Total Foundation Transparency?

Glass Pockets:  Bringing Transparency to the World of Philanthropy, is a new Foundation Center web resource launched this week that aims to showcase stunning examples of forthright foundations!  Perhaps it will even encourage other grantmakers to follow suit?  Doubtlessly we will all learn something from this public experiment. 

Ford, Gates, Kellogg and more are all there.  So take a look, explore, and let me know what YOU think about this new web site and what it aims to accomplish!

Foundation Center Launches National Education Stimulus Initiative

Check out their new web portal on education & stimulus funding, made available in conjunction with the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and U.S. Department of Education.

The portal aims to help "education funders align their grantmaking — and maximize their overall impact — with funds available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)." (http://www.foundationcenter.org/media/news/20090916.html)

Includes interactive maps, news, RFPs and more!

Just Arrived at the GIC!

Foundations and Public Policy: Leveraging Philanthropic Dollars, Knowledge, and Networks for Greater Impact edited byDr. James M. Ferris, director of The Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy

GIC Call #: HV97 A3 F65 2009

Foundation Center Trainings in Chicago this May

SPECIAL DISCOUNT FOR MULTIPLE REGISTRATIONS
SAVE $25 for each additional registrationPlease note: additional registrations must be made at the same time.

Proposal Writing SeminarTuesday, May 12
For every grantseeker who wants to learn how to write proposals geared to foundations, and for experienced grantseekers who are initiating a foundation fundraising campaign.
When the going gets tough, successful grantseekers strengthen their proposal writing skills. Our most popular seminar reveals what today's grantmakers look for, and provides insight into their review process. Expert instructors show how to craft a breakthrough proposal package, step by step.

TOPICS
* Cover letter, executive summary; your message to the grantmaker
* Statement of need; choosing data to support your case
* Comprehensive project descriptions; your proof of project planning
* Organizational overview, conclusion, appendices
* Researching the funder to position your proposal
* The grantmaker's proposal review process

BONUSES
*Applicable for six continuing education points for CFRETM International initial or re certification
*Free copy of The Foundation Center's Guide to Proposal Writing, 5th Edition ($34.95 value)

REGISTER ONLINE $195
Scholarships available for small nonprofits
Applications must be submitted five business days prior to course date. The special discount for additional registrations does not apply to scholarship recipients.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Proposal Budgeting WorkshopWednesday, May 13
For proposal writers at all levels who want to learn the nuts and bolts of budget preparation to support their project proposals.
When funders cut back, the grantseeker's budget becomes even more crucial to a proposal's success. This workshop shows the best way to present your financial needs to secure funding. Using case studies, you will learn strategies to convince grantmakers that your program or project is a smart financial investment.

TOPICS
* Creating each component of the project budget
* Outlining the full cost of your project, including overhead
* Calculating personnel costs, fringe benefits, and non-personnel expenses
* Strategies for presenting income and other funding sources
* Incorporating footnotes to add clarity
* Using your organizational budget to help build the project budget
* Funder guidelines for budget presentation and reporting

BONUSES
Applicable for six continuing education points for CFRETM International initial or re-certification
REGISTER ONLINE $195

Scholarships available for small nonprofits
Applications must be submitted five business days prior to course date. The special discount for additional registrations does not apply to scholarship recipients.

Proposal Writing SeminarMay 12 Course fee: $195
Proposal Budgeting WorkshopMay 13 Course fee: $195

New Books

The Board Building Cycle : Nine Steps to Finding, Recruiting, and Engaging Nonprofit Board Members by Berit M. Lakey.

GIC Call #: HD2745 H84 2007

International Grantmaking IV : An Update on U.S. Foundation Trends by Josefina Atienza, et al.

GIC Call #: HV90 I58 2008

Local Mission Global Vision : Community Foundations in the 21st Century edited by Peter deCourcy Hero and Peter Walkenhorst.

GIC Call #: HN49.C6 L633 2008

Meet the Grantmaker Panel a Great Success!

On Friday, March 6, 2009, the Grants Information Collection held a free, public event attended by 55+ individuals from across South-central Wisconsin.

Beginning at 12 noon, we enjoyed a "Conversation with Local Grantmakers" who spoke about the focus of their organization's giving, how they prefer to be approached, what they like to see in submitted grant applications, as well as a few words on how the current economic situation is affecting their foundation's giving. Ann Flynn, Executive Director of Theodore W. Batterman Family Foundation; Marthea A. Fox, Executive Director of Alliant Energy Foundation; and Tom Linfield, Vice President, Grantmaking and Community Initiatives at Madison Community Foundation all had wonderful advice to share.

Then from 1:30pm–2:30pm, Kief Schladweiler from the Foundation Center's New York office gave a presentation entitled, "What's New with Foundation Directory Online Professional: An overview of the Center's web site with a focus on many recent FDO enhancements."

To learn more about our future educational opportunities, please visit our workshop schedule.

New: E-Books in the GIC!

Now available at the GIC: Foundation Center Grant Guides in pdf format!

The Foundation Center has expanded upon is popular Grant Guide series, with additional subject coverage and a new "digital" (pdf) format. Each Guide provides you with descriptions of hundreds—often thousands—of recent foundation grants of $10,000 or more, with convenient hyperlinks to essential funder information to help you identify prospects and get the grants you need.

The following titles are available for free on-site at Memorial Library in the Grants Information Collection. They are also available for purchase on the Foundation Center Web site.

Grants for Capacity Building, Management & Technical Assistance
Grants for Community & Economic Development
Grants for Housing
Grants for Information Technology
Grants for Medical Research
Grants for Public Health
Grants for Religion

So, come on in and take a look!

Free Training Opportunity: "Meet the Grantmaker" and more!

The GIC is happy to host an exciting, informational afternoon event on Friday, March 6, 2009.


Please join us for two sessions: "Conversation with Local Grantmakers" and "What's New with Foundation Directory Online Professional."

Time: 12 noon to 2:30 p.m.
Location: Memorial Library, Rm 126,
728 State St., Madison, WI 53706


Conversation with Local Grantmakers
Join us for a lunch discussion with local grantmakers that will provide helpful hints and insights into their grantmaking activities. They will detail how their organization prefers to be approached by grantseekers, and what they like (and do not like) to see in submitted proposals. They will also share a few words on how they see the current economic situation affecting their grantmaking.

Panelist include:

• Ann J. Flynn, Executive Director of the Theodore W. Batterman Family Foundation;
• Marthea A. Fox, Executive Director of the Alliant Energy Foundation; and
• Tom M. Linfield, Vice President, Grantmaking & Community Initiatives at Madison Community Foundation.

What's New with Foundation Directory Online Professional
This session provides an introduction to the Foundation Center's comprehensive database, Foundation Directory Online Professional. Learn how to create customized searches to develop targeted lists of foundations that will match your organization's funding needs. Free use of this database is available in the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Memorial Library.

Registration is required, so please sign up at http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/training/free/cc_wi2009.html.

FC Resources for the Economic Crisis

The Foundation Center has recently launched a new set of web pages which provide resources on philanthropy and the current economic crisis. Check it out at: http://foundationcenter.org/focus/economy/

This just in: Grants for Mental Health, Addictions & Crisis Services

We've just gotten in our new copy of the Foundation Center's 2008 Grant Guide (#8), Grants for Mental Health, Addictions & Crisis Services!

So come and take a look! It's on the Grants Information Collection's (GIC) shelves at the following call number: RA790 A1 G73 v. 2008.

FC Proposal Writing Seminar Coming to Madison in September!

Wednesday, September 24 in Madison
Foundation Center Proposal Writing Seminar

For every grantseeker who wants to learn how to write proposals geared to foundations, and for experienced grantseekers who are initiating a foundation fundraising campaign.

More than 36,000 grantseekers have strengthened their skills with our most popular seminar. Expert instructors will teach you to craft a comprehensive, compelling proposal package—step by step. You'll hear what grantmakers have to say about proposals, and gain valuable insight into the review process.

