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 Recommended Sources for Grants You have identified a need in your community, designed an action plan and are now in need of a grant to augment your budget. The question is, where should you look to for grants ? Funders come from different sources and frequently disburse money based on their interests. Generally, grants can be obtained through Foundations, Businesses, Federal Grants and State and City Grants.
Foundations: There are different types of foundations in existence and familiarizing one's self with them will contribute to a smooth grant application process. Some of these foundations include Family Foundations, Independent Private Foundations , Federated Funds , Corporate Foundations and Community Foundations. The main differences between these foundations lies in the way the foundations are run and in their interests. For instance, a pharmaceutical company's foundation may be channeled towards non-profits addressing malnutrition in children. Businesses: Business entities tend to fulfill their corporate business responsibilities through the award of grants to non-profits. Also, different businesses have different frameworks or structures that guides their funding activities. A multinational business entity will generally disburse funds differently than a micro business would. In addition, larger businesses generally fund large non-profits with a history of successful fund raising and implementation of projects. They(larger businesses) also have internal departments tasked with decisions regarding their philanthropic endeavors. Federal Grants: Federal grants are awarded with the goal of discharging a public good. Some non-profits bulk at the thought of applying for federal grants due to factors such as extensive reporting requirements. Yet, it is a great source of funding that shouldn't be overlooked. Some of the benefits of applying for federal grants lies in the fact that the funds offered tend to be substantial and stable. Also, non-profits tend to earn a degree of credibility when federal grants are listed as part of their funding sources. State and City Grants: Typically, these types of grants are smaller than federal grants and less demanding. Also, the application period tends to be less stringent. Some of the projects that typically get funded include projects that improve the lives of people residing within the state's/city's area of jurisdiction. This essentially means that so far as your non-profit has identified a need in the community and has proposed a project that can effectively address the problem, you are eligible for a grant from your state or city. It also pays to keep elected officials of your state or city informed about the activities that your non-profit organizes and engages in. Familiarizing yourself with the various grant giving entities (Foundations, Businesses, Federal Grants, State and City Grants) is a key step in ensuring the delivery of proposals to relevant funders. This leads to a smooth grant seeking process and an increased likelihood of success. Written By Sherita N Brace Sherita N Brace is an International Development Professional and a Blogger. She serves as a Consultant to non-profits and provides grant writing services, program planning services and communications services. References:
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 A grant has been awarded to your non-profit. Despite the feeling of euphoria, serious decisions have to be made. The die is cast. Now what ? How does your non-profit implement its' program effortlessly ? A great strategy along with financial resources come to naught without a road map for program implementation. This is due to the fact that without the program being implemented, both tangible and non-tangible results will fail to materialize. The first step to ensuring the smooth implementation of a program is to organize the steps needed for implementing the program. Organizing your activities includes creating and reviewing your implementation strategy, assembling team members and regularly evaluating the program's progress. Create an Implementation Strategy: Here, it is imperative to review the non-profits strategic document and to create an implementation plan that aligns with this document (strategic document). In order to elevate the interest of stakeholders and implementing partners, a strategy map may be utilized. A strategy map is a great tool that assists team members in visualizing the project in its totality. Through visualization, the desire of team members regarding the success of the project succeed is increased. In essence, the program gathers momentum and has a greater chance of success through the use of a strategy map. Assemble Team Members: This is an important step that cannot be overlooked. During this phase, an implementing team comprising individuals who will be playing both direct roles and indirect roles ought to be assembled. Thereafter, schedule a meeting where the roles of individuals can be explained. This step ensures clarity of roles and leads to the avoidance of confusion. Also, information packets indicating the roles of team members and the projects evaluation plan should be disseminated to team members during this meeting. Finally, creating an environment that fosters teamwork will result in the development of positive working relationships. Evaluate the Programs' Progress: The creation of an evaluation plan will ensure that the program is implemented in a timely fashion. Also, by following the timeline of activities indicated in the evaluation plan, issues or problems that might otherwise go unnoticed will be detected and resolved in a timely fashion. Thus, the likelihood of unresolved problems metamorphosing into potential nightmares can be avoided. A non-profit can ensure smooth implementation of programs/projects by staying organized, astutely selecting team members, clarifying their (team members) roles and regularly evaluating the programs' progress through a timeline of activities. Written By Sherita N Brace Sherita N Brace is an International Development Professional. She serves as a Consultant to Non-Profits and provides grant writing services, program planning services and communications services. Reference: .Strategy Maps. Retrieved September 20th from https://knowhownonprofit.org/organisation/strategy/implement/maps 9/14/2017 why should non-profits design their communications strategies with cultural differences in mind?Read Now Why Should Non-Profits Design Their Communications Strategies with Cultural Differences in Mind ? Culture is defined as the way of life of a group of people. It encompasses the way they dress, sing, dance, among others. One of the key characteristics of successful non-profits lies in their ability to communicate their message effectively to their constituents. According to data gleaned from the Institute of Medicine, it is estimated that over 11% (31 million) of the U.S population is foreign born. Therefore, a non-profit desiring to build and nurture relationships that results in positive outcomes should aim at developing an effective communication strategy that takes cultures into account.
