Access Philanthropy

Mary Anne Welch

Client Satisfaction Survey

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Your Feedback is Important!

We are grateful for the opportunity to have worked with you! Thank you for your mission and your great work in the community.
Thank you also for taking the time to complete our online survey.

At Access Philanthropy, client feedback is critical in facilitating our continual improvement processes.

Your opinion will assist our team in understanding how we can improve our existing services, what are the gaps and how we can continue to add value to all our clients’ projects.

Again, we thank you for taking the time to complete our Client Feedback Survey.

Name
1. Access Philanthropy provides highly talented consultants with the right experience, skills and culture fit
2. Access Philanthropy gets things done with a high degree of quality and efficiency
3. Access Philanthropy charges time to/invoices our projects fairly and accurately
4. Access Philanthropy is able to work well with our staff/board members/other
5. Access Philanthropy customizes their methodologies, tools and templates to meet the unique needs of our project(s)
6. Access Philanthropy's consultants take time to learn about our mission, people, and culture.
7. In regards to overall value, I believe Access Philanthropy meets or exceeds my expectations

Senior Grantwriters Needed

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“Contract Position: Access Philanthropy seeks experienced grantwriters, who can work with a variety of nonprofit clients and write with clarity and dynamism. The writer will join a talented and growing team of writers, researchers and consultants who have spent decades working in nonprofit and funding communities.

About Access Philanthropy

Access Philanthropy Inc. (API) has been around for twenty years, working with (large and small) nonprofit and government agencies locally, nationally, and internationally.

API is known locally and nationally for close, knowledgeable working relationships with every client; great information’ great writing/messaging’ and great people working in a great team.

API supports organizations

  • Just starting up, or restarting their grants/fundraising efforts
  • That need a specific push or assistance (perceptions, grant schedules, messaging)
  • That need monthly support for grantwriting, fundraising plans, and just  getting back on track
  • That need specific grant and grantmaker information and strategies

API is one of the premier nonprofit fundraising support teams in Minnesota, providing prospect research, funding workshops, grant production, and organizational and fundraising planning

Qualifications: We Need People Who

  • Get to know a client’s work/needs quickly and thoroughly
  • Communicate well with clients by email, text, phone, Zoom, etc.
  • Are fearless of funders and their gatekeepers
  • Can persistently keep clients on track with grant tasks and deadlines
  • Can juggle multiple clients/deadlines
  • Support grant research for clients, such as deadlines and eligibility (support from API researchers)
  • Maintain accurate and detailed records
  • Work independently
  • Are of good humor and patient with clients and others
  • Have a history of working with Minnesota funders
  • And most importantly, consistently write clearly, succinctly, and engagingly.

What We Offer

  • This is an independent contractor position, not an employment position
  • Work with some of the most experienced and talented grant-thropists in Minnesota who really understand how to get heard and how to get funded
  • Work in a great team environment with some sensitivity to personal needs and quirks
  • Work from home

Work with GREAT clients

$50/hour minimum for the first year.  Generally, 20-25 hours/month, typically 5-7 hours/week

Next Steps

  • Send a cover letter, resume, sample of past clients, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, SAMPLES OF PAST PROPOSALS AND LETTERS OF INQUIRY
  • Let us know your availability – when are you ready to write
  • We aren’t crazy about telephone calls, but feel free to send a few smart questions.  See below
  • No deadlines, but we have clients waiting.

Send: cover, resume  and WRITING SAMPLES to [email protected]

Questions: [email protected]
Access Philanthropy is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.”

Trends in declining grants to seeker. A new class of foundation executive. Unions?

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Grantmakers’ Declinations
Foundations are talking about the best way to tell a grantseeker their request has been declined. It’s a good move forward in creating more transparent philanthropic partnerships.

— Some foundations are making sure the board/trustees give a specific reason for why the request was declined. This opens up the possibility for grantseekers to believe if they fix that one thing, they’re assured funding in the next round.
— Foundations are offering “declination grants” of up to $2,500 for grantseekers who didn’t receive a larger grant. Large funders, like the Ford and Gates Foundations, who receive a tremendous number of requests, would run out of funds just on declination grants.
— Others are offering $1,000-$1,500 declination grants to grantseekers who make it past the first Letter of Inquiry (LOI) stage.
— Some funders host a “let your hair down” happy hour after the funding cycle for grantees and declining grantseekers together. The Minneapolis Foundation has offered these events in the past.
— Program officers are signing up for the online newsletters of organizations who were declined, but show promise for future grant cycles.
— Many funders now offer/guarantee each applicant 15-minute phone calls with program officers to listen and to provide feedback.

