Secrets of Successful Grantsmanship

Susan Golden provides not just another book on proposal writing,but one which provides a realistic view of proposal writing withpractical step-by-step guidance towards success -- useful for bothnovice and experienced grantwriters.
?Patricia F. Lewis, ACFR, president and CEO, National Society ofFund Raising Executives

Drawing on more than 20 years of experience with more than 100organizations, Golden arms fundraisers with the grantsmanshipskills they need to successfully navigate the grantmaking process.From conducting effective prospect research and making initialconversations count to preparing, submitting, and following up ongrant proposals, Susan Golden offers a focused, step-by-step methodfor reliably achieving success in any fund raising activity. 1. Know Your Territory: The Basic Principles of GuerillaGrantsmanship.

2. Where the Money Is: Conducting Effective ProspectResearch.

3. Opening the Right Doors.

4. Making Your First Conversation Count.

5. "Send Me Something in Writing": Documents That GetResults.

6. Planning for a Successful Meeting (Before Submitting YourProposal).

7. Preparing and Submitting Your Grant Proposal.

8. Successful Meetings (After Submitting Your Proposal).

9. The Critical 25 Percent: Giving Your Request a CompetitiveEdge.

Conclusion: The Guerilla Grantseeker: Focused, Disciplined,Persistent.

Resource A: The Foundation Center Directory of Free FundingInformation Centers.

Resource B: Budget Preparation Guidelines. "Susan Golden provides not just another book on proposal writing,but one which provides a realistic view of proposal writing withpractical step-by-step guidance towards success -- useful for bothnovice and experienced grantwriters." (Patricia F. Lewis, ACFR,president and CEO, National Society of Fund RaisingExecutives)

"Secrets of Successful Grantsmanship identifies the key element offundraising -- relationships. In a high-tech world, organizationsthat raise money must be high-touch -- relationships are the bestway: focused, disciplined, and persistent." (Anita D. Joseph,director, Association Financial Development, YMCA of the USA)

"Success in fundraising is not about how money was given, it isabout raising friends and building relationships between thecommunity that needs services and the organizations that providethem. Susan Golden offers the same guarantee for success withgrantmakers -- make them your friends and build lastingrelationships." (James M. Greenfield, ACFRE, FAHP, senior vicepresident, Development and Community Relations, Hoag MemorialHospital Presbyterian)

"The presentation in this book is unusually clear and direct -- itasks all the right questions and provides understandable real worldanswers." (Bruce A. Loessin, vice president, Development, CaseWestern Reserve University)

"Armed with the step-by-step approach of Secrets of SuccessfulGrantsmanship, you will not only significantly improve your successrate as a grantwriter, but you will also learn how to avoid wastingtime on 'long shots.'" (Kenneth W. McLaughlin, president and CEO,Greater Cleveland YMCA)

"In an era when organizations focus on short term results, Secretsof Successful Grantsmanship highlights for the practicingprofessional the application of 'The Relationship' (advocacy) planof action versus 'The Transaction' (get the grant and go)mentality. Golden frames the process with skill and practicalunderstanding." (Jon Labahn, principal and senior consultant,Strategic Resources Management, Ltd.) SUSAN L. GOLDEN, a consultant who works with organizations on grantseeking and capital campaigns, has been involved with raising more than $700 million for projects in health care, education, social services, materials science, economic development, and the arts. Competition for grants has escalated dramatically, bringing with it a barrage of how-to instruction manuals discussing the fine points of proposal writing. In this book, Susan Golden argues that grantseekers need to go well beyond strong ideas and beautifully written proposals in today's fundraising arena. Her innovative approach is based on the simple truth that people, not proposals, secure grants. By investing time, energy, and resources into building and maintaining solid relationships with grantmakers, grantseekers can gain the edge in the increasingly competitive quest for philanthropic funds. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience with more than 100 organizations, Golden arms fundraisers with the "guerrilla" grantsmanship skills they need to successfully navigate the grantmaking process: from avoiding common pitfalls such as perfunctory budget preparation to implementing critical, yet little-taught advocacy techniques. Golden's "relationship model" of fundraising offers the grantseeker proven strategies — selecting promising opportunities, sizing up the odds, and bringing to bear the proper resources, at the proper time, in the proper way — that don't require mastering any new jargon, high-tech equipment, or complicated procedures.Secrets of Successful Grantsmanship will not only equip grantseekers with ways to identify and exploit promising opportunities, but also help them recognize those that hold little real promise. From conducting effective prospect research and making initial conversations count to preparing, submitting, and following up on grant proposals, Susan Golden offers a focused, step-by-step method for reliably achieving success in any fund raising activity. Beat the grantseeking odds by deploying the comprehensive strategy with an astounding success rate. Based on the simple truth that people, not proposals, secure grants, Susan Golden's innovative approach concentrates on investing time, energy, and resources into building and maintaining solid relationships between grant makers and seekers. Golden reveals how the grantmaking process really works and arms fund raisers with the guerrilla grantsmanship skills they need to successfully navigate it. She draws on more than 20 years of experience with more than 100 organizations to highlight common pitfalls, such as perfunctory budget preparation, and to share critical, yet little-taught advocacy techniques. From conducting effective prospect research and making initial conversations count to preparing, submitting, and following up on grant proposals, she offers a focused, step-by-step method for reliably gaining the edge in the increasingly competitive quest for philanthropic funds.