General Operating Support: Making the Case to Grant Makers

About

Raising money for rent, salaries, and other administrative expenses is difficult for nonprofits. Many foundations want to support specific programs or projects, rather than covering overhead expenses that enable operations. What’s worse, only 31 percent of fundraisers feel they can talk to donors about the need for such funding.

How can you demonstrate the return on investing in your organization’s long-term health to attract unrestricted support from grant makers?

Join us for a one-hour online session to learn directly from two grant makers who buck the trend and encourage nonprofits to seek general operating support. You’ll learn from Kathy Reich, director of the Ford Foundation’s Build program, which provides $200 million a year in general operating support to groups tied to social movements. She’ll explain how to make a strong case for unrestricted dollars, including how to set and defend your overhead rate. Reich also will showcase real-world examples of smart ways nonprofits have demonstrated impact over time.

Plus, she’ll share a tool to help assess your organization’s strengths, weaknesses, and financial needs and explain how to use the data to build a compelling case for overhead support.

Mindy Aldridge, president of the Nelson Foundation, will share tips for gauging the likelihood that a donor will support your operations, broaching the subject of operating expenses, and communicating the value of helping your nonprofit meet its day-to-day needs.

What Will You Learn?

• Ways to show foundations that unrestricted grants will achieve their philanthropic goals
• Tips for demonstrating the impact of overhead support in ways that resonate with grant makers
• How to explain your budgetary needs and connect them to the long-term impact of your organization

This webinar is at 2:00pm to 3:00pm EDT.