It takes time and effort to find Grantmakers

Jackie Jones — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 17:51:13 GMT

It takes time and effort to find grantmakers that are truly good prospects, but the results can be worth the research efforts you expend. Keep your expectations realistic. Foundations and other grantmakers will not likely meet even a majority of your financial needs. Individual donations still account for the great majority of the funds given to nonprofit organizations. Currently, foundations and corporations combined only provide about 17 percent of philanthropic gifts, and only a portion of this is given for Christian projects. However, these funds can make all the difference for your project!

Do not focus all your efforts on one or two "perfect" funders. Many grantseeking churches and ministries have important missions, so you must seek a reasonably broad base. Develop a list with several viable options. Even experienced proposal writers often receive multiple letters of rejection for each successful grant. On the other hand, avoid compiling a lengthy list of "long-shot" prospects; mass mailing is a waste of everyone's time. Grantseeking should be viewed as a highly individualized process to be conducted in a businesslike manner.

Eight benefits of having a clear Mission Statement

Jackie Jones — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 17:32:16 GMT

Developing a clear and concise mission statement early in an organization’s development is critical to its success. The first three benefits stated are tied to the process of creating the mission statement itself.

First, the process of creating a mission statement is tremendously valuable to the founders. This process helps define the company's goals to a concise and clear statement that is easy to share with the internal organization as well as to its customers.

Second, the process of defining the mission statement will help founders determine the scope of their effort; helps clarify competition and focus on their real market opportunities.

Third, create a better version of something that's already being done, help clearly differentiate your company from its competition.

Other benefits include direction, focus, policy, meaning, challenge, and passion. Direction states what the organization does and what it wants to be successful in. Focus concentrates on the company’s strengths and competitive advantages and tells people how to obtain them. Policy is a guideline of what a company finds acceptable and unacceptable and states organizational values. Meaning shows what a company strives to achieve and why they wish to do so. Challenge is the setting up of goals and measurements of achievement for employees. Passion makes everyone involved with the organization show feelings of enthusiasm, pride, and commitment.

One day all believers will stand before the Lord for an evaluation of how we lived our lives on earth. Will we hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant?" (Matt. 25:21)

--Jackie Jones is the Marketing and Communications Director of Christian Foundation Grants. She may be reached at jjones@christianfoundationgrants.com.

Nonprofit Strategy Planning

It takes time and effort to find Grantmakers

Eight benefits of having a clear Mission Statement