People from various cultures have unique ways of viewing issues/incidents that influences their realities. For instance, individuals belonging to high-context cultures(Asians, Native Americans, Latin and African Americans) tend to use indirect communication styles and focus less on verbal interactions. On the other hand, individuals belonging to low-context cultures (mostly Anglo-European Americans) employ a direct communication style and focus more on verbal interactions. With that said, certain colors can also evoke strong emotions among individuals of one cultural group whereas the same colors will have little to no effect on individuals from a different cultural group. Owing to these nuances, it is essential for a non-profit to tailor its' message and branding materials with the culture of its' target audience/constituency in mind. Decisions on factors such as colors, images and symbols used should be carried out with their cultural underpinnings in mind. Failure of non-profits to develop a communications strategy that incorporates linguistically and culturally appropriate messages will result in a rejection of its message. Another unwelcome effect will be the negative perception that its' brand might develop. There are many resources that a non-profit can utilize to ensure the delivery of thoughtful, timely and culturally sensitive messaging to its constituents. Also, nonprofits can reach out to communications specialists at SNAB Global Development who can help them in the design of their communications materials. Written By Sherita N Brace Sherita N Brace is an International Development Professional and a Blogger. She serves as a Consultant to non-profits and provides grant writing services, program planning services and communications services. References:
 Benefits of Donor Advised Funds Donor Advised Fund (DAF) as a medium for raising funds by charities has seen a recent surge in popularity. The reason for this surge can be attributed to the benefits that stand to be gained by both donors and charities alike.
Benefits that stand to be gained by donors through DAFs comprise: a). Immediate Tax Deductions Some of the tax advantages that stand to be gained by donors include income tax benefits, Capital Gains Tax benefits, Estate Tax benefits, Tax-Free Growth benefits and Alternative Minimum Tax benefits. These tax benefits serve as an incentive to donors and encourages them to save into an account that is operated by a DAF sponsor. b). Reliable and Cost Effective Medium for Donating to Charities DAF provide donors with a means of saving funds over a period of time for the sole purpose of funding charities. Also, donors find it attractive because securities, cash, and appreciated assets are acceptable forms of contribution. Securities and tangible assets are acceptable since DAF's have the ability to convert these sources (securities and tangible assets) of contribution into cash. c). Convenient Funding Timeline A desirable feature of a DAF is that it enables donors to save funds for future giving at a convenience pace. As a result, donors enjoy the liberty that comes with giving at one's discretion. The main benefit that charities/non-profits gain from a DAF include : a) Consistent Source of Funding A DAF serves as a reliable and consistent source of funding to charities since contributions tend to be larger. For instance, grants awarded to charities through DAFs are usually larger than credit card contributions. Ultimately, viewing Donor Advised Funds as reliable vehicles for philanthropy and the accomplishment of non-profit goals will yield mutually satisfactory outcomes for participating parties. Written By Sherita N Brace Sherita N Brace is an International Development Professional and a Blogger. She serves as a Consultant to non-profits and provides grant writing services, program planning services and communications services. References: 1. 5 Primary Tax Benefits to Donors. Retrieved September 7, 2017 from https://www.aefonline.org/tax-benefits 2. Donor-Advised Funds : The Benefits and Drawbacks / Investopedia. Retrieved September 7, 2017 http://www.investopedia.com/articles/managing-wealth/080216/donoradvised-funds-benefits-and-drawbacks.asp#ixzz4s1R1ZWqt |
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