Comments on: True Believers and Grant Writing: Two Cautionary Tales http://blog.seliger.com/2009/08/09/true-believers-and-grant-writing-two-cautionary-tales/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:29:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Repurpose: The Word of the Decade and a Word for Nonprofits to Live By http://blog.seliger.com/2009/08/09/true-believers-and-grant-writing-two-cautionary-tales/comment-page-1/#comment-35320 Repurpose: The Word of the Decade and a Word for Nonprofits to Live By Sun, 11 Sep 2011 18:37:58 +0000 http://blog.seliger.com/?p=391#comment-35320 [...] free proposal transition phrase), nonprofits are really small businesses, even if they are run by True Believers. Like small business, nonprofits have formal or informal business plans; resources in the form of [...] [...] free proposal transition phrase), nonprofits are really small businesses, even if they are run by True Believers. Like small business, nonprofits have formal or informal business plans; resources in the form of [...]

]]> By: How to Write About Grant Writing and How to Learn About Grant Writing Via Blogging http://blog.seliger.com/2009/08/09/true-believers-and-grant-writing-two-cautionary-tales/comment-page-1/#comment-21686 How to Write About Grant Writing and How to Learn About Grant Writing Via Blogging Mon, 11 Oct 2010 02:34:25 +0000 http://blog.seliger.com/?p=391#comment-21686 [...] would argue that passion helps writers of any sort, but it should be tempered with expertise. Don’t be a True Believer, and make sure you internal critic is always on the job (we sometimes call this [...] [...] would argue that passion helps writers of any sort, but it should be tempered with expertise. Don’t be a True Believer, and make sure you internal critic is always on the job (we sometimes call this [...]

]]> By: How to Write About Something You Know Nothing About: It’s Easy, Just Imagine a Can Opener http://blog.seliger.com/2009/08/09/true-believers-and-grant-writing-two-cautionary-tales/comment-page-1/#comment-16634 How to Write About Something You Know Nothing About: It’s Easy, Just Imagine a Can Opener Mon, 15 Feb 2010 02:39:47 +0000 http://blog.seliger.com/?p=391#comment-16634 [...] to do, as I described tangentially regarding the Department of Labor’s YouthBuild program in True Believers and Grant Writing: Two Cautionary Tales. State RFPs for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), a federal pass-through [...] [...] to do, as I described tangentially regarding the Department of Labor’s YouthBuild program in True Believers and Grant Writing: Two Cautionary Tales. State RFPs for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC), a federal pass-through [...]

]]> By: Never Think Outside the Box: Grant Writing is About Following the Recipe, not Creativity http://blog.seliger.com/2009/08/09/true-believers-and-grant-writing-two-cautionary-tales/comment-page-1/#comment-15695 Never Think Outside the Box: Grant Writing is About Following the Recipe, not Creativity Sun, 10 Jan 2010 22:59:46 +0000 http://blog.seliger.com/?p=391#comment-15695 [...] almost guarantees they won’t be funded; Isaac has already written about one example in True Believers and Grant Writing: Two Cautionary Tales: Writing a YouthBuild proposal is very much a “cookbook” exercise in that the DOL pretty much [...] [...] almost guarantees they won’t be funded; Isaac has already written about one example in True Believers and Grant Writing: Two Cautionary Tales: Writing a YouthBuild proposal is very much a “cookbook” exercise in that the DOL pretty much [...]

]]> By: PSST! Listen, Do You Want to Know a Secret? ? Do you Promise Not to Tell?* Here’s How to Write Foundation Proposals http://blog.seliger.com/2009/08/09/true-believers-and-grant-writing-two-cautionary-tales/comment-page-1/#comment-14528 PSST! Listen, Do You Want to Know a Secret? ? Do you Promise Not to Tell?* Here’s How to Write Foundation Proposals Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:34:21 +0000 http://blog.seliger.com/?p=391#comment-14528 [...] nonprofit folks, and particularly the “True Believers” I wrote about in True Believers and Grant Writing: Two Cautionary Tales, are hopelessly confused about getting foundation funds and writing foundation proposals. There are [...] [...] nonprofit folks, and particularly the “True Believers” I wrote about in True Believers and Grant Writing: Two Cautionary Tales, are hopelessly confused about getting foundation funds and writing foundation proposals. There are [...]

