Storytelling for Grantseekers: The Guide to Creative Nonprofit Fundraising [Paperback]

Cheryl A. Clarke (Author)

Book Description

Series: Jossey-Bass Nonprofit and Public Management Series | Publication Date: November 15, 2001

Oftentimes, people charged with the task of writing grant proposals have little or no training in the process, and many actually feel intimidated by the act of writing. In Storytelling for Grantseekers, consultant and trainer Cheryl A. Clarke helps fundraisers overcome these hurdles by presenting an organic approach to proposal writing. Grantseekers who have used this unique process discover that telling the organization's story in narrative form (complete with settings, characters, antagonists, and resolutions), can help them connect with grantmakers and ultimately have greater success with funders.

This fresh and creative guide contains the resources needed to help you craft a persuasive synopsis, package a compelling story, and create a short story approach to the inquiry and cover letters that support the larger proposal. Clarke walks grantseekers through all the phases of developing an effective proposal and highlights the creative elements that link components to each other and unify the entire proposal. Clarke also stresses the need to see proposal writing as part of a larger grantseeking effort, one that emphasizes preparation, working with the entire development staff, and maintaining good relations with funders.

Using the suggestions outlined in Storytelling for Grantseekers, new and seasoned grantseekers will discover how to channel their passion to tell their organization's tale and create winning proposals.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Grantwriters, it turns out, have plenty in common with fiction and nonfiction storytellers. Like these other writers, says Cheryl A. Clarke in Storytelling for Grantseekers, grantseekers need to "transport readers to another location and teach them about people they may know nothing about." Grantwriting is often a tedious experience. Make it creative, says Clarke. To better capture the imagination (and wallet) of your audience, observe your agency in action as would a reporter, then craft what you see into a narrative as would a novelist. Your nonprofit agency is your hero; your story is about "people being helped, and their lives possibly being changed forever" because of the services provided by your agency. This is a passionate, clear, knowledgeable guidebook, sure to "put the joy and creativity back into the grantseeking process." With additional chapters on finding and cultivating appropriate grantmakers, forming a budget, and packaging your proposal. --Jane Steinberg

Review

Many books, articles, and videos about proposal writing crowd our shelves. The good ones provide grantseekers with the building blocks and, more importantly, the confidence for creating a competent proposal. The really good ones also inspire enthusiasm for what is thought by many to be a tedious, albeit necessary, chore. In Storytelling for Grantseekers Cheryl Clarke inspires.

Clarke, a fundraising consultant and trainer, is also a published short story author. She came to realize that fundraising and specifically proposal writing incorporate many of the techniques used in storytelling. A story sets a scene, has characters, and builds tension through a plot. A good proposal should do the same. By approaching the proposal as an opportunity to tell your nonprofit's story, the process becomes more enjoyable for the writer. Storytelling allows the passion to show through the proposal prose, making it more enjoyable for the reader and thus more likely to be funded.

Clarke elaborates on the storytelling metaphor with each chapter. In the proposal narrative you introduce the characters (the agency's clients) and the setting (the catchment area for the agency). The statement of need builds tension and adds conflict to the story. Goals and objectives can be thought of as the resolution to the need or problem described in the statement of need. Evaluation and the plan for future funding are the epilogue and seeds for a sequel, whereas the budget is the story's translation from words to numbers. Clarke uses excerpts from proposals to illustrate these ideas. She also provides summaries of key points for each chapter.

Clarke takes her own advice. I read Storytelling for Grantseekers as a story. Certainly if this technique makes a how-to volume more readable it will work for the far more compelling story that a nonprofit tells. Both new and experienced grantwriters will benefit by using the approach described here. (Jean Johnson Reference Librarian/Technology Specialist Foundation Center San Francisco, CA)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1st edition (November 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787956309
• ISBN-13: 978-0787956301
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #268,593 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST BOOK on Grantwriting!!!!, February 27, 2002

By 

Kathleen McCleary (Essex, CT United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Storytelling for Grantseekers: The Guide to Creative Nonprofit Fundraising (Paperback)

I've been involved with fundraising for over 25 years (from
the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston to the Bermuda Biological
Station
for Research in Bermuda) and this is, without a doubt THE
BEST BOOK on nonprofit grantwriting I have ever had the
pleasure
of reading! It has everything - it's intelligently written
with clear concise, step by step directions on how to bring
passion,
creativity and success to any fundraising/grantwriting effort! It is
"short" - just a little over 100 pages - so it can be read,
digested and put to
use by everyone - from the director on down to volunteers
and staff. It's entertaining, practical and, I would think,
an absolute
must for anyone involved in raising money. They say everyone
loves a good story - well I not only love a good story, BUT
also
- a great book on how to effectively and enjoyably write grants that will bring in the funds!
Bravo Cheryl Clarke!

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Storytelling Is Helpful, August 23, 2003

By 

Sarah S. Brophy (Carlisle, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Storytelling for Grantseekers: The Guide to Creative Nonprofit Fundraising (Paperback)

Sarah S. Brophy

Storytelling for Grantseekers: The Guide to Creative Nonprofit Fundraising is a solid basic proposal-writing book with a twist on how to develop a compelling narrative. Clarke writes in the Preface "I believe that grant seekers will be more enthusiastic about writing proposals, and that their proposals will be more passionate and consequently more effective, when grant seekers begin using the storytelling techniques described in this book."

Sometimes the author works a bit hard at her storytelling metaphor (with attendant heroes, antagonists and main characters), but she is careful not to lead you into the land of superheroes. For many readers a story-like style is preferable to a legal document, but take care that your proposal reads like a good New York Times piece, not fluff.

For those new to proposal-writing, the first three chapters address how to collect necessary information for a solid proposal; screen funders for a good donor-project match; and manage your relationship with a potential funder. The final three chapters cover budget description and the basics of how to format and package the proposal. Each is thorough, easy to understand and helpful.

The four middle chapters address storytelling in the narrative. They are great advice for beginning writers yet speak to next-level professionals hoping to coax their own style away from creeping grantese. Sample proposal text is very often excellent.

The author makes good points about an environmental scan to place your project in context for the reader and to strengthen your case; that the key need must be your clients' not your institution's; and how to make good use of data for reinforcement.

Storytelling for Grantseekers is a fine book to keep in your library for training new writers and for coaching colleagues in the proposal process. Anyone in a larger institution could very well make this book required reading for colleagues who say "I need a grant to do this". It is a comfortable read that will train them to give you good information for doing your job.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lucky prospective grantors!, February 5, 2002

By 

Lee Follett (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Storytelling for Grantseekers: The Guide to Creative Nonprofit Fundraising (Paperback)

Grantors will have some really interesting proposals to consider from grant writers whose skills will be enhanced by Cheryl Clarke's terrific book.
Storytelling for Grantseekers breathes new life and humor into the grant writing [now storytelling] process.
This creative guide shows clearly how best to articulate a nonprofit case and engage a grantor, by telling a unique story with examples.
And -- it's fun to read!