Grant Writing: Just Got REAL!

So... I was sitting here. My sister-in-law was talking to me about how she visited a daycare today called Dream that is located in Sherwood. She said she went to do some recruiting for her school at Lighthouse Academy. Well, she said when she got there and was looking around that everything was so amazing. The building, the playground, all of the educational tools that they had for the young ones, the works! She then got to talk to the director and guess what guys???? She is a grant writer and that is how she was able to make that daycare as superb as it is. I thought that was awesome!

My sister-in-law was telling me that she is going to try and come to the charter school that she works at and is going to do some 101 training about grants to help them get some of the funds that they need for their school. I asked if I could attend and I cannot wait! If I get the green light and if anyone else is interested, I will keep you posted and if  you would like to come and join in on learning MORE about the grant writing process, hit me up!

Plus... it felt good to know that a place needs and actually has been successful in obtaining grants. Shoot... it has inspired me to look into helping my sister-in-law on her grant writing journey. You've got to start somewhere and I would love to get some EXP! I know and hope somebody somewhere would just love to help her obtain books and educational supplies both her and her students need for their classroom.

Guys... I think this is where grant writing might have just got real for me. Oh boy! :)

Tap Out

It is safe to say that I finally now have a better understanding of how a gift chart works and what it should look like. The text in our Grant Writing and Fundraising Tool Kit book for some reason wasn't that grand. So... I surfed the web and became friends with Google. Anyway, I finally put the final touches on our fundraising project that is due tomorrow and I am ecstatic! I filled the goose egg hole where my gift chart was a fill-in for Peer Review and now I have hit the finally count... 3... 2.... 1... K.O.

Also... though the examples confused me in the book, I did find something useful out of the text... there is a gift chart tool you can use on Blackbaud, Inc. Google it. :)

Help!

I thought that I would share this website with you guys. It is a site where you can search all of the schools in your community and neighboring communities and take a gander at all of the teachers and students that need our help in either gaining money for books or other education tools/projects.

I just was flabbergasted when I got to looking at all the places that need our help. I guess you could say this is where things begin to truly feel real.

http://www.donorschoose.org/

Peer Review Went Peer-tastic

So, yesterday I had a huge frown on my face going into peer review. I had no idea if I was representing my organization the way that I needed to. I just didn't feel like my documents were strong.

This is where I need to say... I have learned that I am a visual learner. I feel like I learned a lot by seeing other great examples of projects like the one I am trying to produce. Plus, it was nice to hear feedback to get the gears to turn again that were kind of sticking in my brain.

I will have to say though that my favorite part of the whole project has been the visual that goes a long with my fundraiser package. Something about putting things together that are both text and image just excites me. I kind of feel like I am trying on a combination of a creative and yet somehow a crazy mad scientist inventive hat throughout this whole fundraising project.

I can't help but wonder if any of you guys have any great advice you would like to share that you took away from your peer review group yesterday? Considering tomorrow is the day that we will be able to take this weight off of our shoulders, it would be nice to know what everyone else has been stressing and tinkering with.

Good luck guys! Spring break is right around the corner! And to all of us that are worrying and stressing about this project, here is a little bit of fuel to keep pushing us along.

Something New

Trying to prepare myself for tomorrow when we talk about our projects is class. Needless to say... With greater debate and a lot of thought... I am putting the rest of my brainwaves to work on Toys For Tots and the focus on their literary program. Sounds fun and less stressful than the direction I was at first stepping. Anyway... 1 dollar equals 1 book and if the sharing of a book can make a child that lives in poverty or come from a poor background feel more inspired and that they can better themselves for the better and keep progressing forward... Well... I totally couldn't be more inspired and supportive.

Hope everyone else is doing grand this week and on your projects! Best of luck!