Chiefs of Staff and Strategy Officers
During the last few months we’ve seen a new class of foundation executive positions known as Chief of Staff and/or Chief Strategy Officers arise. Some have had these positions in place for years, but recently, funders such as Conrad Hilton Foundation, Joyce Foundation, Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation, and McKnight Foundation have hired for these key roles.
According to those in the industry, Chiefs of Staff and Strategy Officers are responsible for keeping their ears to the ground for community rumbles and ideas and for creating new programs and policies that address both foundation and community needs
Nonprofit Employee Union Organizing
One of the more interesting trends in the last year has been employee union organizing in nonprofit organizations. The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, Beacon Housing and MinnPost are now union shops. Plenty of others are in process. Since you may not see the union perspective as often in the daily media, read the article from the Union Advocate.

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Rural Health. Power and promise of feminist movements

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“May, 2022

Rural Philanthropy

Rural Health Information Hub has some good insights in its new report, Challenges Rural Organizations May Face in Seeking Philanthropy Support.

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The power and promise of feminist movements

Bridgespan recently released a report on the “power and promise of feminist movements””
-Lighting the Way, including history, interviews, and recommendations for philanthropy.
Notably, feminist movements have achieved their successes with minimal philanthropic support. In 2017, less than 1 percent of total foundation giving was directed to women’s rights organizations.
Recommendations for funders: 

— Understand power structures that shape our homes, communities, and systems.
— Re-examine risk. Recognize the greatest risk is not investing in the feminist leaders and organizations that are actively tackling systemic injustice—and facing well-funded opposition.

 

Support feminist funds.

 

— Shift your practices. Expand your sourcing beyond your close-in network, and ensure your diligence practices aren’t screening out feminist movements. Fund across the ecosystem and provide long-term general operating support.
— Measure what matters to movements. The multifaceted work of movements requires a range of measures. Work with grantees to define success—and allow them to pivot as needed.

Simplifying Grantseeking

The Chronicle of Philanthropy took a look at ways to simplify the grant application process. Minnesota’s own Kari Aanestad (MN Council of Nonprofits) reported on grantseeker perceptions:

— Topping the list of application complaints was funders who require a grant seeker to complete an application without letting them see it beforehand.
— Lengthy applications in relation to the small amount of cash being provided.
— Repetitive questions.
— Character limits on response.

Solutions from the growing practice of “Trust-Based Philanthropy” include shorter applications, a shift toward more general operating funds, and flexibility in how foundation grant money can be use.

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Target. Mortenson Family. Huntington Bancshares. Groundbreak Coalition

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“Target Foundation Funding Opportunity: Racial Equity Grants. This opportunity is up to $200,000 in general operating support, with an opportunity to request support over two years for BIPOC-led organizations. Four priorities:

— Entrepreneurship and Small Business
— Workforce Development
— Housing
— Asset Building

The Foundation supports organizations that improve the asset building opportunities available to traditionally marginalized communities, especially those that are engaged in work to increase financial inclusion, wealth building and overall financial health.

Mortenson Family Foundation is making three key changes to its grantmaking process:

— Schedule a 30 minute call with Community Relationship Officer Ambar Hanson (for Expanding Opportunities for Children and Families grants) or Danyelle O’Hara (for Sustaining Environmental Systems grants).
— Share updates on the outcomes you stated you want to accomplish in your 2021 application. No more budget reports.
— If you have an annual report that includes last year’s outcomes, the foundation can use that report.[1]
— We applaud the Mortensons for streamlining grantseeking for nonprofits.

This may confuse some applicants- there is a different process/contact depending on grant.
See: mortensonfamily.org/explore-partnership/

Huntington Bancshares (which merged with TCF) announced it wants to be the largest SBA funder in the Twin Cities market. No small feat, since climbing to #1 in SBA loans means creating A LOT of general banking business – both consumer and corporate lines. In turn, this means a lot more presence in the Twin Cities and lots more community investments, including Community Reinvestment funds. Consequently, more funding for community causes. Watch these folks, especially, Marcio Thompson, Community Development Relationship Manager.

Groundbreak Coalition – You’ll be hearing about these folks and the $2 billion they’re investing in thousands of BIPOC homeowners, businesses, rental units, and commercial developments in the neighborhoods most affected by the George Floyd protests. Th effort is led by representatives of major regional and national foundations, including the McKnight, Minneapolis, and Bush Foundations, our Twin Cities Mayors, several banks (PNC, Sunrise, Wells Fargo, US Bank, JPMorgan, and others), Chambers of Commerce, the Center for Economic Inclusion, Hennepin and Ramsey counties, and several private businesses

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News Rack

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Rural Philanthropy
Rural Health Information Hub has some good insights in its new report, Challenges Rural Organizations May Face in Seeking Philanthropy Support.
Funder Affinity Groups
Funder affinity groups are ongoing open-facing collaborations of grantmakers interested in a specific area of grantmaking (health, environment, K-12 education, for example). Inside Philanthropy explains Affinity Groups:
A group or network of funders that come together around a shared interest.
Circles where funders can interact, and often collaborate, to maximize impact.
There is a funder affinity group for about every community or issue imaginable.
Most affinity groups are hosted by a larger organization, such as the Minnesota Council of Foundations. We thought we would jump on the wagon and provide a couple links for affinity groups sponsored by the national Council of Foundations and Minnesota Council of Foundations:
Implications for Grantseekers:
  • As a prospecting resource, lists of affinity group foundation members are a good way to find out which funders are interested in K-12 funding or homelessness.
  • Also as a prospecting tool, sometimes affinity groups will list the names of program officers who represent the foundation at the affinity group table. Good to know which program officers are serious about health issues.
  • Often affinity groups will talk about upcoming conferences or webinars. It’s good to know what issues are in the forefront of climate change funders and what kind of language and terms funders are using.

