MORNING SESSION

The morning session is a rare opportunity to hear from grantmakers directly. It features a panel discussion with grantmakers from a variety of private, corporate, and family foundations.

Issues we will explore with the panelists include:

• Foundation culture: what kinds of projects do grantmakers like to fund?
• Winning proposals: what makes them stand out?
• Losing proposals: the most common mistakes, and how to avoid them
• Foundation guidelines: are they set in stone?
• Building the relationship: what gives foundations confidence in the organizations they fund?

Whether you have been securing grants for decades or are just starting out, the Forum will expose you to a spectrum of views that will guide your understanding of how the grantmaking world functions.

AFTERNOON SESSION

The afternoon session will feature small group discussions that focus on the most common issues that grant seekers encounter, and give you a chance to hear from others in the trenches. The sessions will be led by group leaders who have secured many foundation grants themselves, and will encourage an open exchange of ideas. Issues to be discussed will include:

• Grantmaking trends: what do they mean for your organization?
• Building the relationship: seeing grantmakers as partners in your programs
• Winning proposals: do’s and don'ts for making your proposal stand out
• Funding diversification: creative ways to leverage your grants
• Dealing with rejection: staying in the game when the going gets tough

Who should attend this Forum?
The Forum is intended for anyone who is involved in fundraising for his or her organization, and in particular grant seeking. Whether you are responsible for developing the proposal, preparing the evaluation reports, or building and maintaining relationships with funders, you will learn a surprising amount of practical tips and techniques for becoming a more effective grant seeker.