Jason Long’s Post

Dive into this post on essential writing practices for Non-Profits and elevate your skills this year! Let's strive for excellence! Check it out! #NPOManagement #Strategy #NonProfits #Sustainability #MichelleDavidson

“Begin with the end in mind”- Stephen Covey. #FundraiseWithAllwell It is a big bid. As usual, you are working feverishly to get it in on time. You are most likely focusing heavily on your technical and financial proposals while ignoring a very crucial aspect of your application- the annexes! 🙄 Annexes are those “extra” aspects of your proposal that convey important supplementary information about your organization to the donor such as compliance and administration requirements, full CVs of team members, M and E plan and logical framework, or whatever the donor asks for. 🤔 Most seasoned fundraisers or Development Directors find compiling annexes to be an annoying and time-consuming administrative task, often delegating this important requirement to the most junior member of the business development team with little or no oversight. 😏 It gets left to the last minute and is often done in a hurry. You are sabotaging your funding chances if you don’t get started on the annexes right away! 💯   Besides, the lack of some annexes can actually disqualify you from bidding thereby leading to a waste of everyone’s time and LoE.  Below are the things to bear in mind when working on your next proposal annexes. 1️⃣ First, put together the admin documents very quickly. From audited financial statements, organizational policies, past performance summaries, to client recommendation letters, make sure you have the most up-to-date administrative and compliance documents to avoid disqualification. ✅ 2️⃣ Second, rework your team CVs to make sure they correspond with the personnel requirements in the Terms of Reference (TOR). To get maximum points under the personnel section according to the evaluation criteria, you need to rework the CVs to match what the donor needs for each role. This is a smarter move than simply adding the generic CVs in your Drive folder❗ 3️⃣ Finally, reach out to the donor for clarification questions, if unsure about the required documentation. Donor annex requests could be complicated so when in doubt, ask questions! Never make an assumption and please..do not submit the wrong annex documents ‼ Of course, these tips only work if you start EARLY by prioritizing the annexes just the way you do the technical and financial proposals ✔ . How have you managed your proposal annexes for previous proposals ❓ Reach out to Travaille Ensemble to develop full grant applications including technical and financial proposals, and annexes for your nonprofit. 📣 Follow Allwell Akhigbe, MBA 💡 and turbo charge your nonprofit fundraising with #FundraiseWithAllwell insights every Monday by 9 a.m. WAT / 11 a.m. EAT ✅ . Please share these fun insights with your network too. #AllwellBDNuggets #funding #grantwriting #fundraising #proposalwriting #TravailleEnsemble #OnEstEnsemble #grants #nonprofits #africanphilanthropy #philanthropy #sustainability  

Is the fundraising Request for Proposal (RFP) process broken? RFPs are designed to offer an objective, apples-to-apples comparison of potential partners' culture, experience, services, and pricing. But it often turns out to be costly, time-consuming, and unreliable in identifying the right partner. Nonprofits leaders agree. Here's what we found: -80% of respondents say the RFP process takes up a significant amount of time when you add up all the time spent reviewing responses -Approximately 65% of nonprofits are asking for and receiving RFPs from at least six potential partner agencies for a major program like direct response -65% of respondents have at least six stakeholders involved in the decision-making process What if we told you there is a better way? Our free guide "Request For (A New) Process" unpacks everything you need to know. Plus, you'll receive two templates for a better RFP process. Download the guide today: https://lnkd.in/e6NCZUXB #RFPProcess #NonprofitStrategy #FundraisingSuccess

Do you have all the administrative pieces covered for your consulting business? It’s easy to get caught up in finding clients, figuring out your services, and choosing the perfect business name. But when it comes to running a successful consulting business, paperwork matters. To help you keep things organized, we pulled together the top nine admin tasks to put on your paperwork list. https://lnkd.in/eh3twJJs #nonprofit #fundingforgood #consulting #paperwork

RFPs - consultants either love them and get SUPER excited when they see one come across their desk, or say 'no thanks' and refuse to respond - even if the engagement is perfectly aligned with their body of work. If you are part of an organization seeking support for an upcoming challenge or opportunity, instead of issuing that staid and typical RFP, consider talking with a consultant (or a few of them!) to explore what some of the solutions could be, beforehand. Here are a few places to find really incredible humans (and one great way to write a better RFP): Building Better Together's directory of *fantastic* consultants and fractional support: https://lnkd.in/esXuXtQK (via the incomparable Jess Campbell) Nonprofit.ist's Expert Directory: https://lnkd.in/esSq9PFi Nonprofit.ist's RFP Generator: https://lnkd.in/evpGStxT Have you had good luck with RFPs, as an issuing organization? Do you typically reach out to a consultant who is already known to you, or seek recommendations? I'm not saying down with all RFPs, but I think there are better ways to find really great solutions to the challenges your nonprofit is experiencing!

