As a grant professional, who you report to and where you sit in the org chart matters. When I worked in local government, my position (Grants Administrator) was nestled in the Administration Department and reported directly to the City Manager/Administrator. I had no idea what a blessing that would be. Because when you report to the City Manager (similar to the Executive Director of a nonprofit), everyone assumes your position comes with a level of authority.
But not every grant professional finds themselves in such a position.
Whether we like it or not, there is a hierarchy of things – and sadly, grant work is often looked at as entry level work. And that leaves many grant professionals in the position of no authority, no upward mobility, and no voice in your organization. In the latest episode of the Fundraising HayDay Podcast, Kimberly and I spoke with Laura Chynoweth, Founder & CEO of Granted Fundraising Consultants about how grant professionals can work to disrupt the development hierarchy. Take a listen HERE.
So, if you don’t find yourself seated in a position of power within your organizations, how do you find your voice and take a leadership role? Here’s a few ideas.
(1) It starts with education.
Chances are, your colleagues, bosses, and board members/elected officials all know grants bring in money, but they have no idea how the process works. When possible, take the opportunity to educate up by:
- Leading a short workshop about how grants work at an upcoming board meeting.
- Meeting with program directors to learn their funding needs and explaining what expenses and activities are most likely to be funded through grant programing.
- Creating a grant calendar for the year and reviewing it with your immediate supervisor (and maybe their supervisor too) to explain your plan and set expectations for your time.
(2) Build partnerships.
We all know successful grant applications are more than words on a page. It requires support letters from local agencies, partners willing to donate time and resources to a project, and so much more. Find ways to build relationships with other organizations by:
- Joining your local Grant Professionals Association (GPA), Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), or National Grant Management Association (NGMA) chapters to meet grant professionals working at other agencies.
- If you don’t have a local chapter, call local agencies that you would like to partner with and find out if they have a grant professional on staff; then reach out with an offer to meet for coffee and talk about your work.
- If an organization does not have a dedicated grant professional, but they want to learn more about grants, offer to lead a short session on grants (with permission from your boss, of course).
- Once you have established key relationships, you have the means to build partnerships for joint grant proposals.
(3) Become a leader in your own right.
In staff meetings, do not be afraid to use your voice. When you have an insight and other useful information to share, speak up. If your organization does not have multiple grant positions meaning no opportunity for mobility, find leadership skills elsewhere. Consider:
- Stepping up in a leadership position within your local GPA, AFP, or NGMA chapter.
- Running for a national board position with GPA, AFP, NGMA, the Grant Professionals Certification Institute (if you have your GPC), or the Grant Professionals Foundation.
- Joining the board of a local nonprofit.
(4) Be the go-to grants expert.
When someone thinks about grants in your community, you want your name to be at the top of the list. You can do that through a variety of means, including:
- Presenting at national and local conferences and gatherings. (My first speaking engagement was at the Alpharetta Women’s Club; then the city’s Recreation and Parks Department asked me to speak at their regional conference about grants; and from there I had the confidence to speak at the GPA annual conference.)
- Educating up within your work place every chance you get.
- Contributing to written publications, whether it is a blog post or a journal article. Most member organizations (such as GPA, AFP, and NGMA) have a variety of options.
Ultimately, if the grant position is not located in a favorable position within your agency’s org chart, it’s up to you to educate everyone that a grants position takes skills, knowledge, and dedication for success. It’s not fair, but your option is to either work to make it better or find a new organization where grant professionals are given the respect the position deserves.
How have you worked to elevate the grants position within your organization? Let us know by email hello@haydayservices.com.
Amanda Day, GPC, is a national trainer and speaker. With 20 years of grant prospect research, writing, and management experience, she has the knowledge, know-how, and stories to keep every workshop participant and conference attendee engaged and better prepared to succeed in the grant profession. She is well versed in federal and private grant funding, as well as educating up and using your professional network to best build career path. Her passion lies in preparing grant professionals to successfully fund their organizational and community needs, along with meeting their personal career and leadership goals.
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