When getting started writing grants, the whole idea can seem very overwhelming. There’s all kinds of coded language, weird requests, and (sometimes) a standoffish feeling from funders. Asking for money is not something that comes naturally to everyone. Luckily, there’s a few key tips that will get any grant writer off on the right foot.

When my son was about seven years old, he asked me how long I was in college. When I told him eight years, he was astonished. “I can’t believe you went to college for eight years to be a volunteer!”

I was working at Volunteers of America at the time, and I got a great chuckle at his confusion. He didn’t understand that I got paid to do a job. But this interaction highlights a real conflict in the world of nonprofit – the undervaluing of nonprofit staff.  Following are the biggest mistakes that nonprofits make when determining pay for employees:

We often hear that working with event committees is too much work and they don’t really do much to support the event anyway. This frustration, while common, is usually a result of not knowing how to fully maximize the potential of a volunteer committee. Here are some tips that will help you be more successful in working with committees.

I started my career as a special event fundraiser and I have a very firm belief that fundraising events serve a valuable role in the world of fundraising, but only if implemented WISEly. Many nonprofit professionals hate fundraising events and it is usually because of one or more of these reasons…

“I Can’t Ask My Friends to Give” Have you said this before? Me, too.

Sometimes it sounds more like, “I am protective of my friendships.” Or, “If I ask my friends to give, then they will do the same and we’ll just be swapping donations.” [Insert other excuses about why you can’t introduce your giving opportunity to your friends here.]

Grants can be catalytic funding for a nonprofit. This type of funding can help you get the capacity you need for significant growth, launch a new program, hire staff, or take your agency to a new level of mission work. If you are trying to determine if your organization is ready for grant solicitation, consider these six important questions.

I’m glad you’ve chosen to learn more about working with Wise Resource Development. I founded Wise six years ago out of the belief that I could make a greater impact as a consultant. To explain, let me take you back 30 years to the Westminster Manor apartments in Arvada, Colorado…