These are the top pre-award grant management best practices experts swear by: 1. Maintain a Comprehensive Paper Trail Kimberly Lavon, Founder, Creative Director, Arts Funding Professional: “Maintaining a comprehensive paper trail is essential. Ensure you keep copies of the grant application and administrative paperwork like articles of incorporation and EIN numbers, and maintain a consistent brand strategy both online and in person.” 2. Conduct Thorough Research and Build Relationships Sarah B Lange, CEO/Founder: “Doing thorough research can set you apart. Examine the funder's website and their 990s for the last three years to see if you're a good fit. Identify any Trustees you might know and see if they can advocate for your application. Make sure to add the funder to your communications list, so they're aware of your work before you apply. Also, follow them on social media and connect with their staff on LinkedIn.” 3. Prepare Your Internal Systems Matt Hugg, President & Founder, NonprofitCourses: “Don’t overlook your internal systems. Before rushing to submit a proposal, ensure your systems are ready to receive funds and account for expenditures. Notify your accounting office about the application so they’re prepared for any queries post-funding. They might also highlight issues you need to address beforehand.” Key Takeaways: 📋 Maintain a detailed paper trail for all documentation. 🔍 Conduct thorough research on potential funders and build relationships in advance. 🔧 Ensure your internal systems are ready to manage funds and expenditures properly. Remember: The pre-award phase sets the foundation for successful grant management. Stay organized, do your research, and prepare your internal systems to ensure a smooth process. What pre-award best practices have you found effective in your grant management process? Share your insights below! 👇 #grantmanagement #nonprofit #fundraising #grantwritingtips

Sourcewell vs. RFP: Two ways to buy a Phone System Work for a government, education, or nonprofit agency? You can choose between two options when you’re ready to purchase a communications system — both of which will satisfy your bid requirements: 1. Request for Proposal (RFP) 2. Sourcewell Contract Purchasing If you’re interested in a Mitel communication system, you’re lucky — Sourcewell has awarded Mitel a communications solutions vendor contract. Contact Datamart to learn more. #phonesystem #rfp https://lnkd.in/ecvVBEdk

Do you have all the administrative pieces covered for your consulting business? It’s easy to get caught up in finding clients, figuring out your services, and choosing the perfect business name. But when it comes to running a successful consulting business, paperwork matters. To help you keep things organized, we pulled together the top nine admin tasks to put on your paperwork list. https://lnkd.in/eCW2NCH2 #nonprofit #fundingforgood #consulting #paperwork

Drafting an RFP for grants? Here are essential steps and best practices to ensure a high-quality response from the right applicants: ✅ Define clear objectives and align them with your mission. Clarity ensures you attract proposals that fit your goals. 🔍 Include a detailed project overview and scope to guide applicants on what you’re looking for. 📅 Set a firm deadline for submissions and outline the submission process. Make sure to communicate any specific format requirements. 🤔 Provide a comprehensive list of requirements, including project descriptions and impact assessment. 📈 Outline your evaluation criteria in detail so applicants know how their proposals will be judged. 📑 Don’t forget contract terms in your RFP to avoid prolonged negotiations later. 💡 Remember, less can be more. Ask questions that yield meaningful responses, and be open to follow-up queries. 📞 Provide clear contact information for inquiries. Accessibility is key to a smooth application process. 🚧 Disclose potential roadblocks upfront to ensure applicants can meet project demands. Crafting your RFP carefully will ensure you attract the best fits for your grant, leading to successful partnerships and impactful results. #Grants #Nonprofits #Funding #RFP #ProposalWriting

As a female business owner and consultant to nonprofits, I couldn't agree more with this article. The struggle of balancing working in your business versus on it is real. Writing proposals for potential clients takes time and effort, especially when you have other responsibilities. Speaking from personal experience, I juggle being a wife, step-mom, and many other roles on top of running my business. By the time I get a chance to put a proposal together, I'm often mentally and physically exhausted. It's important for nonprofit leadership to consider the factors Laura details in this article about moving RFPs and RFIs towards equity and affordability. Check it out here: