If the title above is true, then you need to get to know Randy Elrod. I’ve been writing and planning on my computer in a wonderful bakery/coffee shop in downtown Franklin called Merridee’s. While here I’ve observed Randy trying to get from his table to the coffee station only to be stopped over and over again by people wanting a piece of the Randy pie. Randy is a true renaissance man, multi-talented, well read, compassionate and accessible to those of us who walk on terra firma. If you don’t live in Franklin, TN where you can find Randy at Merridee’s most mornings, then you’ll want to catch up with him on his blog: Ethos. You’ll be glad you did.

I’m always interested in writing and particularly good writing. Recently I found a very good book on poetry, written by Stephen Fry, the well-known novelist, comedian, and actor (A Fish Called Wanda, Wilde, A Civil Action, Bright Young Things, Gosford Park, and V for Vendetta), called “The Ode Less Travelled.” Fry is a poet himself and he has written a wonderful primer for closet poets like me. He covers everything from meter and rhyme, to form and purpose. Fry writes with a delightful whit and somehow draws the reader along almost as if he’s writing fiction. The subtitle of the book is Unlocking the Poet Within, and though I’m still waiting for that to happen, I suspect you may find it true for you. Enjoy.

My step-father died Monday morning leaving my mother a widow for the second time. They had five wonderful years of marriage, but those were followed by four difficult years struggling through the relentless degenerating stages of Alzheimer’s disease. I passed a friend in the nursing home whose father is confined, body and soul, to a wheelchair and endless hours staring at the floor. My friend simply turned from his father to look at me and say, “Just shoot me.”

I understand the sentiment, but something inside me recoils at the point. Surely life is more than the days we spend trying to get somewhere only to find that somewhere is an unattended wheelchair in soiled Depends looking at the same square of floor tile until the lights go out.

Meaning is found in the strangest places and the most desperate circumstances. I was honored last night and this morning to see my mother say good bye to her love with tears and joy that extend beyond our simple understanding. Strangely, even those four difficult years she would say were wonderful. That kind of meaning can only be seen from the unique vantage point of a hill… a hill called Calvary. From that perspective suffering somehow loses it’s death-grip on our souls only to become wings. I’ve been told you can only appreciate suffering having once flown on the those trepid wings yourself.

I don’t know, maybe my friend has it right, “Just shoot me.”

Next week I am heading up to the Chicago area for no less then eleven appointments with various nonprofits. I was looking forward to the opportunity to help them find the funding they need. But try as we may, plan as we may, our timing is not God’s timing. My stepfather is in the final stages of Alzheimer’s and is expected to die in the next few days. This disease is an awful end to a wonderful man’s life. I’ll never forget the joy he brought to my mother after 25 years of being a widow. He always treated her with respect and honor.

Some of my appointments may have to change next week, but that’s small sacrifice compared to the great extended grief my Mom has endured these last few years. She has been a perfect companion to Bob. May the Lord comfort the two of them in these final days of their brief but beautiful marriage.

Yesterday was a wonderful workshop in Florence area of north Alabama. The workshop was graciously hosted by Stephanie Newland and the Shoals Area Chamber of Commerce. All sorts of organizations were represented but there seemed to be a preponderance of those concerned with community mental health.

Community mental health efforts often labor “under the radar” of the rest of the community. I for one want to give them the kudos they deserve. With that in mind, here are a few foundations that have a special interest in mental health:

The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation
URL: http://www.cafritzfoundation.org

Harry S. and Isabel C. Cameron Foundation

Otto Bremer Foundation
URL: http://www.ottobremer.org

Altman Foundation
URL: http://www.altmanfoundation.org

The Stanford & Joan Alexander Foundation

Because you asked:

According to Nonprofit Good Practice Guide, compensation of foundation executives is strongly influenced by foundation size. Of the 2,923 foundations reporting paid staff in 2001, 1,005 foundations list executive directors, presidents, or chief executive officers. While the median salary of executives overall was roughly $100,000 in 2001, the median executive compensation in foundations with over $200 million in assets was $200,000. The median executive in foundations with less than $10 million in assets received approximately $50,000.

The whole article can be found in PDF format at: http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/311281_Foundation_Report_Final.pdf

Narrow Gate is a good place.

This past Sunday I visited Narrow Gate, a place nestled in the hills of Hickman County, where troubled young men that have lost their way can find themselves and God. If you ever get a chance to visit Narrow Gate, you’ll see what I mean - God is there.

You’ll see God in the hills, the first class facilities, the life-affirming programming, and most of all - the people.

Narrow Gate is a six-month discipleship experience set in a wilderness-adventure setting. It’s an opportunity for young men that have been in trouble with the law, their parents, school, or everybody else, to get a new start in life. At Narrow Gate hurting and angry young men are loved, affirmed, encouraged and lead into a brighter, hopeful future.

That’s it – Narrow Gate is hope for those that have lost hope. And moreover, it is a place of hope for the families that have given up hope.

Lucie and I took the scenic drive after church to the 122 acres in the hills that houses a couple dozen young men and their mentors. It was an experience of very real excitement and joy as we ate lunch with young guys that had made their way to Narrow Gate from very difficult pasts. For some it was drugs, for others alcohol, and still others violence, but still the look in all their eyes was one of comfortable contentment – they felt good about themselves and it showed.

The directors of Narrow Gate are Bill and Stacy Spencer. What makes Bill and Stacy different is their sense of calling – they believe they are called by God to live out the love of Christ in a hard place with hard boys. The amazing thing is, it works. You cannot miss it when you pay a visit. The goodness of it all touches you deep inside.

I left wondering, “What can I do? How can I get involved here? Lord, is there some way I can be a part of what they’re doing here?”

Why do people give? Because something touches them and they want to be a part of it. Narrow Gate is a good example.

I workout daily at the Cool Springs YMCA. It’s a nice place with lots of nice people. This morning I had an interesting conversation with one of the regulars. When he found out I coach nonprofits he asked me an unexpected question: “Why do people give?”

I asked him if he meant giving in general or charitable giving to nonprofits specifically. With a wry grin he replied, “Does it matter?”

I launched into a reasoned response borne of experience in the field, after which he simply said, “I think it’s because something has touched them and they want to be part of it.”

I smiled and simply agreed, saying, “True.”

It’s something to think about. What are the causes you give to and why? What are the things that touch you and how have you been able to be part of them?

If you’re raising funds for an organization, do you have a story to tell? Does your story touch something in people that makes them want to be a part of it? Tomorrow I’m going to tell about a new ministry that touched me. I visited their property over the weekend and my first thought as I was leaving was, “How can I be part of this?!”

I’ve been re-reading the classic guide to writing nonfiction: “On Writing Well” by William Zinsser. This is not only a wonderful resource for all who must write nonfiction, but it is delightfully entertaining. Of particular interest to grant writers are parts I, “Principles,” II, “Methods,” and chapter 16, “Business Writing: Writing In Your Job.” Enjoy, this one is loaded with nuggets of gold you will cash in immediately.

Good News - The Grant Writing Coach Workshop has just been certified for Association of Fundraising Professionals credit at the Omaha location (Grace University, October 3, 2006). The certification is another confirmation that the workshop is of the highest caliber and valued by professional fundraising peers. For more information on AFP, visit their web site at: www.afpnet.org. You can register for the Omaha workshop at the Grace University web site: www.graceu.edu.