SYMPOSIUM NOTES: GRANTSMANSHIP

The Fundraising in This Economic Crisis: Unearth Potential was well-attended, well-received and very, very fortunate to have fantastic presenters and the generous support of the Unitarian Church of Evanston. Below is a small idea of some of what we learned.

Marybeth Schroeder, Senior Program Officer at the Evanston Community Foundation, shared her knowledge and perspective of how charitable foundations have been affected by the economy -- ECF, as well as local and national foundations. The ECF's activities are three-pronged:

1. Raise and manage endowment
2. Make grants to Evanston organizations
3. Serve as a community convener by bringing together other community partners

Marybeth urged the audience to consider, when applying for a grant from a foundation, if the mission of the organization fits with the guidelines of the foundation.... Organizations should not spend time pursuing grants from sources that are unlikely to fund them.

Be familiar with application deadlines. ECF has three giving cycles in 2009....

Foundations must have careful management of its endowed funds, ECF lost only 19% on its investments last year, while the national average is about 30%. They are not pulling into their shell and shunning new commitments....

For a copy of the full minutes of the Symposium, email kamblake@aol.com.