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| Re: Detailed information of amounts raised
Posted by Tony Poderis   on 5/29/2009, 9:47 am, in reply to "Detailed information of amounts raised"
VIP Poster | Message modified by user Tony Poderis 5/29/2009, 3:01 pm
Cristina: The interpretations and recommendations made by Julie and Carl, and your own instincts, regarding the information required by the potential client, are no doubt good paths for you to follow with some adjustments along the way---if you so choose. All three of you are approaching the bizarre and rather forward request with experienced and practical thinking. However, I’m with “Elvis,” and our “Suspicious Minds.” Perhaps a “stretch,” but I see the possibilities for the organization’s demands as being promoted for either, or both, of the following reasons:
1. You give them a quick and easy access, for free and no work on their part, to a possible donor base, whether you are hired or not.
2. You could be setting yourself up for possible failure with the organization should their mission and programs, after your good and hard work, fail to attract the grants you show as successes gained previously elsewhere.
Skipping past questions of ethics and confidentiality---which are legitimate issues, though arguably relevant or not---what I see as being the one main reason for the organization asking for such information, is to have you work to achieve grant award levels you set up with giving them such detailed advance information. I think such information sought is more to see “your” successes, thus to have you toe the mark and do the same or better for them.
A new organization is more likely to labor under such misconceptions that, somehow, the grant writer herself of himself “gets” the grants. That is far from the truth. As you know, grants are awarded more due to function, than to form. It’s what is within the organization---its core values---that appeals to grantors or not. The best researched and written grant proposal can go for naught due to many circumstances well beyond the control of a grant writer professional. You know that, but perhaps to reinforce your thinking, and even to let the potential client know the realities of the grant seeking process, I have a listing of the many ways proposals are denied, out of the control of the grant writer, regardless how well that professional made the case for support in writing.
--- Positioning Grant Writers For Success
http://www.raise-funds.com/040202forum.html
And, I respectfully suggest care on your part that you do not inadvertently lead them down the grant-writer-fundraiser path. Semantics it may simply be, but harmful it can be, as you said “... listing all the foundations and corporations I've raised funds from.”
Don’t let them believe that you raised those funds. The organizations and their programs, services and projects and a myriad of other things contributed to the successes. Though your grant writing and proposal development were excellent, you, as the grant writer, had little, if anything, to do with the ultimate decisions of the grantors.
Don’t let this potential client think otherwise with your listing of successes, much less to have them come up with a faulty expectation of the rate and magnitude of your success in getting the money for them in the same way.
It’s your choice. However, I would only provide names of previous clients as references.
Best wishes for success,
Tony
Tony Poderis
http://www.raise-funds.com
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