Learn what’s happening at The Write Source, LLC

Vermont Consortium Wins $200,000 Federal Grant

The Write Source is please to announce that its client, Marlboro College, received a two-year $200,000 grant from the federal agency, the Corporation for National and Community Service, to launch Benchmarks for a Better Vermont.  In partnership with Common Good Vermont, the United Way of Chittenden County, the United Ways of Vermont, SerVermont, and the Vermont Community Foundation, the college will work to build the capacity of nonprofits in the state to make significant, sustained improvements in the way they help their constituents obtain healthy futures, excellent education, and economic opportunities.

Using results-based accountability (RBA), the program will raise awareness about systems of performance measurement (SPM) then create a ladder of opportunity that will begin with a basic training for approximately 100 nonprofits followed by a formal assessment and competitive process to select 15 small to midsize organizations for a 75-hour, 16-month intensive Performance Institute. For those nonprofits based or working in Vermont interested learning more about this program, watch an interview of consortium partners or visit the Benchmarks for a Better Vermont website for more information.  

Two More Write Source Clients Win Kresge Challenge Grants

The Write Source is now seven wins out of eight submissions for challenge grants from the Kresge Foundation for various building projects of our clients over the past 16 years.  In 2008, both Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah and the YMCA of Greater Hartford in Connecticut received Kresge Challenge Grants. 

Westminster College is the latest recipient of a $1.0 million Kresge Challenge Grant toward their $30.0 million Make It Happen capital campaign to support the creation of the Meldrum Science Center.  The College submitted the proposal we helped design in September with the Kresge Foundation announcing the award in December.

In June 2008, the Kresge Foundation notified the YMCA of Greater Hartford that the proposal we created for their new facility in North Hartford, as part of their $15.5 million Second Century of Service  capital campaign, will receive an $850,000 challenge grant!  Previous clients winning Kresge Challenge Grants include the Blue Water YMCA in Port Huron, Michigan that received $800,000 in 2006 and Phelps Memorial Hospital in Sleepy Hollow, New York that received $800,000 in 2005.  Learn more about these projects by visiting our Grant Awards page.

Advice for Writing Grant Proposals in the Age of Social Media Article All Thumbs?

In an article entitled All Thumbs? in the July/August 2010 issue of Advancing Philanthropy, Diane Gedeon-Martin, President of The Write Source talks about the effect of texting and social media are having on preparing grant proposals.  

The Write Source President Earns Master Trainer Title at 47th AFP International Conference

Diane Gedeon-Martin, President of The Write Source, was selected to participate in the Faculty Training Academy at the 47th Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) International Conference in Baltimore where she received the title of Master Trainer. 

Faculty Training Academy participants understand adult learning concepts and teaching techniques including learning styles and training methods, lesson plans, ice breakers and energizers, forms of delivery, handling questions, giving directions, facilitating discussions and working with difficult trainees.  Ms. Gedeon-Martin is part of a group of 179 highly qualified teachers that take leadership positions in AFP professional education programs.

Audioconference on Writing Tight has Largest Audience Ever!

The audioconference entitled Writing Tight: Secrets to Preparing Successful Online Grant Proposals conducted by Diane Gedeon-Martin of The Write Source, on June 10, 2008 for the American Association of Grant Professionals (AAGP) and Charity University yielded the largest audience ever since beginning the program in 2004.  A total of 68 sites from across the country with anywhere from one to 20 participants listened to the audioconference and followed the presentation materials. 

You can listen to the audioconference and receive the materials for a fee by visiting either the AAGP or Charity University websites then following the links.  Or go to our Conference Schedule page to order the pre-recorded session.

Online Grant Proposal Trends Featured in The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Based on the success of the Writing Tight: Secrets to Preparing Successful Online Grant Proposals audioconference conducted by Diane Gedeon-Martin of The Write Source and hosted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals last fall, The Chronicle of Philanthropy decided to explore this emerging trend.  The author of the article Grant Seeking Goes Paperless interviewed Ms. Gedeon-Martin for her candid view on the process, both pro and con.  .

Audioconference on Writing Tight  has Third Largest Audience!

The AFP Audioconference conducted by Diane Gedeon-Martin of The Write Source, on September 6, 2007, entitled Writing Tight: Secrets to Preparing Successful Online Grant Proposals had the third largest attendance in the six-year history of their audioconference series.  There were 127 sites that participated with an average of 20 persons per site totaling an audience of over 2,500!  Listeners from across the United States and Canada followed the materials provided by Ms. Gedeon-Martin to learn how to trim the fat out of their writing to accommodate the slim formats of today’s online grant applications.  Visit our Conference Schedule page to order the CD package that includes the PowerPoint presentation from AFP.

“Cutting to the Chase” Article Showcases The Write Source President

In preparation of conducting the AFP Audioconference entitled Writing Tight: Secrets to Successful Online Proposals, Diane Gedeon-Martin provided her perspective of dealing with online applications.  Read the article Cutting to the Chase: Writing in the Online Age.

Be sure to check out our Grant Awards page for news on recent and past grants received by some of our many clients.

Total Grantseeking Management^SM 

for Nonprofit Organizations 

Since 1993