Philanthropy Front and Center-Cleveland

This Week at the Foundation Center (Sept 28 - Oct 2)

Classes:

Tuesday, September 29:
Full-day seminar! Foundation Fundraising: An Introductory Course, 9:00am-4:00pm.
The current economic crisis has noticeably affected charitable contributions. The standard approach to foundations requires rethinking. This course helps you understand grantmaking objectives of independent, corporate, and community foundations, know how to identify prospects, and gain confidence in securing their support. For nonprofits that are new to foundation fundraising.

Wednesday, September 30:
Grantseeking Basics for International Organizations, 10:00-11:30am.
For beginners, this introductory class provides an overview of the grantseeking process for representatives of foreign NGOs and U.S.-based nonprofits with international programs. We will cover legal aspects of U.S. foundation giving overseas, the types of funders working internationally and the steps involved in foundation research. The formal presentation is followed by a tour of the library, highlighting our resources on international philanthropy.

Thursday, October 1:
Grantseeking Basics, 10:00am-11:30am.
Learn how the Center's resources can help you become a more effective grantseeker!

How to Approach a Foundation, 12:30-1:30pm.
This class, intended for fundraisers with some experience under their belts, will teach you how to initiate contact with potential funders, plan calls and meetings, prepare for site visits, and build partnerships with donors.

Special Saturday class! Finding Foundation Support for Your Education with an Introduction to Foundation Grants to Individuals Online, 1:00-4:00pm.
Join us at our Cooperating Collection at the Cleveland Public Library for a class on obtaining financial aid for your studies. 

Library Hours:
Monday: 12:00-4:00pm
Tuesday: 9:30am-4:30pm
Wednesday: 12:00-4:00pm
Thursday: 9:30am-4:30pm
Friday: 12:00-4:00pm

This Week at the Foundation Center (Sept 21-25)

Classes:

Our learning center will be busy all week with the Foundation Center's Grantseeker Training Institute. We have a full house, so, if you aren't attending the Institute in Cleveland, you should consider signing up for another one being offered this fall at one of our other locations! 

Library Hours:
Monday: 12:00-4:00pm
Tuesday: 9:30am-4:30pm
Wednesday: 12:00-4:00pm
Thursday: 9:30am-4:30pm
Friday: 12:00-4:00pm

Watch! October is Funding for Arts Month

Free Events:

Wednesday, October 7:
Grantseeking Basics for Individuals in the Arts at our Cooperating Collection at the Akron-Summit County Public Library, 10:00am-12:00pm.
For you if you are an individual involved in the arts and looking for funding to complete a project, mount an exhibition, put on a performance, conduct research, or anything else arts-related.

Resource Market for the Creative Community, 4:00-6:00pm.
Attend our “trade fair” and meet “vendors” that offer resources and services for artists, writers, and others in the creative community. Don't miss it!

"I Got Funded" Artist Panel, 6:15-7:30pm.
Meet and learn from several artists who have applied for and received grants, fellowships, awards, and prizes.

Friday, October 9:
Coffee and Conversation with a Grantmaker, 9:30-10:45am.
Meet Lillian Kuri, Program Director for Architecture, Urban Design and Sustainable Development, The Cleveland Foundation.

Wednesday, October 21:
Fundraising for Arts and Culture Organizations in a Challenging Economy, 1:00-2:15pm.
Gain a basic overview of what you can do to survive, thrive, and succeed in sustaining your nonprofit during the current economic recession.

Fund Development Pulse Check: How Are Arts and Culture Organizations Doing? 2:30-3:30pm.
Learn about seeking financial support in today's economic environment from the experiences of leading development professionals from arts and culture organizations in Northeast Ohio.

Friday, October, 23:
Community Arts Organizations of the Future, 10:00am-12:00pm.
Explore today's pressing issues affecting community-based arts and culture organizations: funding, leadership capacity, community, and sustainability.

October 30:
Webinar! Funding Trends in Arts and Culture, 3:00-4:15pm.
Join us from the comfort of your own office and learn about funding trends and the outlook for arts and culture from national experts in the field.  

This Week at the Foundation Center (September 14 - 18)

Tuesday, September 15:
Introduction to Fundraising Planning, 10:00 - 11:30 am.
Learn basic strategies for devising a plan reflecting your organization's needs and resources.

Your Board and Fundraising, 12:30 - 1:30 pm.
Learn how to actively engage your board in the fundraising process.

Wednesday, September 16:
Securing Corporate Partnerships, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm.
Learn how corporate donors differ from foundations, and where you can make inroads to gain their support and long-term commitment.

Library Hours:
Monday:  12:00 - 4:30 pm
Tuesday: 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Wednesday: 12:00 - 4:30 pm
Thursday: 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Friday: 12:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Special Discount on Grantseeker Training Courses

For a limited time, register for our three most popular grantseeker training courses and save $86 with any combination of cities and dates! Register for all three courses at the same time for only $499 (a $585 value).

