Event Description: 

Join us for an immersive half-day Grants Bootcamp hosted by  The Colorado Nonprofit Association as well as the COGPA. This event is tailored for individuals and organizations actively engaged in grant submission and management, or those poised to embark on their grant-seeking journey. Crafted with the beginner to intermediate nonprofit professional in mind, our dynamic presentations will cover the following vital topics:

Program Evaluation and Impact: Gain essential insights into assessing and articulating the effectiveness of your programs, ensuring that your initiatives make a meaningful difference.

Storytelling in Grants: Learn the art of crafting compelling narratives that captivate grantors, making your proposals stand out and resonate on a deeper level.

Working with Boards: Discover effective strategies for engaging and aligning your board of directors to champion your grant-seeking efforts, ensuring a harmonious collaboration for success.

Grant Prospect Research: Uncover the secrets to identifying the most promising grant opportunities, streamlining your search process, and maximizing your chances of securing crucial funding.

This Grants Bootcamp promises to equip you with practical skills, valuable insights, and a renewed sense of confidence in navigating the world of grants. Whether you're a seasoned grant professional or just embarking on this journey, this event is designed to elevate your grant-seeking endeavors. Don't miss this opportunity to take your grantsmanship to the next level!

Session Descriptions: 

Stronger Grant Narratives Through Program Design and Evaluation Tools

This practical presentation will explore how grant professionals can utilize elements of program design and evaluation tools to tell the story of impact for organizations and programs in grant narratives. Through narrative examples and interactive exercises, participants will leave with actionable ideas they can implement right away in their own narratives.

Weaving the Golden Thread: How to Help Boards Create a Grant Strategy

What is the Board of Director’s role in grants? Boards often include grant seeking as part oftheir fundraising strategies and plans. However, there is often a disconnect between board members’ desire to seek grant funds and their understanding of how grants actually work to fund programs, projects, or general operation costs. This session will provide practical tools to help you work withboards of directors (or executive teams) to create a grant strategy. We will discuss methods to identify funding priorities, tie ideas to the organization’s mission and strategic plan, build consensus, and create alignment for a realistic and achievable grant seeking strategy plan.

The Art and Science of Prospect Research

Step into the fascinating arena of prospect research, where you’ll learn to blend creativity with critical analysis to unearth potential funding opportunities and position your organization for grant success. In this session, participants will:

• Explore a variety of sources for finding information about potential grant funding opportunities.
• Understand how to assess and prioritize the various elements of an RFP or funder profile to evaluate your organization’s or program’s fit.
• Discover ways to “read between the lines” and understand subtle cues that can help you predict your chances of success.

Equip yourself with tools and insights to elevate your grant writing game. Discover the art of connecting the dots and the science of informed decision-making when it comes to developing your grant funding strategy.

Presenters: 

Julie Paynotta

Julie Paynotta, GPC, RSM brings over 30 years of nonprofit experience to her 10-year career as an independent grant professional, having supported grant development in organizations working to advance mental health, women's health, affordable housing, youth development, education, LGBTQ, and veteran missions. Her background and experience with program design and evaluation equips her to facilitate organizations in telling the story of their work and weave a strong thread of impact through grant narratives. Julie lives in Monument, Colorado with her husband and various assorted children and cats.

Morgan Carpenter 

Morgan Carpenter is a nonprofit consultant, grant writer, and Grant Professionals Association-approved trainer dedicated to strengthening community organizations in Colorado and beyond. She provides customized services,including grant writing, board training, capacity building, and strategic planning facilitation to help nonprofits amplify their impact and achieve fundraising success. Morgan serves on the board for GPA’s Colorado Chapter as the organization’s Marketing Committee Chair, and her passion for human services organizations is reflected through her volunteer service as a Court Appointed Special Advocate. She was named one of northern Colorado’s top 40 Under Forty young professionals and was also recognized by the Junior League with the Elena Lawrence Inspiration Award in 2021 for her work to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion. Morgan's strategic approach and commitment to empowering grassroots groups and other nonprofits anchor her mission to drive collective community change. Get in touch with her at www.carpenternonprofitconsulting.com.

Jennifer Pierceall Herman 

Jennifer has more than 25 years of experience working for non-profits, higher education, workforce development, youth development, communications, and healthcare in the Pikes Peak Region. Jennifer has served in many diverse roles including grants director, grant writer, non-profit CEO, college administrator, workforce business relations manager, career counselor, journalist, and as a non-profit consultant. Additionally, Jennifer has served on several boards of directors in the region, including the Fremont County Economic Development Council, St. Thomas More Hospital Board of Trustees,and the Upper Arkansas Workforce Development Board.

Jennifer has expertise and doctoral training in strategic planning, program planning, program evaluation, impact measurement, grant writing, operations alignment, and grant management. As part of her various roles, Jennifer has participated in and facilitated dozens of strategic planning processes and focus groups. Her expertise is in connecting diverse groups of people and organizations to achieve common goals.

Pricing: 

• Members - $75.00
• Non-Members - $125.00

* Lunch will be provided for Grants Bootcamp Attendees

Location: 

Colorado Gives Foundation

5855 Wadsworth Bypass Unit A  

Arvada, CO 80003

 

Cancellation Policy: We know schedules can change. If your plans change, you may cancel your ticket, in writing, up to 30 days before the event for a full refund or you may transfer your ticket to another member of your organization. Cancellations less than 30 days from the event will only be eligible for transfers, no refunds. If you have questions about our policy, please email programs@coloradononprofits.org.