Consultants in Nonprofit Management
& Fund Development
Take it for GRANTed, we're
the solution to your funding problems!
"In these economic times, how can I afford to focus on fund
development? "
The more correct question to ask is:
"In these economic times, how can I afford NOT to focus
on fund development? "
Nonprofits - large and small - are under the impression that in today's economy - especially in Michigan
- that grant funds are no longer available. While it is true that many foundations have either reduced the overall total
amount of money they award or the total number of grants they provide, there are still large amounts of grant dollars available
to a wide variety of nonprofits.
If we look at Michigan as an
example, it is a state that has been ravaged by the economy. Adding to that, suffering from huge manufacturing losses,
the crash of the auto companies, an antiquated tax structure, and some of the highest national levels of home foreclosure
and unemployment; few would argue that many states have been as negatively impacted by the economy as has Michigan.
However, there remains a philanthropic community that is very much alive in the state. A review of the headlines on Crain's
Detroit Business' website as recently as October, 2011 supports this with the following:
Kresge Foundation awards $750K to Voices of Detroit Initiative for health
programming
Detroit Institute of Arts gets $440K in grants from the Henry Luce Foundation and the Terra
Foundation
Jewish Women's Foundation awards 19 grants totaling $183K
Erb Family Foundation makes
$1.23M in grants
Art Van to give $1M to 50 MI-based nonprofits
Anonymous donor makes a $1M gift
Well-known Metro
Detroit child & family services nonprofit successfully completes $1.2M campaign
Great Lakes Science Center gets $8.2M in federal funds for research vessels
Community Legal Resources awards
$60K to 16 local nonprofits
Nonprofits need to bear
in mind that even in the most difficult economic times, the "5% Rule Governing Foundations" remains in effect. This
rule speaks to the IRS requirement that in order to maintain their tax-exempt status, foundations are required to give away
an amount equal to or greater than 5% of their total assets annually.
Does your organization have
a comprehensive development plan in place implemented by an experienced professional?
Or, is fund development "added on" to the other duties of already
overworked staff?
Fund Finders is licensed with the State of Michigan as a Professional Fund Raising entity (MIFR# 27105). Should you have any concerns regarding the quality of service, ethical treatment, or any other aspect of your relationship
with Fund Finders, please contact the Michigan Attorney General's Office at (517) 373-1152 or via their
website at www.michigan.gov/ag.
Cynthia A. DeLadurantaye Fund Finders P.O. Box 834 Grayling, MI 49738 Phone: (989) 344-9335
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