Ken Nelson’s Post

As a #grantmaker, questions are your tools. They help you gather information, assess needs, measure outcomes, and build relationships with your grantees. But are you asking the right questions? And are you asking them in the right way?    We had Marshall Ginn of Capital Philanthropy on our thought leadership webinar series to share his framework for evaluating and updating the questions on your grant application. In this blog post, we pull out some of the highlights of that conversation, including seven questions you can ask as you improve your questions.

Ready…set…Message me! Because I ‘m now accepting clients for Strategic Planning in July. Strategic Planning is for nonprofits who want to grow and do more good in their community WITHOUT adding more stress for the CEO. I know, you think having a strategic plan will only make your job more difficult but it won’t, I promise! And there’s a reason I have a waiting list for Strategic Planning. Because it works! Here’s what you get: →More time and support to achieve your goals →Clear vision that everyone in the organization is excited about →Detailed plan document with action steps and a timeline Oh, and most importantly, follow-up support for the CEO to help keep her on track and handle any roadblocks that may pop up. Secure your spot for July before they fill up! Laura Gamble Consulting laura@lauragamblecoaching.com

FAQ: What services does Crystal Clear Communications provide?⁣ ⁣ Crystal Clear Communications offers a range of services designed to support business and nonprofit growth, including marketing, business plans, grant writing, and board development. Our goal is to help organizations maximize their time and energy to achieve their growth objectives.⁣ ⁣ Marketing: We create and execute effective marketing strategies tailored to your organization’s needs, ensuring maximum reach and engagement.⁣ ⁣ Business Plans: Our team develops comprehensive business plans that outline clear objectives and strategies for sustainable growth.⁣ ⁣ Grant Writing: We provide expert grant writing services to help nonprofits secure the funding needed to fulfill their missions.⁣ ⁣ Board Development: We assist in building and strengthening your board through training, team-building exercises, and strategic retreats.⁣ ⁣ By partnering with us, you can focus on your core mission while we handle the strategic tasks that drive growth and success.⁣

Ready…set…Message me! Because I ‘m now accepting clients for Strategic Planning in July. Strategic Planning is for nonprofits who want to grow and do more good in their community WITHOUT adding more stress for the CEO. I know, you think having a strategic plan will only make your job more difficult but it won’t, I promise! And there’s a reason I have a waiting list for Strategic Planning. Because it works! Here’s what you get: →More time and support to achieve your goals →Clear vision that everyone in the organization is excited about →Detailed plan document with action steps and a timeline Oh, and most importantly, follow-up support for the CEO to help keep her on track and handle any roadblocks that may pop up. Secure your spot for July before they fill up! Laura Gamble Consulting laura@lauragamblecoaching.com

Here are the top 3 reasons I believe founders fail at fundraising: 1. weak narratives 2. ineffective emails 3. broken processes (no momentum) this week, I'm hosting a 2-part workshop to help founders fix those three things. Interested? Head to the comments to RSVP 👇 see you guys there!

Here’s our final tip to help you confidently ask for the raise you deserve! ✨ When it's time to request a raise, practice your pitch beforehand. 🎤💪 #CareerAdvancement #RaiseRequest #ProfessionalGrowth

I'm lucky to work with some amazing people on a day-to-day basis. From my Roda Co-Founder Matt Spry, the leadership team at Simpact Janet Chandler, Rikki Garcia, Liton Ullah and all our partners and customers, I’m surrounded by passionate, smart, driven people, who I have the opportunity to learn from every day. But one role I’ve really enjoyed over the last 3 years is working with the incredible Claudine Adeyemi-Adams & Boris Bambo as an Advisor to Earlybird, as they build their business into one helping hundreds of thousands of people to thrive in employment. Yesterday we held our second full Advisory Board meeting, and it struck me again just how much I am learning and developing through working with people who are operating at the top of their game. Helps me to (try) stay on top of mine! I’ve had several Trustee roles before and advised public sector, social enterprise and charity Boards in a consultancy capacity, but this is the first Advisory Board role in a high growth, funded, fast paced start-up. Fair to say, I love it. It’s probably a better fit for my temperament actually than what I’ve done before... If you’re starting out on your first Board position, here are a few pro-tips from a relative amateur. 1.     If you don’t understand something, say. If the numbers aren’t clear, if you need more information to form an opinion, say so. To advise you need to understand. It took me some time to build up the confidence to do this. 2.     Think about what you say, and say what you think. Sounds easy, really isn’t consistently (emotions, lazy thinking get in the way). 3.     Always try and put yourself in the position of the person you are trying to support and advise.

Feeling overwhelmed by endless grant options? 😩 We know how tough it can be to sift through piles of information and still feel unsure if you're on the right track. Our Grant Research Starter Bundle simplifies the process and helps you find grants that align with your organization’s mission, giving you a clear path to potential funding without the stress of missed deadlines or guesswork.  Start building your custom grant list today and get back the time to do what matters most: making a difference!  Book a free consultation to get started ➡️  https://lnkd.in/gvVgGJYQ

🧩 Fundraising isn’t magic. It’s iteration. 🧩 One touchpoint isn’t enough. Neither is two. Our experience says takes 15 touchpoints to generate a conversion. Because there is a relationship to be built. To create mutual trust. Here’s how we do it: 1️⃣ Intro message. 2️⃣ Scheduling a meeting. 3️⃣ Hold the meeting. 4️⃣ Follow-up email. 5️⃣ Invite to meet mentors, board, or staff. 6️⃣ Attend an event. 7️⃣ Share news. 8️⃣ Make the ask. 9️⃣ Clarify the ask. 🔟 Invite to online breakfast. 1️⃣1️⃣ Chat with mentors. 1️⃣2️⃣ Attend Impact event. 1️⃣3️⃣ Attend Graduation ceremony. 1️⃣4️⃣ Visit Summer Academy. 1️⃣5️⃣ Observe / Participate in Assessment center. Keep the momentum going: 1️⃣6️⃣ Participate in strategic meetings. 1️⃣7️⃣ Visit a school. 1️⃣8️⃣ Become a judge at Pitch Day. 1️⃣9️⃣ Observe training. 2️⃣0️⃣ Attend Results session for partners only. Fundraising is a marathon, not a sprint. Every touchpoint matters.

What does good Board engagement look like? This is a struggle for all of us, including me! I'll share a few tips and tricks the next few weeks. What things are true? Nonprofit Board Members are stressed out about their organization's stability, their meaningful contribution, and the growth and development of the organization. For Board Members, you've got a limited amount of time to make an impact. There is a huge desire to make a difference, there are lots of ideas to consider, and there are lots of factions to manage, especially if you're the Board Chair. You want to balance moving the organization forward, good financial stewardship, and respect for the team that's doing the day-to-day work. But you can't work in a vacuum, certain information needs to be shared, and certain tools need to be put in the toolbox. Without them...it becomes a challenging cycle that feels like either demanding and micromanagement or inaction by staff (who are often overwhelmed) to meet those requests. If you're a Board Member and this sounds familiar to you (like and share!) and follow along the next few weeks as I share a 360 perspective and some potential solutions for dealing with your challenges.