ABOUT MONEY TALKS
Money Talks is an online publication produced by the Ontario Council of International Cooperation (OCIC) that presents innovative solutions for common funding challenges faced by development professionals and organizations. This capacity building tool helps spark new creative ventures for organizations seeking to diversify their funding options and deepen the scope of their work. Each issue tackles a different development theme and gathers advice from key philanthropists, social innovators, and fundraising professionals.
MONEY TALKS ISSUE 4: LET’S TALK FOUNDATIONS
In the previous Money Talks issues, we have covered fundraising strategies, methods on funder research, and grant proposal writing basics. The fourth and final issue serves as a continuation of our previous discussions, by focusing on the roles and funding mechanism of foundations.
Moving from a handbook-style approach, Money Talks Issue 4: Let’s Talk Foundations, aims to provide real life examples on grant-making processes and suggestions on grant-seeking best practices through a series of interviews and webinars. In this issue, we invite representatives from prominent foundations in Canada that have extensive experience working with nonprofits, charities and individuals to mobilize initiatives making a difference locally and globally. In the interviews and webinars, our guest speakers will join us to introduce their respective institutions, funding models, and grant cycles – including fund gathering, proposal call drafting, screening, and reporting mechanisms.
An additional focus will be on the rising significance and embodiment of the Agenda 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and gender equality within Canada’s current funding landscape – How do foundations incorporate the SDGs in their funding calls, screening and reporting processes? How can grant-seekers demonstrate stronger understanding of the Agenda to better meet the mandates? And what roles do the foundations play in the Together for Gender Equality movements?
Money Talks Issue 4: Let’s Talk Foundations will continue the accessible language and nature of its predecessors. We hope the outputs will help Canadian nonprofits, charities, and individuals gain deeper understanding of the grantmaking sector and enhance their capacity to engage with foundations in the future. The issue will be published on an ongoing timeline throughout winter (January – March) 2019.
SPEAKERS
Andrew Chunilall
CEO, Community Foundations of Canada
Andrew joined Community Foundations Canada in 2013 and became CEO in 2017, following a six-year tenure as Vice-President of Finance for the London Community Foundation and his long-standing service as a finance and regulatory expert for Canada’s philanthropic milieu. Now at the head of the community foundation movement, Andrew is working closely with the Community Foundations of Canada Leadership team, Board and foundations in Canada and abroad to help the philanthropic sector transform, innovate and meet the new challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS WITH ANDREW
- What is special about community foundations?
- What is an endowment fund?
- What does a grant cycle of a community foundation typically look like?
- What and who determines the timing and duration of the cycles?
- When it comes to grant applications, what is the makeup of the Grants Committees that screen proposals?
- What are some new trends, opportunities, and challenges in the sector?
- And more!
WEBINAR QUESTIONS
- What do community foundations and the CFC hope to mobilize through the grants?
- What are some key highlights and red flags you look for in a grant proposal?
- Was there a proposal / past partnership experience that really stood out?
- What do you look for in reporting? How do community foundations and the CFC sustain long term relationship with their partners and grantees?
- What are some other ways and tools besides grantmaking that the CFC and community foundations currently (or plan to) offer to support local initiatives?
- What is one advice you would give to small and medium sized organizations (SMOs) and communities new to grant-seeking?
- How is the work of CFC and community foundations tied into the global framework of sustainable development?
- With the theme of this year’s International Development Week being “Together for Gender Equality,” what role do you see the CFC and community foundations play in this movement?
Anuradha Dugal
Director of Community Initiatives, Canadian Women’s Foundation
Anuradha Dugal has been Director of Community Initiatives at Canadian Women’s Foundation since 2008 and was previously Board Member (2002 – 2007) and Chair of the Violence Prevention Committee. The Canadian Women’s Foundation is a national leader in the movement for gender equality in Canada. Through funding, research, advocacy, and knowledge sharing for, with and among community-based organizations, the Foundation empowers women and girls to move out of violence, out of poverty, and into confidence and leadership.
