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

Don't Miss Out on Our Special Giving Tuesday Offer! Time is running out to take advantage of our exclusive Giving Tuesday promotion. This November, treat yourself to the gift of efficiency and success with GEMS! ✨ Join Our Month-Long Celebration Leading Up to Giving Tuesday on November 28 ✨ Giving Tuesday isn't just about contributing to others—it's also about empowering yourself with tools that enhance time management, boost revenue effortlessly, and professionalize your grant writing and management skills. ✨ Exclusive Giving Tuesday Promotion ✨ Book a free demo and coaching call with us before November 28th, and get 3 months of GEMS for FREE with any annual subscription! https://vist.ly/it3m 🎉 What You'll Gain with GEMS: 🎉 Efficiency: Say goodbye to time-consuming, manual grant management processes. GEMS streamlines your workflow, saves you valuable time, and enables you to work with more efficiency, ultimately allowing you to make more money. Increased Revenue: Our software is designed to help you identify new funding opportunities and boost your financial success. Simplicity: GEMS is made by grant writers for grant writers, ensuring a user-friendly experience that simplifies complex tasks, making grant writing and grant management a breeze. Expert Guidance: Access our coaching and support to master the GEMS system and make the most of your subscription. 📆 Schedule Your Demo and Coaching Call Today! 📆 If you're a GEMS user upgrade to the annual subscription and get 3 months for free! Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your grant management to the next level. Let's celebrate Giving Tuesday together and make this a season of giving that keeps on giving all year long. Warm regards,

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.⁣

Three years ago, our shop was throwing darts in the dark. How could we stay nimble AND keep a sense of purpose and direction in an unpredictable environment? Doing quarterly business reviews changed my entire game. “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” Our Fundraising QBR has become an important part of our systems. It has not created overnight successes but makes sure that we're making incremental improvements. Learning from each quarter’s data to make better decisions for the next. A QBR is not just a report, it’s a conversation. It allows you to show your achievements, celebrate your wins, address your challenges, and ask for feedback and support. For the first time, I'm sharing the metrics we look at and the questions we ask in a workbook format. And if you have any questions or feedback, feel free to reach out to me. I’m always happy to help. https://buff.ly/43OEELv

As we're continuing to chat about Board and Executive Director relationships, I thought I would share this idea: individualized work plans. The idea of Exec Director and Board Member one-on-one meetings is a concept that I never formally or fully implemented when I was leading nonprofits, but I wish that I had! The idea of intentionally and purposefully meeting with every member of the board to plan their annual involvement for the organization seems like it would have been incredibly beneficial. (I would also suggest that maybe these meetings should also include the Board Chair, but I know how hard it can be to get that time from a volunteer....) Here are a few tips for conducting meetings and crafting individualized work plans for each board member: 1. Get acquainted, connect on a personal level, review their unique role. 2. Discover their personal why! 3. Establish SMART goals for each member. 4. Make sure to get a commitment & signature! (There is something about a signature that makes it more likely to happen!) I know that this can seem daunting, but I so firmly believe that this time spent on the front end of developing and properly investing in the relationship will pay off in better expectations and less frustration as the year progresses! ❓Have you ever tried this or been part of a board that created individualized work plans?

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

Charting Success Three years ago, our shop was throwing darts in the dark. How could we stay nimble AND keep a sense of purpose and direction in an unpredictable environment? Doing quarterly business reviews changed my entire game. “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” Our Fundraising QBR has become an important part of our systems. It has not created overnight successes but makes sure that we're making incremental improvements. Learning from each quarter’s data to make better decisions for the next. A QBR is not just a report, it’s a conversation. It allows you to show your achievements, celebrate your wins, address your challenges, and ask for feedback and support. For the first time, I'm sharing the metrics we look at and the questions we ask in a workbook format. And if you have any questions or feedback, feel free to reach out to me. I’m always happy to help. https://buff.ly/43OEELv

Just wanted to share my experience attending Grant Cardone's webinar recently—it was seriously eye-opening. I picked up some incredible tips from him that I can't wait to implement. From strategies for boosting productivity to techniques for mastering sales, there was so much valuable insight packed into the session. Trust me, you don't want to miss out on what I learned. Here's a quote from him. Stay tuned for the full scoop in my upcoming post. "Share your thoughts and spread the help. Comment and repost to make a difference." #csmbootcamp #csm #GrantCardone #10X

Interested in joining a board of directors? Or are you simply interested in learning more about how boards work? Here's a definitive guide that covers the basics: https://bit.ly/3yrZphT #boardofdirectors