Adding a few fun activities to your life can really boost business. Think of it as non-traditional marketing.

This goes for nonprofits, public agencies, and commercial businesses alike. Getting out into the community, having a little fun, and connecting with other people in a genuine way not only alleviates stress from the daily grind, it makes your day-to-day activities more effective, and ultimately more profitable.

This summer I latched onto my love of community theatre and got involved in the Milledgeville Players’ production of Once Upon a Mattress. Just for fun? Of course. You may ask, “But Leia, how in the world could you possibly have time for that in the midst of building a new business AND working a part-time job to pay the bills?” Simple. Write it off as outreach time.

You’ll notice that I haven’t written a blog post in quite a while, and that’s because I’ve used my time differently over these past couple of months. As a one-woman-show (for now), sometimes I have to let things slide to make room for other things. This summer, I decided to make fun time my marketing time, and I’m so glad I did! I’ve established relationships that not only nuture my soul and creative spirit, but that will most probably aid me in future business growth. Let us not forget that people do business with people they like. This goes for you fundraisers as well:  people give to people they like! If you don’t take the time to establish genuine relationships in the community where you’re doing business, you might as well call it quits.

So… go have a little fun!

I, for one, am not ashamed to say that I need a vacation. Along with 2-hour mid-day naps like the Italians. But anyway…

I thought I’d look up the benefits of vacationing to justify this need to get away from work for awhile. Consider this my gift to you;  share these facts with your bosses (or with your little inner boss if you’re self-employed like me!).

Besides the obvious stress-relieving benefits of a little down time, taking a vacation inspires creativity, strengthens bonds with loved ones, and leads to a higher quality of work on the job, according to Dr. Elizabeth Scott, About.com Health Guide. Those are good enough reasons for me!

Can you play well with others? If not, you may be on the fast track to failure. I’ve been reminded of this while working alongside a fantastic group of nonprofit partners in Milledgeville, GA. These leaders have been working well with each other for years, planning programs, reducing redundant service, and supporting each other in their quest for a better community and a sustainable future.

Last week, this group was presented with the opportunity of using their well-established partnerships for a very large collaborative grant. If the grant is awarded, each of the organizations will benefit. Had they not collaborated, none of them would have had a shot at the grant, and it would’ve been impossible to bring this amazing new program that they’ve designed to the community.

My business has also been able to realize opportunities through collaboration with other local businesses. This Wednesday, Goebel Media Group and Leia Eubanks Consulting are launching a new service for small businesses and organizations in Central Georgia. If you would like to learn more, join us for a Lunch & Learn session, “Business Blogging:  How Your Small Town Business Can Build a BIG Online Presence,” at the Knight Community Innovation Center (127 W. Hancock St. in Milledgeville, next to the Campus Theatre) from 12:00-1:30 p.m. There is no cost to attend the session, but please RSVP to leia@leiaeubanksconsulting.com. The event is sponsored by Digital Bridges, a venture of Georgia College & State University with funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

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!

Ha! Gotcha. If you’re reading this blog, you are in the vast majority of people who stop to read articles that mention sex. According to Fast Company’s latest article, 7 Scientifically Proven Ways to Get “Shared” on Facebook, I have to talk about sex to get anyone to pay attention to me. Okay. I can play this game.

Fundraising is like dating. Any fundraising professional that has had success will tell you that. Like dating, fundraising takes relationship-building skills beyond basic networking or social skills. In fundraising, you’re asking for a genuine sacrifice, an investment in the future. Finding the right match might be the first step, but cultivating the donor is a serious part of creating a lasting relationship –a.k.a. repeat donations. One time donations might be nice in the short term, but who wants nothing but first dates?

Donor Dating Rules:

1. Do your homework. Pursue donors that are right for your organization.
2. Don’t be afraid to take a few risks.
3. Show grace to those who show interest in what you do, knowing that very often small gifts grow into much larger gifts if the donor is respected and if the organization is a good steward of small gifts. Build trust and show that you care about the donor him/herself.
4. Don’t allow your organization to be used as a tool for self-gratification. If a donor says “take this money and build this,” make sure what they’re asking you to do truly fits within the mission and vision of your organization and is sustainable.
5. Don’t whore out your organization. Think twice before taking that big corporate sponsorship if it means that logos will be plastered over the true purpose of your event or program. You’ll be respected in the long run.
6. Keep them coming back. Continually give your supporters reasons to fall head-over-heels in love with the work you’re doing.

If you need a little coaching in this crazy donor dating world, call your Central Georgia “matchmaker” at (478) 457-7278 or email at leia@leiaeubanksconsulting.com.

I’m not a heartless person. I love the warm fuzzy feeling I get when I help someone in need. But there comes a point where people in a community, corporate or small business environment, or grantmaking pool become inundated with warm, fuzzy, feel-good causes. Check out Facebook. On this one social networking site, there are thousands of “causes.” While many Facebook users click the “Become a Fan” button, how many of these causes are actually realizing revenue streams from these “fans” that will allow them to do the feel-good work they’re proposing?

Don’t get me wrong:  I’m NOT advocating against Facebook. Social networking sites can be extremely useful for advocacy and fundraising purposes if utilized properly. I’m talking about the types of campaigns I see so many nonprofits presenting. Real, emotionally and financially committed donors are usually not concerned on how their giving will make them feel good. The donors that you want, the ones who keep coming back and who truly care, want to be presented with a balance of hard facts, substantial evidence, evaluation of programs, and a clear vision for future programming and efficient operations.

Corporate and small business donors must be thought of and approached differently than other donors. Savvy corporate and small business executives consider their donations investments in the communities where their businesses are located. This, of course, helps to ensure healthy environments conducive to commerce. Knowing this, approach your prospective donors with ideas to support your position as a benefit to the community as a whole. What would your community look like without your organization’s presence? What problems can your organization eliminate in the communities you serve, and why is your organization best suited to serve those needs? More importantly, how is your organization connecting with other organizations and community leaders to serve community-wide problems? As a nonprofit leader, you should constantly research the ways in which your organization’s service benefits the service of others. For instance, an arts organization can inspire entrepreneurship and improve high school graduation rates, while an education-focused organization has the potential to decrease crime rates and teen pregnancies.

 Of course, my business is always here to help you fill in the blanks. Contact me today at (478) 457-7278 or via email at leia@leiaeubanksconsulting.com to discuss your development needs.