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS WITH ANU
- Tell us about the Canadian Women’s Foundation (CWF)
- What does the Canadian Women’s Foundation mobilize through grants?
- What are some communities that the CWF actively work with?
- How are the funding/grants opportunities determined?
- What do you look for in a grant proposal and application?
- For organizations that work overseas and are not eligible to CWF funding, what are some different ways of partnership they can engage with the CWF?
- And more!
WEBINAR QUESTIONS
- What does a grant cycle typically look like in Canadian Women’s Foundation?
- What are some red flags or highlights you look for in a grant proposal?
- How can applicants effectively tell their stories in the proposals? What are some creative ways of impact measurement you have seen?
- How does the CWF ensure that no power is abused in programs working with vulnerable groups? What are the accountability and transparency mandates?
- What was a past partnership experience that stood out?
- How can small and medium sized organizations (SMOs) and communities reach out to CWF and engage with our civic leaders to push for more gender equality action and policies?
Professor Ken Wyman
Faculty Member, Fundraising Management and the International Development graduate program at Humber College
Professor Ken Wyman has taught in the Fundraising Management graduate program and the International Development graduate program at Humber College, and at several other colleges and universities.
His fundraising career began with five years as National Coordinator of Fund Raising and Publicity for OXFAM-Canada where he led a campaign that reversed a seven-year decline in income, and tripled public donations. Earlier, as a journalist and photographer, Ken filed news and human-interest stories from across Canada, Europe, South America and the Middle East. He has reported for The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, The Financial Post, As It Happens, and CBC National News, among others.
Ken was a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) for over 33 years. This international professional designation requires passing a rigorous exam and re-certification based on current practice every three years. His research sabbatical in 2012-13 focused on the challenges charities face when they speak out as advocates for social change.
A popular trainer and consultant, he has lead conferences and workshops across Canada and the US, and in Cuba, Sweden, Austria, England, and Holland. Ken has been called “one of the world’s best fundraisers.”
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS WITH KEN
- What are some major differences between applying for a foundation grant and a government grant?
- What are some strategies in researching foundations’ funding opportunities?
- What types of projects and programs are more appropriate to apply for foundation grants?
- What are some common mistakes people make in grant-seeking and grant-writing?
- And more!
WEBINAR QUESTIONS
- What are some common mistakes people make in grant-seeking and grant-writing?
- What are the cost behind grant-seeking and grant-writing? And how should an organization budget for it?
- How can an organization reach out to a foundation or a potential grantor/sponsor/donor without an invite or call for proposal?
- How can nonprofit organizations work and learn collaboratively about grants as partners rather than as competitors?
- How can we share the lessons we learned to our funders?
- How about the ethical consideration behind grant-seeking and fundraising?
PAST ISSUES OF MONEY TALKS
MONEY TALKS ISSUE 3: DON’T TAKE GRANTS FOR GRANTED
The third Issue Don’t Take Grants for Granted will help you find other grants, and others in this series will help you develop a strategy to find revenue from major donors and the wider public. If you are having trouble getting or receiving grants, this article will help you find grantors and learn how to connect effectively with governments, foundations, corporations, and other less well-known grantors.
Access Money Talks Issue 3 Proposal Writing Toolkit here.
MONEY TALKS ISSUE 2: WHAT’S THE MONEY FOR? BUILDING YOUR CASE FOR SUPPORT
Money Talks Issue 2 shares insights on developing compelling stories, appealing to different donor types, harnessing the power of persuasive language and includes case for support templates to increase fundraising success. The newsletter also gives advice on using donor tours as an effective fundraising tool.
MONEY TALKS ISSUE 1: DETERMINING YOUR BEST FUNDRAISING STRATEGY
Money Talks Issue 1 focuses on determining your best fundraising strategy. It also shares key findings from Small and Medium-Sized Civil Society Organizations as Development Actors: A Review of Evidence, released by the Inter-Council Network of Provincial and Regional Councils for International Cooperation (ICN) in May 2016. This study provides an overview of the SMO funding landscape and makes the case for more support for SMOs as development actors.
