Today’s blog will feature a few very valuable resources: first a link to the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s interview with Patty Stonesifer, the CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; second, an admonition to do better foundation research before applying for a grant; and third, on a more personal level, a book recommendation for back and neck pain.

This past Tuesday the Chronicle of Philanthropy did a live interview with the CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Patty Stonesifer. Patty is leaving the foundation to pursue other interests and none other Bill Gates himself is taking over. Ms. Stonesifer was the primary force in taking the Gates foundations from fledgling status in 2000 to the largest foundation in America today. In the interview she covers how the foundation chooses projects to support, political influence, scholarships, and more. For the complete interview, Click Here

Here at The Thomas Scott Company we are hearing more and more from current and past clients about grant proposal rejections due to the foundation’s lack of interest in the proposed project. Many of these rejections are warranted but unnecessary because the nonprofit agency didn’t do it’s research well. Quality research to find good matches is critical to grant funding success. Don’t waste your time and that of the foundation by simply applying to every large foundation in your area. Time is too precious for such a short-sighted approach. Take the time to use the research techniques outlined in The Grant Writing Coach Workshop to narrow your search and applications to the very best matches. Here’s an important TIP: be sure to check the foundation’s Form 990 to review what organizations and projects it has given to in the past. This will give you an idea if they might be interested in your organization and particular project.

Click Hereto get to the Foundation Center Online.
Finally, if you have suffered from any musculoskeletal pain like pain in your back, neck, knees or hips, let me share a wonderful book with you. The book is “Pain Free” by Pete Egoscue. Pete established the Egoscue Method to deal with pain without using surgery or drugs. The method consists of a variety of easy and quick exercises you can do at home. I have found the exercises to be effective and very efficient (20 minutes a day is all it takes – with no sweating). I heartily recommend this book.

To order the book from Amazon.com Click Here

Have you ever found yourself having to decide between two or more positive options? If you’re like me you immediately start “pro-con” lists to help make the decision. But the problem with that approach is that sometimes you end up with lists that suggest you choose each of the options. Basically you’re back where you started.

There is an alternative approach: the mind map. Mind mapping has been around for thousands of years. Going all the way back to the ancient Greeks, you can find literature explaining the use of mind mapping in decision-making, problem solving, and all areas of study. Today writers commonly use mind mapping as a brainstorming technique.

Typically a mind map starts with a single word or idea graphically represented in the center of a page. Then, radiating out from the center are branches (similar to tree branches) each representing a train of thought or an option to be considered. As you continue out from the center, you freely associate ideas to the branch without making value judgments or prioritizing. As options present other options, they are represented as a branch off of the presenting branch. A completed map might look something like this:

For a more developed discussion of mind mapping and several good links related to it Click Here

I’m a natural-born dreamer. I was the kind of kid that always had a note on my report card (back when there was such a thing) saying something in the manner of, “Needs to pay attention - less daydreaming.”
I’m still a dreamer, although I much prefer the euphemism “visionary.” When I was a kid I dreamed of catching fish and frogs and snakes; today I dream of impacting the world of nonprofits and philanthropy, of traveling the world and enabling missions, and “Helping nonprofit entrepreneurs do the good they do . . . better.”

Lately I’ve been reading the work of another dreamer, Tim Ferris. Tim’s national best-selling book, “The 4-Hour Workweek” is more philosophy of life than it is strategy for escapism. Tim has the audacity to challenge the way we do business even to the point of eliminating emails, voicemail, telephone calls, meetings, and the traditional office. He is a master of “less is more.” And, more importantly, the commodity he wants to teach us how to have more of is time. Can you imagine what life would be like if you could have more discretionary time? Read Tim’s book.

In an effort to help you keep up with the Coach, we’re going to add a map to our web site that shows where we’ve been doing workshops and coaching retainers. Here’s the beta version (just zoom out to see more): Click for Aardvark Map

Tomorrow the Foundation Center is offering an exciting opportunity. Check out this notice straight from their website:

Coming Tomorrow: Free Day of FDO Professional

Watch for a free trial of Foundation Directory Online Professional. Until 10 pm (ET) Tuesday, you can explore four databases and new interactive maps & charts showing a funder’s grant distributions. Don’t miss it!

This is a wonderful opportunity for nonprofits that have not already subscribed (as recommended by The Grant Writing Coach). Check it out at http://foundationcenter.org/ or simply Click Here

and you’ll find it in the lower left hand corner.

If you’re unsure how to do an FC search, or where to begin, just refer to your Grant Writing Coach workshop workbook (page 21), or access the centers own step-by-step instructions. But whatever you do, take advantage of this opportunity! Happy searching, and may you find the grant you need.

If you’re anything like me you love to find quick and easy assistance for your every day tasks. I always think if there’s a simpler, more efficient way to do it - do it!

I have several blogs I read as I continually search for the simpler and more efficient. Here are two wonderful links I think will be a huge help to you in your business endeavors:

•   To learn some creative advanced Google search techniques, visit Randy Elrod’s June 30th blog: http://randyelrod.typepad.com/ or Click Here
  
•   To learn ways to simplify and lighten your way of doing business, visit Common Craft’s blog: http://commoncraft.com/blog or Click Here

Are you receiving The Grant Writing Coach eNewsletter? It’s free and we positively will NOT share or sell your email address. You’ll get useful tips and links every month in an easy to read, short format. To sign up simply Click Here

I’m wondering if there is a better way to connect people of means that want to make the world a better place with people that can actually make that happen. Currently the process includes major donor strategies, planned giving, foundation grants, and numerous other arrangements. The problem is many worthy recipients cannot access the funds they need to do the good they do. They simply don’t have the capacity to compel the donors to give, so they continue to muddle through hand-to-mouth. Those that they minister to are changed forever but there are so many more that could be reached.

I wonder if there could be a universal grading system for nonprofits agencies like Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch provide for bonds. I’m not sure what the criteria would be but it seems like it could be possible.

What do you think? Let me know your opinions and ideas. Who knows where this will go.

Here are six tips we picked up from the Stanford Social Innovation people. You should take a moment and browse their site: www.ssireview.org.

1. Avoid Mission Creep Most of the truly effective nonprofits get there and stay there by staying focused on their core mission. Over time it is all too easy to get side-tracked on good things at the cost of the best and nine times out of ten the best is directly related to the core mission of the organization. To avoid mission creep, always ask yourself, “How will this contribute to accomplishing our mission?”
2. Create Cross-sector Partnerships If we are going to solve the vexing social problems of our communities, we will have to cooperate with others actively involved in the solution. That includes other nonprofits, governments, and for-profit businesses that have an interest in the solution. It’s not complicated, simply engage the players in an active, ongoing conversation about the issues and let them know that the solution is your end game.
3. Learn to Lobby Sadly most nonprofits are entirely unaware of their need (and ability) to have a voice in the local and national legislatures. Public policy impacts your concerns both positively and negatively. In order to tip the scales in your direction, you need to lobby or join a group/association that does your lobbying for you.
4. Nurture your Network “Successful social innovators create and nurture communities of like-minded supporters.” (SSIreview, Winter 2007, p. 32)
5. Rely On Evidence Nonprofit executives need to learn how to make decisions on sound evidence rather than the management theory du jour. Basically that means digging deeper to expose half-truths and only basing your decisions on well-supported data that can be replicated in the future.
6. Tailor Your Fundraising Most nonprofits that raise large sums of money every year do so by concentrating their efforts on tried and true sources. If your network includes many major donors then that is where you should spend your fundraising time. If you have solid relationships with foundations or corporations in your area, then dig deep with them. But be careful not to develop tunnel vision. You must always maintain a balanced portfolio of funding sources.

At least 4-5 times a month I am asked for help in securing grants by individuals or agencies that do not have their 501(c)3. So what’s the big deal? Well without your 501(c)3 your simply not in the grantseeking game.

First of all, let’s talk about what the 501(c)3 is. According to IRS Publication 557, 501(c)3 is the official IRS designation for the majority of tax-exempt organizations. There are several other types of tax-exempt organizations but they are much more limited in scope (e.g. teachers retirement fund organizations - 501(c)11). Most organizations we consider “nonprofit” fall into the 501(c)3 category.

Basically a nonprofit must have a board of directors, bylaws, a particular purpose or mission and its officers and directors cannot benefit materially from the profits of its operations. The big benefit of being a 501(c)3 nonprofit is your contributors receive a tax break for their contributions and your organization is exempt from federal taxation. But first you must apply to the IRS for determination as a 501(c)3 nonprofit.

These are the primary steps in applying for your status as a 501(c)3 nonprofit:
1. Apply for an Employer Identification Number by filing IRS form SS-4.
2. Fill out IRS Form 1023 (Application for Recognition of Exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code) and write a check payable to Internal Revenue Service for applicable filing fee ($300 or $750).
3. Assemble information to be set forth in IRS Form 1023, including:
a narrative description of organization’s past, present and planned activities, organization’s sources of current and proposed financial support, its actual and planned fundraising program, financial information (if the organization is newly created, current year and the two following years’ projected budgets; otherwise, budgets for the current year and three previous years)
4. Adopt a resolution authorizing filing for tax exemption and all documents related to application, and authorize an officer or attorney-in-fact to sign the application. If attorney-in-fact is authorized, you must prepare IRS Form 2848 (Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative).
5. Obtain a conformed copy of Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws if any have been adopted.
6. File application with IRS Exempt Organizations Division. To order forms, call (800) 829-3676.
7. A request for 501(c)(3) status may take six months or more to be granted. In the meantime, you must indicate to interested parties: “Application for 501(c)(3) tax exemption pending.”
(Special thanks to The Donors Forum: http://www.donorsforum.org/resource/grant_r_apply501.html)