FUNDING NOTES May ’22

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Target Foundation Funding Opportunity: Racial Equity Grants. This opportunity is up to $200,000 in general operating support, with an opportunity to request support over two years for BIPOC-led organizations. Four priorities:

  • Entrepreneurship and Small Business
  • Workforce Development
  • Housing
  • Asset Building

The Foundation supports organizations that improve the asset building opportunities available to traditionally marginalized communities, especially those that are engaged in work to increase financial inclusion, wealth building and overall financial health.

Mortenson Family Foundation is making three key changes to its grantmaking process:
  • Schedule a 30 minute call with Community Relationship Officer Ambar Hanson (for Expanding Opportunities for Children and Families grants) or Danyelle O’Hara (for Sustaining Environmental Systems grants).
  • Share updates on the outcomes you stated you want to accomplish in your 2021 application. No more budget reports.
  • If you have an annual report that includes last year’s outcomes, the foundation can use that report.[1]
  • We applaud the Mortensons for streamlining grantseeking for nonprofits.

This may confuse some applicants- there is a different process/contact depending on grant.
See: mortensonfamily.org/explore-partnership/

Huntington Bancshares (which merged with TCF) announced it wants to be the largest SBA funder in the Twin Cities market. No small feat, since climbing to #1 in SBA loans means creating A LOT of general banking business – both consumer and corporate lines. In turn, this means a lot more presence in the Twin Cities and lots more community investments, including Community Reinvestment funds. Consequently, more funding for community causes. Watch these folks, especially, Marcio Thompson, Community Development Relationship Manager.
Groundbreak Coalition – You’ll be hearing about these folks and the $2 billion they’re investing in thousands of BIPOC homeowners, businesses, rental units, and commercial developments in the neighborhoods most affected by the George Floyd protests. Th effort is led by representatives of major regional and national foundations, including the McKnight, Minneapolis, and Bush Foundations, our Twin Cities Mayors, several banks (PNC, Sunrise, Wells Fargo, US Bank, JPMorgan, and others), Chambers of Commerce, the Center for Economic Inclusion, Hennepin and Ramsey counties, and several private businesses.

Our Favorite Dysfunctional Financial Corporation – Our friends at Otto Bremer Trust are getting things together with the help of Ramsey County District Judge Robert Awsumb. Two big things:

  • The judge removed trustee Brian Lipschultz from the OBT board of trustees. Read the Star Trib article here.
  • The judge said the trustees could still move forward with the proposed sale of Bremer Bank, one of the things that started the relationship meltdown between the trustees and the bank official.

Lots of questions about the remaining trustees’ ongoing interest in selling the bank. But there’s no question that someone would be willing to pay big bucks for it, its presence in four states and its great relations with local (rural and urban) communities.

One of the top current bidders is Huntington Bank (the new TCF). Would Huntington keep up OBT’s community grants and outreach programs? They don’t have a history in their own banking practices, but maybe.

Meantime, the trust’s grantmaking operation remains remarkable, one of the best, if not the best, in Minnesota. April announcement of $7.3 million to 96 organizations.

James R. Thorpe Foundation, one of our favorite local funders, offers funding twice a year, once for youth and once for seniors. Youth requests are due June 15. Most grants are in the $6,000 to $12,000 range.
Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council  — This is the voter-approved State of Minnesota Outdoor Heritage Fund, one of four funds created by the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. Deadline May 27, 2022.
G4GC’s Black Girl Freedom Fund (BGFF) is part of the Grantmakers for Girls of Color network. In only its second round of grants, BGFF awarded $4 million to 68 groups nationwide
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation issued its first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Progress Report. Will such reports become a standard annual thing for major foundations? We hope so.

Minneapolis Foundation – has three news items on grants made or grants to come:

Patrick and Aimee Butler Family Foundation – another tried and true Metro area family foundation, the Butler Family Foundation continues to grow in financials and in wisdom. Although we aren’t crazy about the closed Invited Grants program, we understand this is a generations old family fund with its own family traditions. See the latest round of grants.

A Few Other National Opportunities:

US Agency for International Development recently announced plans to invest $50 million in global childcare infrastructure. USAID will invest $50 million in the World Bank’s Childcare Incentive Fund to expand global access to quality childcare and early learning programs.

People on the Move:

We welcome CEDRICK BAKER, the McKnight Foundation’s new Chief of Staff, who recently served as Chief of Staff for Saint Paul Public Schools. NA ENG, previously Communications Director at the McKnight Foundation, has been named new Chief Communications Officer at People for the American Way (PFAW).