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"If you want to appear expert, your writing must be expert: professional and clear... Words matter. Craft, sand and polish your words religiously... Assume everyone in your company could communicate more clearly, and invest in learning how... Most people write just a little better than they draw." - Harry Beckwith in What Clients Love: A Field Guide to Growing Your Business
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Hi
Spring has sprung, and along with it come thoughts of renewal and rebirth. Is there a new you waiting to hatch? Perhaps you are searching for ways to become a more confident writer. Maybe you want to add some new tools to your toolbox as you freshen up your
communication skills. Or you may be looking for a mentor to guide you as you build your grantwriting capacity. Well, you're in the right place! I have lots of new resources available to help you on your journey: recordings, webinars, blog articles, and the Spring session of my new Grantwriter's FastTrack Coaching Program. Happy writing!  (Feel free to forward this newsletter to friends and colleagues who may be interested.)
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GRANTWRITER'S FASTTRACK COACHING PROGRAM (EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT THRU 4/15/14) |
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~A personalized online community to shorten your learning curve and win grants faster~
April 28 - May 22, 2014
ONLY 6 SPOTS OPEN: SIGN UP EARLY TO RESERVE YOURS!
Early Bird Discount: $50 Off by April 15
Facilitated by Dalya Massachi, the 4-week intensive Grantwriter's FastTrack Coaching Program is a unique opportunity to receive in-depth group and individual training and coaching to fine-tune your grantwriting skills. We'll cover the topics that YOU most want to learn about, as they relate to the strategy and craft of grantwriting to foundations and corporations. The FastTrack Program includes group training, thorough feedback and advice, and individual "laser" coaching:
all to help you improve at least one grant proposal (and edit many others). Together we will create a safe, supportive online group of trusted colleagues. This online program is designed for you if...- You have grantwriting responsibilities as a nonprofit development or program staff member, volunteer, or board member
- You are a beginning/intermediate grantwriter
- You have strong writing skills and want to explore the world of
grantwriting
WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID AFTER WORKING WITH ME:
"Dalya has an easy going style, and is highly knowledgable. I recommend the FastTrack Program to anyone wanting to better understand the grantwriting process or gain new insights from someone outside their organization on their grantwriting process"
- Kathy Bitschenauer, Volunteer Grantwriter
"Dalya has a way of making a person feel confident in him/herself. She is very knowledgeable on the subject of writing and has a unique way of teaching that keeps you enthralled from the beginning." - Shirley Maciel, Program Manager, Horizons Unlimited of San Francisco, Inc "As someone fairly new to the fundraising world, it was easy and not intimidating to approach Dalya
with my questions. I highly recommend working with her for your fundraising needs, whether quick and simple or in-depth!" - Vanitha Sivarajan, Conservation and International Development Professional
"Dalya helped us to synthesize existing grants proposals to create a more compelling story. It was very helpful to hear what about our proposals
stood out and what of our program work was not highlighted enough....now to put the tools she gave us together!"
- Sherri Norris, Executive Director at California Indian Environmental Alliance
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Now you can access the full collection of Writing Wednesdays recordings on 4Good-- for only 99 cents each.
You'll find goodies on a wide range of writing-related topics, from planning to
drafting to editing and publishing. I even included an "Ask Dalya" session that answered a diverse array of your questions. Here's the full list of topics:
- ASK DALYA (answers to common questions)
- BUSINESS PLANS
- COLLABORATIVE WRITING
- COMMUNICATION RESEARCH
- EDITING
- EDITORIAL
CALENDAR
- FUNDRAISING APPEAL LETTERS
- GRANTSEEKING (individual or as a bundle of 4 for $3.49)
- GREEN COPYWRITING
- INDEPENDENT PUBLISHING
- MAKING YOUR CASE
- MISSION STATEMENTS
- OPENING LINES
- OPINION PIECES
- PRESS RELEASES
- SNAPPY TITLES
All recordings are only $0.99 and you
can even sample a few free ones:
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Q: I like the acronym you teach for planning a grant proposal's priority information: FIRST (Facts & Figures, Importance, Results, Solution, and Track Record). I often get confused between the "results" of my work and the "solution" I'm advocating. Can you clarify?
A: Yes, "solutions" lead directly to
"results."
"Results" are things you envision as the ultimate outcomes of your work. This is one of the most important pieces to most funders. It's the answer you would give if they were to hear about your program and then ask, "So what?" What difference do you plan to make at the end of the day? What changes or community benefits will we see?
For example, your organization may seek to reduce pollution in your local waterway. One way you do this is by educating and mobilizing
young people as volunteers for a clean-up day. This work can immediately result in an educated group and a cleaned up area. The long-term result might be that this work leads to continued involvement of the volunteers, who share the information with their peers and contribute to a less-polluted waterway for years to come.
Your "solution" is the specific way you are working to achieve your intended results (i.e., solve the problem you are addressing). What program or project are you
proposing? Your plan should be specific enough that it can be measured and tied to specific outcomes (results). For example, the project with young volunteers cited above would be their proposed solution. How many people will attend, and who will they be? How will the event be both educational and practical? How did the organization decide on this solution to the problem in the first place? For your evaluation of this solution's results, you will measure how the event has brought about the
intended outcomes in both the short-term and the long-term.
(For more information about the FIRST acronym, watch this free webinar).
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I want to do my part in addressing today's climate crisis, so this new monthly feature shares some eco-tips provided by my friend and green business consultant, Shel Horowitz. This month we have some greener yard and garden tips for you. If you want to save money and environment, then read on! 1) Instead of buying one for each family, get together with two or three neighbors and share a single lawnmower, snow blower,
etc. 2) Just say no to (often toxic) chemical pesticides and herbicides; you'll be healthier, your resale values may go up, and your lawn and garden can still look great!
See more tips in green business consultant Shel Horowitz's e-book, Painless Green: 111 Tips to Help the Environment, Lower Your Carbon Footprint, Cut Your Budget, and Improve Your Quality of Life-With No Negative Impact on Your Lifestyle
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