Community Programs

Securing funding through state and federal grants can be a game-changer for nonprofit organizations, but the process can often feel daunting and complex. This interactive session will demystify the grant-seeking process, providing practical tools and strategies for identifying, applying for, and managing state and federal grants. Participants will learn how to establish relationships with governmental agencies, navigate online grant portals, and craft compelling proposals that align with agency priorities. Whether you’re new to grants or looking to refine your approach, this session equips you with the knowledge and confidence to pursue public funding effectively.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Identify key state and federal agencies that align with their organization’s mission and funding needs.
2. Navigate the tools and resources needed to search for grant opportunities, including government grant portals like Grants.gov.
3. Understand the essential components of state and federal grant applications, including proposal requirements, budgets, and compliance considerations.
4. Develop strategies to build relationships with grant officers and agency representatives to better understand their priorities.
5. Evaluate whether a grant opportunity is a good fit for their organization based on funding goals, eligibility requirements, and capacity to meet reporting obligations.
6. Create a plan to strengthen their nonprofit’s readiness for future grant applications by improving internal processes and documentation.

Cost: $25

Facilitator:

Liz Haney began her career in the world of grants in 2008 after having enjoyed success as a published research scientist. Liz has experience throughout the life cycle of sponsored projects, and she has worked at the University of Chicago, the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Middlebury College, and St. Lawrence University. Throughout, Liz has been entrusted with ever-increasing responsibilities, served in multiple leadership roles, and helped each institution to attain new levels of external funding.

In her current role as the Director of Post Award, Compliance, and Operations in Ball State University’s Sponsored Projects Administration office, Liz oversees a staff of ten that support everything that happens from the time of notification that a grant will be awarded until the completion and closeout of the project.

This engaging panel discussion is designed to help nonprofit leaders and professionals build sustainable, effective relationships with local funders. Beyond the grant proposal process, maintaining ongoing communication and cultivating meaningful partnerships are critical to long-term funding success. Panelists will share real-world strategies, best practices, and lessons learned from their experiences in working with local funders. Attendees will leave with actionable insights they can apply to strengthen their relationships, improve communication, and enhance funder engagement to better support their organization’s mission.

Session Goals and Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this session, attendees will be able to:

1. Understand the importance of ongoing communication with funders beyond traditional grant requests, including updates, success stories, and impact reporting.
2. Identify effective strategies and best practices for building authentic and sustainable relationships with local funders, including how to personalize outreach and demonstrate shared values.
3. Apply actionable advice and proven tips to enhance funder engagement, such as creating transparent communication channels, building trust, and understanding funder priorities.
4. Learn from real-world examples shared by the panelists, illustrating successful approaches to maintaining and growing funder relationships.

Audience: Nonprofit leaders, development professionals, board members, and anyone responsible for managing relationships with funders.

Cost: $25

Panelists

Read a book. Lead with inspiration.

SLA in partnership with Muncie Public Library is offering a unique quarterly gathering, highlighting important take-aways from inspirational leadership books. At each event, facilitators will share key leadership development lessons from leadership-focused books. This is not a book club, rather a guided discussion around the key takeaways from each book.

Prior reading of the book is not required but we encourage participants to share about what they learned and check-out one of the books from Muncie Public Library. All participants attending will be entered in a raffle to win a digital copy of one of the books discussed.

All sessions are FREE and open to the public. Registration is required.

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