by manyhighways
As DFLers and Governor Tim Pawlenty sit down with the press to put their own take on what was an acrimonious budget battle (Star Tribune, May 19, 2009), one thing is clear–there’s going to be less to go around next year.
The budget will put more pressure on nonprofits to perform with less as demand for services go up. Due to limited resources, philanthropy is unable to fill the gap. Forty percent of Minnesota grantmakers expect cuts in their giving during 2009, according to our 2009 Outlook Report.
As nonprofits compete for a shrinking pot of resources, nonprofit leaders are looking for strategies and tools to compete more effectively.
Fortunately there are opportunities out there for those looking to improve their grantseeking capabilities. At MCF we are proud to offer some tools and seminars that we think can make a positive impact on the grantseeking abilities of nonprofits during these troubled times.
Selected from our popular grantseeking courses and materials, this page on grantseeking basics gives a general overview of the grantseeking process. Those interested in learning more about effective grantseeking should consider attending one of two upcoming Grantseeking for Beginners Seminars that MCF has to offer.
The first seminar will be June 19 in Willmar and the second on September 10 in St. Paul. Attendees will learn best practices for developing grant proposals, and about the review process from the perspective of a panel of grantmakers.
In addition to these learning opportunities, MCF has an online database called Minnesota Grantmakers Online (MGO). With information on over 1,400 funding organizations and 100,000 grants, MGO is the most comprehensive database on Minnesota foundations and corporate grantmakers available, and has helped subscribers locate grant opportunities more quickly and effectively.
If you’re working at a nonprofit, we want to hear from you. What resources, both online and off, have helped you become a more effective grantseeker? What strategies are you adopting in response to the economy and the anticipated Minnesota budget cuts?