]]> By: Does Seliger + Associates “Care” About Our Clients? http://blog.seliger.com/2009/08/09/true-believers-and-grant-writing-two-cautionary-tales/comment-page-1/#comment-12666 Does Seliger + Associates “Care” About Our Clients? Mon, 21 Sep 2009 01:04:02 +0000 http://blog.seliger.com/?p=391#comment-12666 [...] am sure they were surprised, since they are very much the “true believers” described in True Believers and Grant Writing: Two Cautionary Tales. They were incredulous that, not only would I not say I would “care” about them as [...] [...] am sure they were surprised, since they are very much the “true believers” described in True Believers and Grant Writing: Two Cautionary Tales. They were incredulous that, not only would I not say I would “care” about them as [...]

]]> By: Barbara Crowdeer http://blog.seliger.com/2009/08/09/true-believers-and-grant-writing-two-cautionary-tales/comment-page-1/#comment-11966 Barbara Crowdeer Sun, 23 Aug 2009 19:07:59 +0000 http://blog.seliger.com/?p=391#comment-11966 I'm interested in having ameeting about someone writing a grant for me. The entire process of the grant and what it entails. I loved what you said, and it's on point. No bs, this is what I need. Please give me a name and a number to get the ball rolling!!!!!!!! Thank you for your time. I’m interested in having ameeting about someone writing a grant for me. The entire process of the grant and what it entails. I loved what you said, and it’s on point. No bs, this is what I need. Please give me a name and a number to get the ball rolling!!!!!!!! Thank you for your time.

]]> By: Carleen Zawacki, LCSW http://blog.seliger.com/2009/08/09/true-believers-and-grant-writing-two-cautionary-tales/comment-page-1/#comment-11534 Carleen Zawacki, LCSW Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:39:25 +0000 http://blog.seliger.com/?p=391#comment-11534 Your story has clarified what my focus needs to be in writing our grant. I thought "true believer" passion was a "good thing" but have seen it from your point of view because of your essay. Thanks for the help! Carleen Zawacki, LCSW Your story has clarified what my focus needs to be in writing our grant. I thought “true believer” passion was a “good thing” but have seen it from your point of view because of your essay.
Thanks for the help!

Carleen Zawacki, LCSW

]]> By: Dr. Ben http://blog.seliger.com/2009/08/09/true-believers-and-grant-writing-two-cautionary-tales/comment-page-1/#comment-11531 Dr. Ben Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:03:26 +0000 http://blog.seliger.com/?p=391#comment-11531 You guys are just the most fun narrative to read! I love the allusions to movies and classic stuff (Tony Curtis!). Keep up the good work. I need a quality diversion every now and again. You guys are just the most fun narrative to read! I love the allusions to movies and classic stuff (Tony Curtis!). Keep up the good work. I need a quality diversion every now and again.

]]> By: Elizabeth http://blog.seliger.com/2009/08/09/true-believers-and-grant-writing-two-cautionary-tales/comment-page-1/#comment-11526 Elizabeth Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:58:16 +0000 http://blog.seliger.com/?p=391#comment-11526 I loved this line: "Funders almost never share the True Belief, which can be a problem for clients who think the power of their story will overcome, say, *the required budget forms*, and we often have to calm True Believers down enough to help them separate their imaginings from the cold reality of the grant making process." It's more complex when you are not a consultant. Though I would like to be writing grants, in truth most of my time is spent in meetings with the True Believers at my organization. The worst is when a True Believer wants to shape a proposal based on their True Belief, and you are lesser in status and title in the hierarchy, so have to go along with something you know will not be funded. Ah, development. I loved this line:

“Funders almost never share the True Belief, which can be a problem for clients who think the power of their story will overcome, say, *the required budget forms*, and we often have to calm True Believers down enough to help them separate their imaginings from the cold reality of the grant making process.”

It’s more complex when you are not a consultant. Though I would like to be writing grants, in truth most of my time is spent in meetings with the True Believers at my organization.
The worst is when a True Believer wants to shape a proposal based on their True Belief, and you are lesser in status and title in the hierarchy, so have to go along with something you know will not be funded.

Ah, development.

]]>