“To hear what grantmakers have actually said about proposals made this course even more instructive. I'd recommend it to any serious fundraiser.”
– Fundraising Consultant, Philadelphia

BENEFITS
Gain the competitive edge with a well-crafted proposal package
Learn the best way to present your information
Humanize your story to present a compelling picture
Convince funders to become part of your success and stay committed

TOPICS
Cover letter, executive summary; your message to the grantmaker
Statement of need; choosing data to support your case
Comprehensive project descriptions; your proof of project planning
Organizational overview, conclusion, appendices
Researching the funder to position your proposal
The grantmaker's proposal review process

BONUSES
Applicable for six continuing education points for CFRE International initial or recertification
Free copy of The Foundation Center's Guide to Proposal Writing, 5th Edition (a $34.95 value)
Workbook outlining all major course topics

INSTRUCTOR JANE GEEVER
Founder of J.C. Geever, Inc., the first woman-led fundraising company admitted into membership in the American Association of Fund Raising Counsel (AAFRC), Jane is the author of The Foundation Center's Guide to Proposal Writing, now in its 5th edition. She lectures nationwide on subjects related to grantsmanship, volunteerism, and philanthropy.

Course date: Wednesday, September 24 in Madison
Registration fee: $195 REGISTER ONLINE

New Books in the Collection

Grant$ for Environmental Protection and Animal Welfare, published by the Foundation Center of New York.

GIC Call #: AS911 A2 F6944
Memorial Library Rm 262 D/E






Every Nonprofit's Guide to Publishing: Creating Newsletters, Magazines & Websites People Will Read, by Cheryl Woodard and Lucia Hwang.

GIC Call #: HD62.6 W66 2007
Memorial Library Rm 262 D/E

Free Foundation Center Webinars!

These one-hour webinars, led by Foundation Center staff experts, cover essential topics for nonprofit grantseekers, such as introduction to fundraising planning, finding funders (with Foundation Directory Online), and grantseeking basics.

View the three-month calendar of webinars, and then click on any date to get a full description and/or to register online!

Free Audiobook Available Online!

The Foundation Center's Guide to Proposal Writing, 5th edition, by Jane Geever.

"In partnership with the New York unit of Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D), the Foundation Center is making available free of charge a new audio version of the most popular book in [their] Fundraising and Nonprofit Management Series.

"This is the first time the Center has issued a product in audio format. The entire book is included with alternate chapters having been recorded by two New York volunteers from RFB&D.

"For your convenience the audio version is divided into tracks corresponding to chapters in the book. You can listen to just the chapters that interest you or download the book as a single mp3 file" (http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/learnabout/audiobook.html).

New Video in the Grants Information Collection

A Symposium on the Future of Philanthropy: A Conversation with Five Leaders in the Field, a video, is now available in the Grants Information Collection (GIC), Rm 262D/E in Memorial Library.

The symposium, sponsored by the Foundation Center, took place on November 9, 2006. The DVD of the event, which does not circulate, may be viewed on-site using any of the computers in the GIC.

Call Number: HV91 S96 2007

FC Proposal Writing Seminars in Chicago

FYI: Excellent for fee seminars on proposal writing are coming to Chicago this month:


SAVE ON MULTIPLE REGISTRATIONS
SPECIAL DISCOUNTSAVE $25 for each additional personSAVE $25 for each additional coursePlease note: additional registrations must be made at the same time.

Proposal Writing Seminar
Thursday, March 27

For every grantseeker who wants to learn how to write proposals geared to foundations, and for experienced proposal writers who are initiating a foundation fundraising campaign.More than 36,000 grantseekers have strengthened their skills with our most popular seminar, now in its 15th year. Expert instructors will teach you to craft a comprehensive, compelling proposal package—step by step. You'll hear what grantmakers have to say about proposals, and gain valuable insight into the review process.