Proposal Writing Seminar
Learn what today's grantmakers look for, and gain insight into their review process. Expert instructors show how to craft a breakthrough proposal package, step by step.
See upcoming dates and register >>

Proposal Budgeting Workshop
Learn the best way to present your financial needs to secure funding. Using case studies, you develop strategies to convince grantmakers that your project is a smart financial investment.
See upcoming dates and register >>

Cultivating Grantmaker Relationships
Learn how to make contact with new prospects, ensure the funder feels connected to your mission, and secure long-term commitment.
See upcoming dates and register >>

Each course is applicable for six CFRE^TM points for initial or re-certification. 

Program Series - Tackling Tough Times

The Foundation Center-Cleveland is presenting a series of free classes and special events during January 2009 aimed at helping small and mid-sized nonprofits get their organizations in shape for weathering the uncertain economy.

Brown Bag Lunch programs.
Tuesday, January 6, 12:00- 1:00 pm:
Creative Marketing for Nonprofits on a Budget. Join Paul Jarrett, the director of marketing and public relations for Opera Cleveland, as he shares his expertise and discusses ways for nonprofits to promote their services in tight financial times.

Tuesday, January 13, 11:30 am-1:00 pm:
Building a Strong Financial Infrastructure: Internal Controls 101. Learn about the building blocks of effective financial oversight from Tina Dzik of Cohen & Company Certified Public Accountants.

Thursday, January 22:
Introduction to Fundraising Planning, 10:00 am-12:00 pm.
Your Board and Fundraising, 1:00-2:30 pm. Our popular classes will be followed by Q&A sessions with Daniel Mansoor of GoodWorks Group who will answer your questions while sharing his fundraising and board development expertise.

Wednesday, January 28, 4:30-7:00 pm:
Resource Market. Top-tier professionals from a selected group of Northeast Ohio nonprofits will gather to share information about their organizations' services in a fun, trade fair atmosphere. Meet and greet (and eat!) while visiting 'vendor tables' and attending any of the following mini-sessions:

• 4:30-4:45: David Holmes, Foundation Center on foundation fundraising
• 5:00-5:15: Carol Carbary, Association of Fundraising Professionals on individual fundraising
• 5:20-5:35: Tom O'Brien, Neighborhood Connections on grassroots fundraising
• 5:40-5:55: Ann Kent, Business Volunteers Unlimited on nonprofit boards
• 6:00-6:15: Don Slocum, Neighborhood Leadership Institute on adovcating for your organization

From the Answer Desk: Prospect Research

(This post is from Katie Artzner, the Foundation Center's online reference specialist)

Q: Can you recommend a free tool for compiling information about prospective funders?

A: Yes! At the Foundation Center's web site, you can find Prospect Worksheets for both institutional and individual donors. These tools will help you to capture information about funders whose priorities match those of your organization.

Additionally, our FAQ "Where can I find information on cultivating donors?" provides links to resources and web sites that focus on prospect research generally. The Foundation Center also offers free, in-person classes to help you conduct more effective research: Introduction to Corporate Giving; Introduction to the Foundation Directory Online; and Prospect Research Basics: Researching Individual Donors.  You can also attend at no charge Introduction to Finding Funders via webinar. And our free tutorial Guide to Funding Research is always available.

Do you have a question? Ask Us!

We're sweating technology so you don't have to...

(David Holmes is regional training coordinator at the Foundation Center-Cleveland. This is his first post for Philanthropy Front and Center.)

"Wow! The Foundation Center is really cutting edge."

I heard this the other day when I was showing off our web site. This amazement really shouldn't be a surprise to those of you who use our web site because it really is amazing. But the phrase "cutting edge" gave me pause. Why? Because I was about to host a webinar, my first and the second for the Foundation Center-Cleveland. I needed to appear capable and confident as I whisked virtual participants seamlessly through applications and web sites, competently moderating, with just the right amount of witty banter sprinkled between presentations to keep everyone interested, like an old hand I'd be. All the while trying not to press the wrong button and disconnect everyone, or letting them see me sweat!

I was teetering on the brink of the cutting edge.

As it turns out, it was less sweat than I thought, a bit like stage crew. Sure, you have to stay focused. During the many rehearsals, I frequently disconnected simulated attendees, and inadvertently sent others to the wrong web pages. But by the time we were ready for our 30th anniversary program, I felt capable, less like a master of cutting edge technology than a competent lighting and sound technician. And honestly, I feel good about it. Webinars will be a key Foundation Center training format in the future. We've already begun offering our Grantseeking Basics class in this format, and additional classes and programs are coming soon. Keep an eye on our calendar and sign up! We're sweating technology so you don't have to.

--David Holmes