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The Fund Raising Landscape:. Collective Opportunity in Collaboration. Reasons to Rejoice. Funders usually like To impact large numbers. To impact large geographic areas. To interact with few people.
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The Fund Raising Landscape: Collective Opportunity in Collaboration
Reasons to Rejoice Funders usually like • To impact large numbers. • To impact large geographic areas. • To interact with few people. • To know that the organizations administering their grants have the internal capacity to do a good job of administrative oversight without a lot of indirect costs.
More Reasons to Rejoice Consortia member usually like • To get information about their institution in front of potential funders. • To give faculty and staff opportunities for interaction with colleagues at other institutions.
Reasons for Concern Consortia members often do not like • Competition. • Collaboration that might require sacrifice by individual institutions for the benefit of the whole. • Sharing budgets and other such information. • Helping other organizations build financial security.
Identifying Potential Funders • Ask other consortia directors for recommendations. • Once you receive funding from one source, ask that source for other recommendations. • Partner with the development office of one of the member colleges for assistance researching potential funders. • Look for big foundations with few staff; their grants are usually large ones.
Approaching Potential Funders • Attend conferences where funders are presenting and “accidentally” sit at the table where they may be eating, get on the elevator when they do, etc. • Call and ask for a short visit when you “plan to be in the area.” • Go by their offices when you are in their areas—even without an invitation; getting to know receptionists can help get you an invitation for a formal meeting.
Preparing Proposals • Recognize that every funding agency has unique features; there is no one format that fits all. • Get copies of proposals that were funded. • Be positive: Say “We will....” instead of “We would....” • Promise only what you can deliver; plan to deliver more.
Preparing Proposals - Continued • Make each proposal unique; don’t follow a format unless one is required by guidelines. • Make outcomes concrete and measurable. • Proofread carefully. • Send drafts well ahead of deadlines if program officers agree to review them.
Administering Grants Received • Make clear the responsibilities for project directors and evaluate them frequently. • Send notes to funders when particularly successful events occur. • Send all required reports on time—or early. • If possible have “outside” evaluators measure the success of the project. • Make clear the “unintended benefits” of the project.
Possible Projects for Consortia • Faculty Development (Conferences, Fellowships, etc.) • Staff Development and Training • Student Training (such as in Technical Support Services) • Central Purchasing (for example, Library Resources) • Central Management of Technology (such as Servers) • Central Services for Maintenance of Equipment
Possible Consortia Projects - Continued • Shared Courses • International Studies Programs • Service Learning • Honors Programs • Research (Faculty and/or Student Projects; Institutional Research) • Scholarships and Internships • Assessment Efforts • Economic Development for Local Communities
A Selection of Funding Agencies that Support Consortia • Andrew W. Mellon • Teagle (gives priority to consortia) • National Science Foundation • National Endowment for the Humanities • National Endowment for the Arts • Department of Commerce • Department of Education (such as FIPSE)
More Foundations • Jessie Ball duPont (if project is administered through one of their selected institutions) • Spencer (for research projects) • Hearst • Surdna • Charitable Foundations for Banks • New York Community Trust • Kenan Foundation • Council on Library and Resources Services • Kresge (through Excelencia)
Sustaining Relationships • Send annual reports and/or notes to funders about the on-going successes of various projects even after funding has ended. • Invite program officers to consortia events (conferences, board meetings, etc.). • Develop special events for program officers (such as tours to various project sites). • Be sure to include the program officer (as well as the president of a foundation or federal agency) in all invitations.
Future Trends:What Funders Are Talking About • Teagle—Moral and Social Development • Hearst—Equipment and Scholarships (instead of Endowments) • Luce—Increasing Understanding of China; Role of Religion in American Life; Leadership of Women in Science • General Topics: How MOOCs Will Change Teaching How Small Private Colleges with Small Endowments Can Survive
What Funders Want to See in a Proposal • A fit between their priorities and your project • Scale that will make the impact significant • Quality of leadership and work plan • Institutional commitment (as evidenced in strategic plan) • A plan for sustainability • Evidence of good management in previous grants • Jargon-free, good writing • Honesty and candor *Notes from CASE Conference, June 2012
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