Why is it that some organizations are blessed with the Midas touch…winning grant dollars to help with their sustainability all the time while others miss the mark repeatedly. If your organization would like to find the key to effective grant writing, the team at SCORE of Southwest Michigan is ready to help.
Understanding the key components of writing an effective grant will be the focus of an upcoming workshop organized by SCORE, and slated to be held at Berrien RESA located at 711 St Joseph Avenue in Room D in Berrien Springs on Wednesday, April 10 from 5:30 to 8 pm.
The session will be led by Lisa Cripps-Downey, President, and Susan Matheny, Program Manager of the Berrien Community Foundation and they will share important tips on:
- Developing and communicating to your funders a Case for Giving…
- Becoming Grant Ready…
- Understanding the RFP Process from the funder’s perspective, including the evaluation process, the proposal letter, and donor recognition…
Lisa Cripps-Downey, President, leads a team of professional staff members who carry out activities on behalf of local communities to achieve the Foundation’s mission to enhance the quality of life and build a spirit of community in Berrien County. She brings more than 20 years of experience in various positions at non-profit and for-profit organizations. Lisa holds a BA in Communication and Political Science, with a minor in Spanish, from the University of Michigan. She is active as a volunteer with the Twin City Players, Girls on the Run, St. Joseph Public Schools, and a soccer, softball, theater, robotics and band mom for her two active kids. Lisa focuses on fund development, donor services, community leadership, finance/investments, and media relations. She is also responsible for overall operations and supervises the grant/scholarship/T.E.A.M. areas.
Susan Matheny brings a successful career in fundraising and grant-writing for several non-profits, including United Way of Southwest Michigan before joining the Berrien Community Foundation as the Program Manager. She holds a B.S. from Sienna Heights University. Many people also know Susan from her work directing local youth and adult theater and directing for the Lake Michigan College Theater Department. Susan’s many responsibilities at the Foundation include the administration of Grants and Scholarships, and acting as the T.E.A.M. Director.
Deciding on who to ask for funding is an important decision every nonprofit organization must repeatedly make over the course of its lifespan. More importantly, understanding the do’s & don’ts of grant writing often determines whether the organization will be successful when they make the financial request for support. This is an excellent workshop for those who are new to grant writing or those who want to refresh their skills.
Those interested in attending this workshop may register at the link below.
The fee for this workshop, which includes all workshop materials, is $25 per registrant. Credit card payment is accepted online only.
SCORE is also offering additional non-profit workshops coming soon, including:
- “The Essential Tools for Building a Stronger Nonprofit Board” – Sat, March 23 – 9:00am-12:00pm -Cornerstone Alliance, Benton Harbor – Register here: https://conta.cc/2GjJ0Ck
- “Successfully Recruiting and Engaging Volunteers” – Sat, April 20, 9:00am – 12:00pm – Cornerstone Alliance, Benton Harbor – Register here: https://conta.cc/2IcaAmW
- “Nonprofit Marketing,” Saturday, May 11⋅9:30am – 12:00pm – Cornerstone Alliance, Benton Harbor – Registration info is coming soon.
SCORE offers free business counseling and advice to any business in any stage of development from startup to mature. For membership or local mentoring services, contact the local SCORE offices at info@scorekazoo.org or call (269) 344-1419.
