Bolek Grant Writing and Consulting Services

11/11/2022

Hey TGICers! Friday is here! Finish strong and enjoy your weekend!

12/30/2021

Consider switching things up in 2022! Why not devote more time to cultivating relationships with your individual supporters and let us keep your grant funding goals on track! We can’t have coffee with your donors, but we can write winning grants while you do! Message us to learn more!

06/19/2021

Wishing all the fathers and father figures out there a wonderful, restful weekend surrounded by friends and family!

Enjoy!

01/09/2021

Up North is my jam! Can’t wait to visit again.

11/13/2020

What types of details should your program sustainability plan include? Let’s break it down.

Of course you should list your prospective funding sources, which should be well-researched and diverse. Follow this list with a discussion of your organizational capacity and position to successfully secure funding from these sources.

Indicators of strong fundraising capacity are things like passionate and capable fundraisers (either staff or volunteers), up-to-date strategic plan that is being implemented, properly functioning board, evidence-based programs, and evaluation data to show evidence of impact. Capacity also includes processes and standards of practice. Do you employ various fundraising methods such as grant writing, special events, annual appeals, crowd funding and sponsorships? Do you have policies in place for grant reporting, proper donor cultivation, privacy, stewardship and recognition? Do you have a strong marketing strategy?

Remember, a complete sustainability plan should include both your potential funding sources and other details to instill confidence in your ability to raise adequate funding from those sources.

11/04/2020

Let's hear it! Tell us about a recent win in your organization. A win can be many things...maybe you finally jumped that writing hurdle OR got a grant OR had a REALLY productive day! Remember - Anything that keeps you moving forward is a WIN! Oh, and....congrats, BTW!

10/01/2020

Hi Friends! I have another freebie coming your way! Let me ask you something…. 👇👇

Is this you?

You need to identify and invite community partners to your grant project. You’re on a deadline (of course), so you need to make quick decisions. You know several organizations that COULD be a good fit for the project, but you also know they can’t ALL become your partners. You feel overwhelmed by this important task, and aren’t quite sure how to proceed, but you know you have to recruit the right partners in the right roles.

I TOTALLY feel you! Building a solid partnership structure is absolutely critical to the success of your project. This is especially true when the grant is coalition-based or has a collective impact focus.

I’ve heard your question. You know, the question….

How do we know which organizations should partner with us on our grant project?

(Well, if you didn’t ask that, trust me when I say many of your peers have!)

It’s a legit great question, and in my latest Bolek Grant Writing Cheat Sheet, I’m giving you clear guidance on exactly how to do this.

You’ll learn….

——> How to know exactly what types of partners you need to invite to your project.
——> How to properly assess prospective partners for alignment, credibility, and ability to contribute to project success and impact.

I’ll be dropping this must-have cheat sheet to my email subscribers on Tuesday, October, 6, 2020.

If you haven’t already joined my mailing list, head here and sign up today! Have a good one, friends!

https://www.bolekgrantwriting.com/newsletter/

10/01/2020

Why hello there favorite month of mine! If you're like me, you're ready for comfy sweaters, apple cider and a bonfire or two! Enjoy friends!

09/15/2020

The grant opportunity is released and you are ready to apply. You rally the troops (a.k.a. the folks who have the details you need to write a successful proposal). You coordinate schedules and find a time when EVERYONE can attend your grant planning meeting. Even your ONE coworker with a calendar lit up like the 4th of July has accepted your meeting request! Sweet! It’s all coming together.

Time to meet! Your team shows up with coffee cups, notebooks and phones because - make no mistake…multi-tasking will be taking place.

It’s time to plan your winning grant. You now have two options.

Option One - Start your meeting with non-guiding questions, like “What’s our plan for this grant going to be?” or “How should we use this grant funding?”

Or

Option Two - You run your meeting like a pro with a pre-set agenda complete with guiding questions and built-in tips to lead your team through purposeful discussion.

I can tell you from experience that Option one will not get you where you need to be at the end of your meeting. What you WILL get is awkward silences, an “all over the place” discussion, one rabbit hole after another, and only a fraction of the details you need to start your project narrative. Option Two? Now that’s the mac daddy, right there! A time-specific agenda designed for guided inquiry and input will keep the meeting focused and productive. And the result? You get to walk away with the details you need for a solid start on your project narrative.

Guess what? I’ve decided to hand you Option 2 on a silver platter! First up in my FREE Bolek Grant Writing Cheat Sheet series is the exact meeting agenda you need to slay your next grant project planning meeting!

I’ll be dropping this FREE tool into the hands of my email subscribers on Monday (9.21.2020). Don’t miss out! Join our mailing list today! https://www.bolekgrantwriting.com/newsletter/

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09/10/2020

Hi there grant seekers!

I’ve got some game changing advice for you. 👇

---> When it comes to program planning and development, involve people who have PERSONALLY lived through the challenges and problems your program will address.

---> Folks with lived experiences have a story to tell that you need to hear. Their input can inform your strategies with insights on things like participation barriers and service gaps, delivery methods and dosage, and most importantly - correcting false assumptions.

---> Many grant funders - especially federal grant makers - want (or require) program development to have meaningful involvement from people with lived experiences. Grant or no grant, start now giving voice to your target population.

This act of INCLUSION will not only impact the success and sustainability of your programs, it’s also the right thing to do. 👍