Focus on Funding: A Targeted Approach

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Description:

Whether new to the network or one of the first Neighborhood Networks centers that opened its doors more than a decade ago, every center depends on securing adequate funding to offer residents the programs they need to succeed. With the funding landscape changing and grant requirements becoming more narrowly defined each year, it is critical for Neighborhood Networks centers to learn how to survive-and thrive-in this new environment. This session will review the top grant-making priorities in recent years and highlight giving trends that centers can use to guide their programming and funding outreach efforts. In addition, Neighborhood Networks center representatives and other community-based stakeholders who are successfully securing funding to sustain their efforts will share their stories.

Presenters:

John Gregory
President/Chief Executive Officer
The Enrichment Association of Community Healing (TEACH)
Phone: (614) 857-1811

Patricia McPherson
Financial Consultant
McPherson Consulting Group
Phone: (615) 329-1493

Treena Thompson
Principal
Resource Development Alternatives, LLC
Phone: (314) 766-4392

John Gregory is the president/chief executive officer of The Enrichment Association of Community Healing (TEACH) in Columbus, Ohio. In 1995, Mr. Gregory was the owner of a security firm that was hired by the owner of the Greenbrier Apartments to reduce the amount of crime taking place at the housing complex. Mr. Gregory realized that using an onsite security force to improve the neighborhood was not the answer and began urging residents to take back their community. The residents elected Mr. Gregory to serve as the spokesperson and to organize the community. Mr. Gregory resigned his responsibilities from his security firm, moved to the neighborhood, and launched the Neighborhood Networks center with a $500 mini-grant from The United Way. Today, the 15-computer center is housed in its own 6,000-square foot building, has a $1 million operating budget, and serves as a one-stop employment center for the entire community.

Patricia McPherson has been a professional fundraising consultant for the past 25 years and has owned her own consulting firm for 15 years. McPherson Consulting Group helps nonprofit organizations by conducting feasibility and assessment studies, implementing and ensuring the success of capital campaigns, managing annual giving programs, implementing endowment and planned giving campaigns, assisting with board development, and organizing special events. During her professional career, Ms. McPherson has been responsible for capital campaigns that have raised from $500,000 to $10,000,000 and for annual giving programs that raised more than $3,000,000 in contributed income. Ms. McPherson has presented seminars and workshops on annual giving campaigns, capital campaigns, strategic planning, board development, and grantwriting to various organizations, including the Center for Nonprofit Management, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Tennessee Association of Child Care, Hospital Hospitality House, Rutherford County Crisis Pregnancy Support Center, Tennessee Health Care Association, and Nashville State Technical Institute. Previously, Ms. McPherson served as president of the Nashville Symphony Guild, Fannie Battle Day Home, Community Concerts Association, and Nashville Children's Theatre. She also served on the board of directors of the Nashville Symphony Association, Nashville Ballet, Nashville Opera Guild, and the March of Dimes. Ms. McPherson earned a bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt University.

Treena Thompson is a principal at Resource Development Alternatives, LLC (RDA). RDA assists service-oriented organizations in developing compatible resources for furthering their missions more effectively and efficiently. Services provided include grantwriting and proposal development, grant management, strategic planning, program development, and fundraising event planning. To date, RDA has helped to secure nearly $2 million in funding for nonprofit initiatives. RDA specializes in serving small- to mid-sized community- and faith-based organizations. Prior to joining RDA, Ms. Thompson was the development director for SSDN: A Family & Community Organization. In this position, Ms. Thompson was responsible for planning, coordination, development, and evaluation of the SSDN's resource development activities and managed all aspects of annual giving program. Ms. Thompson earned a masters of social work degree from the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University and a bachelor of arts degree in African American studies from Washington University.