Your Next Inspiration - Table of Contents
Introduction
PART ONE: FUNDRAISING IDEAS
Looking For and Finding Inspiration
Reaching New Audiences
The Taste Project
Carter BloodCare
Steps to Increased Giving
United Way of Tarrant County
Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
Overarching Strategy — Broaden Support Base
Schools Can Teach Everyone
Tanglewood Elementary
Fort Worth Zoological Association
Fort Worth Academy
Fort Worth Country Day
Peer Pressure Works
Rotary Club of Fort Worth
Jewel Charity Ball
Creative Challenges
Presbyterian Night Shelter
United Community Centers
Child Protection Connection
Helping Organizations Help Themselves
Introduction
Catholic Charities Fort Worth
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
Texas Ballet Theatre
Metroport Meals on Wheels
Presbyterian Night Shelter
Amplify
Center for Transforming Lives
Helping Restore Ability
Hillsdale College
Incentivize Others to Give
Hillsdale College
Project HandUp
Silent Match
Overview
Jewel Charity
Junior Achievement of the Chisholm Trail
Make-a-Wish Foundation North Texas
STAR Sponsorship Program
The WARM Place
Trinity Habitat for Humanity
Finding a Way to Help
Community Storehouse
Center for Transforming Lives
Child Study Center
Southwest Christian School
Tarrant Area Food Bank
St. Philip’s School and Community Center
Now For Something Different
Introduction
Cancer Care Services
Grapevine Relief and Community Exchange
Dental Health Arlington
Project Access Tarrant County
Southwestern University
Gladney Center for Adoption
Young Women’s Leadership Academy
Fire Station Community Center
Capital Campaigns
Overview
Overview (Part 2) — Early, Middle, End
Break into pieces — Tarrant Area Food Bank
Break into pieces — Dream Park
Break into pieces — The University of Texas at Austin
Model Home — ACH Child and Family Services
Model Center — United Community Centers
Phase 1A — Participation in planning — Fort Worth Country Day
Phase 1A — Strategic participation — Trinity Valley School
Preliminary funding to confirm location — Catholic Charities Fort Worth
Encourage others to do more — ACH Child and Family Services
Philosophy on recognition
Incentivizing others to get off the sidelines
Matching grant philosophy
Bringing others along — All Saints Episcopal School
Bringing others along (unicorn ending) — Trinity Christian Academy
Broaden participation — Performing Arts Fort Worth
10% solution for Phase Two completion — Performing Arts/Maddox-Muse Center
Early and late — Alliance for Children
Everybody has a role — Texas Christian University
Fallback plan and partnering — James L. West Center for Dementia Care
Peripheral projects — Texas Christian University
Peripheral projects — University of North Texas
Health Science Center
Incentivize other types of funding partners — JPS Health Network
Bring natural partners together — Arlington ISD and
Boys and Girls Clubs of Arlington
Support from funders outside the local area
Prove yourself before trying to have a capital campaign — Recovery Resource Council
Help them help themselves — Community Enrichment Center
Helping others after they prove themselves — Trinity Habitat for Humanity
Philosophy on Endowments
Introduction
Endowment funding strategy — Parallel participation — YWCA
Endowment funding strategy — Substitute funding offer — Child Study Center
Endowment funding strategy — First this, then endow — First Tee — Fort Worth
Endowment funding strategy — The easiest ways
Final Thoughts on Capital Campaigns
The 99-cent rule still applies
Consistency
Other Effective Ideas I Have Seen But Take No Credit For
Social Media — Trinity Habitat for Humanity
Social Media — Presbyterian Night Shelter
Provide something people value — Dallas Theological Seminary
Know your audience — Union Gospel Mission
Know your audience — Meals on Wheels of Greater Tarrant County
Know your audience — Final thought
Unique events — Circle of Friends
Unique events — Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
Unique events — The WARM Place
Voting with dollars — Stage West
Voting with dollars — Boys and Girls Clubs of Arlington
Different ways to raise support — Susan G. Komen Greater Fort Worth
Different ways to raise support — Boy Scouts of America Longhorn Council
Seeing firsthand — Cook Children’s Medical Center
Everybody wins!
Raise money the old-fashioned way
Conclusion
Six R’s of Effective Fundraising
Final inspiration
PART TWO: GRANTMAKING IDEAS
Grantmaking Thoughts to Consider
Introduction
Venn diagrams should be applied to philanthropy
Some adages do remain true
What do I expect from myself as a grantmaker?
Reputation and knowing what others think about an organization
References are important
Coordinate efforts to maximize impact
Free things are often not valued
Compete for funding to feel awarded, not entitled
Participation encourages success
Every grant sets an example
Rightsizing a grant for perception
Understanding the challenges to helping others
Testing the water
Feasibility studies serve numerous purposes
Providing a safety net can encourage more creative thinking
Safety net 2.0 with an unexpected lesson learned
A different kind of safety net — Bridge funding
One more safety net strategy — Loan repayment
Supporting fundraising events
Small grants can make a world of difference
Pilot programs
What is on the menu?
Communication among funders is a good thing
Funders do not always know best
Grantmakers need to keep current
Solve a problem by dividing it up
Two things I think about all the time
Two more things I think about on the other end of the spectrum
Depth of organization talent should be a factor
Four reasons for giving
Geography is often overlooked
Dilemmas and decisions
Understanding an audience you might not be familiar with
Understanding a target audience
Pro bono is not always a good thing
Do not overlook your network of contacts
Be careful with feedback
Try not to be paranoid, but others are watching what you fund
Sometimes anonymous works, and sometimes it does not
Grantmakers have responsibilities
Hard to dial back support from a higher level
Determine areas of interest
Having a narrow focus does not ensure fewer requests
In-person visits always identify other issues
Value of site visits
Thought on standardized applications
Pros and cons of grantmaking meeting schedules
Multi-year commitments
Encumbering future-year grant budgets
Peanut butter approach
Capacity building
Community foundations are wonderful partners
Defining success
Examples of strategic situations to consider
Other Types of Grant Ideas for Consideration
Education
Health and Medicine
Humanities and Arts
Social Services
Other
Frequently Asked Questions
What expectations do you have of yourself as a grantmaker?
What are hallmarks of effective nonprofit organizations?
What factors do you consider when evaluating a grant request?
Can a grant ever be harmful?
What different funding strategies do you use?
What are three things you look for to analyze the
effectiveness of an organization?
When is it a good idea to fund general operations?
Should a nonprofit ever admit failure?
If I only have the same amount of funds to give away each year, how can I do a better job?
As a grantmaker, if you were in a nonprofit’s shoes, what issues would drive you crazy?
What are some warning signs a grant is not warranted at this time?
Not everything you have funded has worked.
What mistakes have you made?
A Lesson Learned the Hard Way
Amon Carter Foundation Approach
Discussion Meeting
Preparation for Board Meeting
Board Packet
Board Meeting
Summarized
Conclusion — 6R’s of Effective Grantmaking
R.F.I. — Request for Inspiration