Grant Writing Workshops, Leadership Training, Capacity Building for Non-Profits

Fourteen years ago, Kathy Holdway walked into my solo law office and told me she wanted a non-profit corporation that helped other non-profit agencies and charities with Grant Writing. She wanted the students, after the class, to be able to replicate the process on their own. She also talked about Leadership training and Capacity Building, but those words flew past my head. As a result, A Circle of Ten, Inc. was incorporated and millions of dollars in government and private grants began to flow to non-profit agencies.

Houses were built for the poor; computers were bought, used in classes, and then given to the students. ESL and GED books were bought and classes taught. Solar roofs were installed, nursing programs were funded, and rural schools received computers. 

The process continues today with great energy and force.    

Two Grant Writing seminars are scheduled for June 18^th, 19^th, & 20^th and for July 16^th, 17^th, & 18^th, by A Circle of Ten, Inc. The seminars teach Leadership, Capacity Building, and Grant Writing to members of non-profit agencies. The workshops build on the existing computer research skills and grant writing skills. The specific needs are targeted.  Since 1997, A Circle of Ten, Inc. has been the premier agency for successfully promoting the Grant Writing process.

The process consists of 3 equally important steps.

Step 1: A Pre Workshop Interview is scheduled and conducted to determine and assess the specific needs of the non-profit agency. Are computers needed for a school? Are books needed for ESL or GED classes? After these needs are determined then Research is conducted to find the available funding. The funders include many Federal Government programs, departments of the State of Texas (and other states), and numerous local, state, and national private charities.

Step 2: A three day Workshop is then conducted. This means teaching the process of gathering community leaders and building a program that efficiently manages grant money. Capacity building enables non-profit agencies to have the leadership in place, the safeguards, and the capacity to handle grant money. Small classes of ten or fifteen members increase the effectiveness of the workshops. Each non-profit is encouraged to send 3 members to the workshop.

Step 3: Post Workshop Consultations deliver a real boost to new grant writers as they are walked through their first grant. After the grant application is submitted, there are often queries or suggestions coming from the person to whom the grant application was sent. Post Workshop Consultations can be invaluable. Individuals receive 2 hours of free consultation from A Circle of Ten, Inc., after the workshop.

Application requests are made by calling the Registration Team at 903-541-0013 or by email at circleof10@circleof10.org. The June workshops will be held on the Gulf Coast. The July workshops will be held at the beautiful retreat center at Edom, Texas, being 1 hour 20 minutes east of Dallas and 20 minutes west of Tyler.

Solo Lawyers, small businesses and Non-Profits and Inflation

In a recent talk, the CEO of Walmart reminded everyone that Walmart signs contracts for its products months in advance of the products appearing at stores.  He alerted us that Walmart's contract prices are jumping with serious inflation beginning in June of 2011.  He is not guessing; he is seeing the inflationary prices printed on the contracts. What is the solo lawyer, small business or non-profit to do?  It is time to make some guesses and take action.

Fuel costs will drive up the prices of things that are delivered by truck.  Paper, envelopes, and file folders are already spiking. For the small office, should we simply buy an extra box of copy paper or envelopes?


Ink? It is already too high!

Is it time to buy a good scanner and go paperless?  Scan in forms, important papers, orders, decrees and use Dropbox.com to have a free offsite storage?

They grow a lot of coffee in Brazil, but not in Texas.  Tea is grown in India and Indonesia, 12000 miles away. Shipping fuel and trucking fuel are and will continue to drive up prices.  What office can survive without coffee or tea? Time to  buy extra cans of coffee and boxes of tea.

Fuel costs travel is already going up and will continue to do so.  Is it time to get serious about Skype, Gotomeeting, or Anymeeting.com to offer seminars online?  Freeconferencecall.com could save travel expenses.

Of course, it is all guess work, but I remember serious inflation.  We have two or three months to make our guesses and take our chances. Take action! The days of serious inflation are acoming!