I received a phone call yesterday from a Union-Recorder rep who told me that Milledgeville citizens had voted Leia Eubanks Consulting “Best Event Planner” in Milledgeville/Baldwin County! I am so honored! Thank you!

It’s always interesting to talk about grants with someone who doesn’t have a background in grant writing, grantmaking, or institutional funding research. When the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was signed, “grant” somehow became a buzzword… and along with it came several myths that have burrowed their way into popular belief.

Myth #1:  There’s a ton of free money out there for commercial businesses. I got an email all about it.

FALSE!  First of all, unless you have registered to be on an email subscription list with grant websites like Foundation Center, Grants.gov, or GrantStation, that email you received is a big fat scam. As a development consultant, I receive dozens of junk emails with titles like ”How to Get Obama Money” or “Get a Grant!” Disregard these kinds of emails. Just click delete. Don’t even open them.

Secondly, most grants are awarded to these types of recipients:

• Nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)3 status
• Municipal authorities and other public agencies
• Research and educational institutions
• Native American tribal governments
• A very small amount to individual artists

The federal government does not provide grants for starting or expanding a business. Some Recovery Act funding has been made available to small businesses, but the project that the business is proposing must fit within the specific scope of the funding initiative and small businesses must be listed as eligible. To be honest with you, I have never seen a grant opportunity where a commercial business was eligible to apply. I have seen plenty of loan opportunities, but sorry, no free money.

Another note about Recovery Act funding:  Since Recovery Act funding is aimed at making the greatest impact on the American population, the majority of funding is focused on larger cities. Rural area projects have a much greater chance of being funded by looking to agencies like the USDA.

Myth #2:  Grants are a quick fix. I don’t need to establish a development/fundraising plan beyond locating and applying for grant funding.

FALSE! Just as a farmer should diversify his/her crops, a development professional must diversify his/her organization’s funding base. Grants are not a quick fix, as very few cover operational expenses and most require matching funds. A fundraising campaign should ideally include a combination of earned revenues (i.e., ticket sales, rent, advertising, program fees), memberships, proceeds from fundraising events, individual contributions, major donor contributions, endowments, bequests, corporate sponsorships, private foundation grants, and government grants. Not only does this look attractive on grant applications, but it ensures sustainability; if you lose a funding source, your organization remains viable.

Myth #3:  A single grantmaker will sustain my project indefinitely.

FALSE! See answer above. Grants are intended to aid a project toward sustainability, not to sustain it indefinitely. When applying for a grant, you must have a plan for sustainability beyond what that grant will cover.

I hope this information helps you to dispell myths you may have heard about grants. Contact me at leia@leiaeubanksconsulting.com if you are interested in further consultation.

Best wishes!

Leia

My very first project for a nonprofit management class at Oklahoma City University consisted of creating a nonprofit organization on paper, as realistically as possible. The process of creating the project was an instrumental part of my education, as I began to learn the ins and outs of developing a grassroots organization (“making an elephant fly,” as my professor put it). During this time, my professor opened her office to all of us wishing to discuss the viability of our proposals, and I was ecstatic to present her with my brilliant ideas. They were ideas that excited me – I was ready for raving reviews from my professor. Surely I would get points for originality.

In what has turned out to be one of the greatest lessons of my life, my professor shot down my cocky attitude. “It’s not about you,” she said frankly after I had proposed a self-serving project designed to promote my personal agenda at the time. Taken aback, I stared at her silently as she explained how nonprofits should function – as community-owned, community-driven, community-serving entities. As I have worked with and observed various nonprofit executives and government/community leaders, I have seen this function both fulfilled and defied, and I can say with certainty that those organizations and projects led by true public servants operate less stressfully, gain significantly more long-term support, and do better work than those led by self-serving leaders who are hungry for power and credit.

In the end, committed donors fall in love with and choose to support an organization. Not a proposal. Not a glossy brochure. Not a statistic. Smart nonprofit and government leaders, the people who should be fulfilling the role of public servant, will look for what will best serve the community, not themselves.

For information on how to employ a comprehensive fundraising and advocacy campaign for your community-serving organization, contact me at (478) 457-7278 or via email at leia@leiaeubanksconsulting.com.

Now is the perfect time for Central Georgians to book event consulting or planning services for a summer shower or party! For a small gathering, hiring a consultant doesn’t have to break the bank, and it can make a huge difference in your ability to actually enjoy your own event. Imagine that!

Think lemonade and berries in mason jars, light hors d’oeurves, a beautiful cake with homemade ice cream. A mimosa brunch with the girls surrounded by fresh cut flowers. An elegant (but fun!) evening celebration on the water with a musician playing out on the dock as you and your friends dance under the stars… by the pool, by the lake, or at a local venue.

You can have a fabulous summer celebration without the stress of putting it all together. Reach me at (478) 457-7278 or via email at leia@leiaeubanksconsulting.com to schedule your fantastic, fun, worry-free fete!