BENEFITS
Gain the competitive edge with a well-crafted proposal package
Learn the best way to present your information
Humanize your story to present a compelling picture
Convince funders to become part of your success and stay committed

TOPICS
Cover letter, executive summary; your message to the grantmaker
Statement of need; choosing data to support your case
Comprehensive project descriptions; your proof of project planning
Organizational overview, conclusion, appendices
Grantmaker contacts; cultivating your best advocates
Researching the funder to position your proposal
The grantmaker's proposal review process

BONUSES
Free copy of The Foundation Center's Guide to Proposal Writing, 5th Edition (a $34.95 value)
Workbook outlining all major course topics

Course date: March 27 in Chicago
Registration fee: $195 View full course description & register


Proposal Budgeting Workshop
Friday, March 28

For proposal writers at all levels who want to learn the nuts and bolts of budget preparation to support their project proposals.A sound, well-organized budget can help convince prospective funders that your project is worthy of their financial investment. This course will teach you to build a budget step-by-step to provide a complete picture of your financial needs. Using real-world case studies, you will learn to think more strategically to strengthen your budget presentation.

BENEFITS
Tell your story through the budget numbers
Present budgets according to grantmaker guidelines
Align your budget with project objectives

TOPICS
Creating each component of the project budget
Outlining the full cost of your project, including overhead
Calculating personnel costs, fringe benefits, and non-personnel expenses
Strategies for presenting income and other funding sources
Incorporating footnotes to add clarity
Using your organizational budget to help build the project budget
Funder guidelines for budget presentation and reporting

BONUSES
Workbook outlining all major course topics
Templates for budget worksheets used in the course
Course date: March 28Registration fee: $195 View full course description & register
INSTRUCTOR MARILYN HOYT Currently president and COO at the New York Hall of Science, Marilyn consults with a wide variety of nonprofits for J.C.Geever, Inc., and has spent 12 years as a grantmaker for the Westchester Arts Council. She authored the foreword for The Foundation Center’s Guide to Winning Proposals.
REGISTER NOW!

Proposal Writing SeminarMarch 27

Proposal Budgeting WorkshopMarch 28

FC Proposal Writing Seminar in Milwaukee

FYI: An excellent for fee seminar on proposal writing is coming to Milwaukee on Nov. 13:

Proposal Writing Seminar

Course date: November 13 in Milwaukee

For every grantseeker who wants to learn how to write proposals geared to foundations, and for experienced proposal writers who are initiating a foundation fundraising campaign.
More than 35,000 grantseekers have strengthened their skills with this popular seminar, now in its 15th year. Our expert instructors will teach you to craft a comprehensive, compelling proposal package—step by step. You'll hear what funders themselves have to say about proposals, and gain valuable insight into the review process.

“To hear what grantmakers have actually said about proposals made this course even more instructive. I'd recommend it to any serious fundraiser.”
– Fundraising Consultant, Philadelphia

BENEFITS
Gain the competitive edge with a well-crafted proposal package
Learn the best way to present your information
Humanize your story to present a compelling picture
Convince funders to become part of your success and stay committed

TOPICS
Cover letter, executive summary; your message to the grantmaker
Statement of need; choosing data to support your case
Comprehensive project descriptions; your proof of project planning
Organizational overview, conclusion, appendices
Grantmaker contacts; cultivating your best advocates
Researching the funder to position your proposal
The grantmaker’s proposal review process

BONUSES
Free copy of The Foundation Center’s Guide to Proposal Writing, new 5th Edition ($34.95 value)
Workbook outlining all major course topics

INSTRUCTOR JANE GEEVERFounder of J.C. Geever, Inc., the first woman-led fundraising company admitted into membership in the American Association of Fund Raising Counsel (AAFRC), Jane is the author of The Foundation Center's Guide to Proposal Writing, now in its 5th edition. She lectures nationwide on subjects related to grantsmanship, volunteerism, and philanthropy.

Registration fee: $195

REGISTER ONLINE

Motivate and empowereveryone on your team.

SPECIAL DISCOUNT
SAVE $25 for each additional personSAVE $25 for each additional course
Please note: additional registrations must be made at the same time.

New Book: The Foundation Center's Guide to Proposal Writing, 5th ed.

This just in: The Foundation Center's Guide to Proposal Writing, 5th Edition has just arrived at Memorial Library's Grants Information Collection.

Older editions will be moving shortly into the "Regular-Size Shelving" -- meaning they will be available for check out. Please see MadCat Library Catalog for call number and exact location within Memorial Library.

So, come on in and see what the fuss is about!