Have you ever noticed a theme or idea that keeps slapping you in the face? It’s almost as if the universe is telling you to sit up and pay attention. No? Just me?
Well, it seems like I’m meant to contemplate my last (nearly) 25 years in the grants profession with the realization that my younger self could (and probably should) have done things differently. For so many of us, when we first find ourselves in the role of grant writer / administrator / specialist, we are so overwhelmed by the job itself that all we can do is put our heads down and get the grant proposals out the door.
But we should be doing so much more than that! These thoughts are probably swirling around in my head thanks to two events.
First, Kimberly and I were guests on Fundraising Everywhere’s LinkedIn Live HERE where host Simon Scriver asked us what we wish we had known when we started as a grant writer.
Then, Kimberly and I recorded our annual “Top Ten” episode for Season 7 of the Fundraising HayDay Podcast, and she suggested we talk about the top ten things we learned about grants over the course of our careers. Want to dive into that? Listen HERE.
Thanks to those two events, it made me really think about what I wish I could go back and tell my younger self. Here’s a few of the thoughts that continue to rise to the surface.
(1) For a long time, I never stopped to ask the question, “Should I be writing this grant?” If a colleague, board member, or boss threw a grant my way, I’d put together an application. And now, everything goes through the lens of “is this a good fit for our mission, strategic plan, and programming?” Because if not, we are passing.
(2) I was lucky to work at two local governments where my city manager believed that my role deserved a seat at the table. But it wasn’t until later in my career when I started interacting with other grant professionals before I realized not every grant pro was quite so lucky. So now I am a champion of grant professionals being a part of their organization’s leadership team – because our work impacts so many other aspects of an organization.
(3) The grant world is not an even playing field. I could go on for pages and pages about the inequities between the process, but for now let’s just say that the relationship between funders and grant recipients is often not equal – which means we are no where near participating in trust-based philanthropy. And that will never change without people like you and me speaking up and speaking out.
Ultimately, all of these discussions have reaffirmed my call to courage to use my voice. And part of using my voice is encouraging you (dear reader) to use your voice as well.
When it’s feasible, take the opportunity to educate up at work. You’ll be more effective in your role when everyone involved understands how grants do and do not work. When it won’t affect your chances for funding, talk to funders about the complications and inequities of their funding practices. That may look like waiting until you’re serving as a grant consultant to do so. It may also look like sharing information with Crappy Funding Practices or Grant Advisor.
Use your voice, because you have one. That’s what I wish I could go back and tell my younger self. Heck, maybe it took all those years of experience for me to even find my voice. That and surrounding myself with encouraging people along the way.
What would you tell your younger grant pro self? If you’re so inclined, I’d love to hear it. Email me at hello@haydayservices.com.
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