Grant Writing Confidential

The August 3, 2010 Wall Street Journal highlights a push by Bill Gates and Warren Buffet to squeeze billions out of their billionaire pals in “U.S. Super Rich to Share Wealth.” Shelly Banjo and Robert A. Guth say that “Billionaire Oracle Corp. founder Larry Ellison will join film director George Lucas and 38 other mega-wealthy people in following a call by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates to pledge to give the majority of their riches to charity.” This is very good news, and let’s hope these rich folks start shoveling money into their foundations quickly, so nonprofits can compete for the inevitable grant opportunities that will follow.

While the article cites various statistics on the downward path of donations in the U.S. since the Great Recession appeared, foundations by law are supposed to give away at least 5% of their assets annually (see “Foundations and the Future” for more on this). Although some foundations undoubtedly have less money to give, I’m guessing that other foundations are digging deeper and trying to make more grant funds available in tough times.

People are hurting and the nonprofits that provide them with needed services are also hurting. It’s nice to know that Bill and Warren are setting the stage for lots of new grant funds to be available. As I wrote recently in Tough Times for Folks Means More Grant Writing for Nonprofits, this is the time for nonprofits to try harder to get funding. And trying harder means more grant writing. As tough as it is to compete for grant funds, its even harder to try to secure donations from shell-shocked donors. But the wealthiest among us can still afford to give: Mr. Ellison already has at least two yachts, one 454 feet and the newest a reported 80 meters. I think two are probably enough yachts for one guy and I trust the next few hundred million he spends will be aimed at people who need help.