My New Favorite Grants Book!

Grant Writing 101:  Everything You Need to Start Raising Funds Today by Victoria M. Johnson really is my new favorite book on grants and fundraising in the broadest sense.

It's not unusual for me to be asked to review books on grantseeking or other issues related to nonprofits - either by authors themselves or by their publishers - but what is unusual is for me to be totally head over heels for one of these works.  I even plan on giving this book as a gift to friends and colleagues in need!

And here's why:

Johnson's guide is an on-point, need-to-know arsenal for those seeking funding.  No time is wasted in obtuse theory or historical ramblings; this book is aimed at those eager to jump right in and grab their fundraising reins.

The author rightly insists that one must know one's organization, its program(s), and the purpose of the funding sought before researching potential funding partners or putting pen to paper to write a grant proposal.  Why?  Because if you don't know what you're looking for, how can you find it?

Johnson translates the multitude of "types of support" variously referred to in grantmaker literature into seven purpose-driven categories--to which novices and gurus alike can relate.  Types of grantmakers are similarly organized into nine flavors, briefly defined, that serve to quickly orient one to the world of funding sources.

With this basic groundwork in place, Johnson then turns to the different questions one must answer with each of the various parts of a proposal.  In-text examples of do's, don'ts, sample wording, and even budget layouts are blocked and highlighted to catch the reader's attention at the point of need during the reading and writing process. 

But, no, she doesn't stop there, the author graciously and wisely prompts the reader not to stop once a proposal has been submitted, but instead use the opportunity to prepare for one's future fundraising needs.  For instance:  How might a grantseeker appropriately communicate with potential funders before and after submitting a grant?  What does a grant matrix look like and why do you need one?  What does an extremely short grant application look like--or an incredibly thorough one?  Different grantmakers will be looking for different formats.  Johnson helpfully closes her book with a variety of sample proposals and a resource list for further learning.


I never thought I'd say this, but if I could only recommend one grant book and one only--this would be it.  For now J

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

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.

New Book on Scholarship Essays in GIC

How to Write a Winning Scholarship Essay: 30 Essays That Won Over $3 Million in Scholarships by Gen and Kelly Tanabe.

GIC Call #: LB2338 T36 2006

New in the GIC: Making a Difference in Africa

Making a Difference in Africa: Advice from Experienced Grantmakers by Rob Buchanan and Jayne Booker.

This book from the Council on Foundations and the Africa Grantmakers' Affinity Group is a true gem! It includes plenty of advice from those with real-world grantmaking experience in Africa, regional information, as well as more general considerations.

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).

(My Favorite) New Book

Proposals That Work: A Guide for Planning Dissertations and Grant Proposals, 5th ed. by Lawrence F. Locke, Waneen Wyrick Spirduso, and Stephen J. Silverman.

This, our most recent addition to the Grants Information Collection, is hands-down my favorite new book this year!

A practical, easy to read guide to funding your research--graduate, post-doc, or other--Proposals that Work guides you through the entire planning process from beginning to successful end. Whether you are conducting qualitative or quantitative research, regardless of your academic discipline, or even whether you're pursuing private or public funding, this book will be of use to you.

You can find it in Memorial Library's Grants Information Collection, Rm 262 D/E at call number Q180.55 P7 L63 2007.

First Book Purchased by Friends Grant Arrives

Back in May, GIC news announced that the Grants Information Collection had just, "received a $600 grant from the Friends of the UW-Madison Library to be used for purchase of print materials."

Well, things can sometimes move slowly in Library Land, but the good news is that we have just received our first purchase from the Friends Grant Funds! Yeah!

And the winner is: Grant Seeker's Budget Toolkit, published by Wiley, 2001. Here you'll find "step-by-step guidance, insider tips, and all the tools you need to create budget s and financial plans..." It also includes a CD Rom with forms, spreadsheets and checklists, which visitors may use on-site in the Grants Information Collection room, 262 D/E of Memorial Library.

Please feel free to stop by and try it out!

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!