While not directly a
concern of most Annual Giving professionals, I recent ready about a disturbing trend that is gaining steam. Obtaining grant funding in 2009 will be more difficult than in the
past. The economy is causing many
foundations to restrict support to existing grantees. Further, several foundations have closed
their doors because of the Madoff scandal. If your grant revenues go down in 2009,
do the most you can by maximizing annual giving and ensuring you have all of
the elements working at your institution and then these efforts are optimized.
Just a few of the
foundations with disappointing news for 2009 are:
Frueauff Foundation: Due to the continued weak economy and market, the Frueauff Foundation is not
considering proposals from first time grant seekers. Here is a quote regarding their position on requests from new applicants in 2009 and looking ahead:
"Our first goal is to provide continued
support to our present agencies and institutions. We hope to provide some level
of stability to those agencies during these difficult economic times. We know
your time is valuable and suggest you spend that time actively pursuing funding
sources that are more promising. Please re-visit our website after January
2010 for an update on our funding status."
Planet Dog Foundation: "The Planet Dog Foundation Board of Directors is committed to supporting
our current partners in the upcoming months to help them weather the
fundraising challenges that lie ahead. In order to do what we can to maintain
the health of our current grantees, we will be investing our Spring 2009 funds
to support our existing grantees only. We will
not be accepting new applications for funding this Spring.
Please check back for updates on grant giving parameters and deadline dates for
our Fall cycle in early Summer of 2009. For more information, please contact pdf@planetdog.com. We wish all canine
service programs the very best in the months ahead."
Picower Foundation: Barbara Picower, who along with her husband, Jeffry, established the Picower Foundation in 1989, said in a statement on Friday that the foundation's grant-making would cease "effective immediately" and that it would "close its doors in the coming months." She wrote in the statement that Madoff's "act of fraud has had a devastating impact on tens and thousands of lives as well as numerous philanthropic foundations and nonprofit organization."
The work of enhancing individual giving in such a tough economy is arduous as well. But it is one area where potential hasn't been and won't be stifled. With sound planning and hard work, you can make up the potential losses in grant funding with annual gifts from individual donors. Grow your annual giving
efforts during 2009 and be a hero to your cause.
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