Collaborative Fundraising: Promises & Pitfalls

About this event

Maryn Boess, Nonprofit Consultant & Trainer

Continental Breakfast & Networking at 7:30
Presentation at 8:00

Thinking and working collaboratively can lead to higher returns in your fundraising efforts, but creating and sustaining meaningful partnerships can be challenging. In this thought provoking session we’ll take a look at some components involved in effective collaborations, including:

• Cooperation to collaboration—the partnership continuum
• The four essential stages in the lifecycle of a collaboration—what to expect and how to manage each
• Five major steps to developing a collaborative grant proposal
• Partnership protocols and issues

In addition, we’ve invited a panel of local leaders to share their stories and insights about collaborative fundraising promises and pitfalls. The panel will include:

• La Donna Burgess, Executive Director, Domestic Violence Resource Center
• Lee Honoré Means, Executive Director, YCAP

About the Presenters

Maryn Boess is a 22-year grant professional with more than $30 million in grant funding to her credit. As founder of GrantsUSA LLC, she created a portfolio of high-quality, low-cost grants information, tools, publications, websites, and training curricula. Among these: the multi-level Grantsmanship Academy certificate course and the “Ultimate Grants Toolkit” resource notebook and CD set. A leader in the national grantsmanship field, Maryn travels extensively to share her highly-regarded workshops and seminar presentations on strategies for nonprofit success. Since October 2006 she has also been “on the other side” managing about $2 million annually in grantmaking for higher education through the Arizona Board of Regents.

La Donna Burgess has lived and worked in Washington County most of her life. Living and working in her community, La Donna found herself mid-career wanting to pursue her passion for social service/nonprofit professionally, not just as a volunteer anymore. She first joined Experience Works as the Assistant State Program Director in the spring of 2002, then hired as the Executive Director of the Domestic Violence Resource Center (DVRC) in the fall of 2006. Since then, she has restructured the program, administrative staffing, and business model. Expenses have been cut by over $150,000 without eliminating any programs or services, and even with tough economic times facing nonprofits, DVRC is growing and adding new grants to expand its programs.

For over twenty years, Lee Honoré Means has led agencies working with at-risk youth and low-income families. From a small one program agency to an agency with five complex programs and a budget of over $5 million dollars, Lee has been able to increase the scope and number of clients served in each organization. Having owned and managed a small business for twelve years, Lee brings a business background to nonprofit management. Her previous experience includes management of a public sector district as well.

About the Network

Each session of the Mid-Valley Nonprofit Network is designed to strengthen your management skills while providing field-tested concepts and tools to take back to your organization for implementation. In addition to skills development, each session allows for networking and peer coaching in a collaborative learning environment.