition for grants continue to grow as government funding dwindles. Learn how to present your case for support no matter the type or size of grant you are requesting. This session will sharpen your grant-seeking skills by making your proposal more competitive.
From logic models to making your case for support using 2,000 or less characters, this workshop will help you prepare successful paper and paperless proposal narratives including those to the different levels of government. There will be a discussion on the use of Gantt and PERT charts and other visual aids to help reviewers quickly understand the intent of your proposed project. You will also learn techniques to use when preparing proposals to obtain grants for capacity-building projects and capital campaigns.
This workshop is all about improving on the skills already developed, shedding old attitudes, and learning new techniques to make grant proposals more competitive. Ideal participants will be those with two or more years of experience preparing grant proposals. They will have an understanding how to develop a strong needs statement, goals and outcomes, evaluation strategies, and the budget and justification for the project/program they propose.
Participants will learn the following:
- Understand the current giving trends of foundations, corporations, and government agencies
- Analyze request for proposals (RFPs) to determine a fit with your proposed project
- Prepare reviewer friendly proposals
- Formulate strategies to develop proposals for special projects, capacity-building efforts, and capital campaigns
- Learn techniques to apply for a multi-year or million-dollar grant
Register online at Philanthropy Massachusetts (formerly Associated Grant Makers).
This is a conference session of the New England Chapter of the Grant Professionals Association, held June 3, 2019 at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. The theme of this year’s New England regional conference is The Grant Professional’s Journey: Developing Your Career Roadmap
What does it Really Take to Make it as a Grants Consultant?
Becoming a grants consultant seems like the ideal life! The thought of freedom without prescribed work hours or a boss looking over your shoulder is extremely appealing. You can set your own 
hours and choose your work assignments as an independent contractor. Thanks in part to the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the advances in technology it brings, becoming a member of the gig economy is even easier.
Independent contractors of any type must be prepared for shifts to their lifestyle, income levels, and time. One minute you are flying high on meeting deadlines and others pondering what will you do when you don’t have any assignments in the pipeline. In this session, we will discuss the realities of working for yourself, the ebb and flow of seeking and obtaining assignments, hiring sub-contractors, keeping clients, and marketing.
This is a fun, dynamic session that combines lecture and discussion. While it does not focus on the mechanics of starting a business such as filing for an LLC or DBA and contract language, it will concentrate on what it takes to be a successful consultant. Attendees will learn the following:
- Discovering then capitalizing on your entrepreneurial spirit
- Developing business skills to lead rather than follow
- Obtaining clients and keeping them
- Dealing with the inconsistency of assignments and unpredictable income
- Hiring sub-contractors instead of employees
- Marketing your services that will eventually lead to word-of-mouth recommendations
Those in attendance will benefit as follows:
- Identifying key traits of successful consultants
- Selecting and managing clients
- Determining your niche
- Exceeding client expectations