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How to Get Your Technology Funded: Tips from Grantmakers
November 29, 2018 @ 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Thursdays, November 29–December 13
1:00–2:30 PM Eastern
Regular Price: $120
WVNPA Member Price: $95 (email ashley@wvnpa.org for discount code!)
WVNPA Member Price: $95 (email ashley@wvnpa.org for discount code!)
Imagine doing your job without a computer or any software. Ridiculous, right? Yet many funders overlook technology. The result is a nonprofit sector that is slowed down by outdated and ineffective tools. But there’s hope. Funders aren’t against technology—they just want to know that investing in your technology needs will lead to better outcomes. That’s why we’re offeringthis three-part course. We want to show you how to convince funders that your tech projects matter so that you have the tools you need to do your best work. During this course, you’ll hear directly from funders about what they look for in a technology proposal and what it takes to make your technology needs stand out.
We’ll start out by helping you set the stage for funding your project by zeroing in on your potential funders. Then you’ll get the chance to ask our panel of grantmakers your own questions during a moderated discussion. And we’ll wrap up by talking about the practical steps for moving forward and getting the funding you deserve, including how to contextualize your project to show how important it is to your organization, how to budget for future technology, and additional details that go into writing a strong proposal.
Course Schedule
All sessions take place Thursdays at 1 pm Eastern and last for 90 minutes.
All sessions take place Thursdays at 1 pm Eastern and last for 90 minutes.
November 29: Setting the Stage for Funding
We’ll start by helping you sort out your funding options to identify the best opportunities for technology funding.
Would your current foundation funders be a good fit? Would corporations? What about other major donors? You’ll then hear from the experts—actual funding decision makers—who will explain how technology projects can support their goals as philanthropic organizations.
December 6: Ask a Funder
Through a moderated discussion, we’ll ask your biggest questions directly to several grantmaking professionals who frequently evaluate technology proposals. Participants will be able to submit their questions in advance and our moderator will ask as many as possible during the 60 -minute session. Sample questions might include:
Through a moderated discussion, we’ll ask your biggest questions directly to several grantmaking professionals who frequently evaluate technology proposals. Participants will be able to submit their questions in advance and our moderator will ask as many as possible during the 60 -minute session. Sample questions might include:
- What makes a technology proposal stand out from others?
- What issues do you see over and over?
- What makes your non-techie colleagues react positively or negatively toward a technology proposal?
- If you had one piece of advice to someone seeking funding for a technology project, what would it be?
December 13:Defining the Details for a Strong Proposal
Once you’ve gotten advice from grantmakers, how should you proactively move forward? We’ll talk about what details need to be included in a strong technology proposal, including how to frame your project, how to connect your project to your larger mission,
how to draft a budget, and how to think through where this project fits within your larger technology ecosystem.
*Please register with the email address where you would like to receive the access code and dial-in information for the online seminar. All registered participants are granted access to the recordings of each session.
*Participants who cannot attend any of the sessions due to scheduling conflicts will still have access to the course presentation
decks and handouts.
Our Expert Trainer
Laura Quinn is an independent consultant, specializing in research for the philanthropic sector and building the capacity of nonprofit networks. Prior to her consulting work, Laura founded Idealware and served as the Executive Director for nine years. Under her leadership, Idealware partnered with dozens of national organizations, such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Legal Services Corporation, and many more to conduct research into technology topics, from tactical interview-based articles to rigorously researched software comparisons to ecosystemlevel infrastructural analyses. She has also created internet strategy, selected software,designed interfaces, and conducted user research for multimillion-dollar software and website implementations with such companies as Accenture, iXL and L.L.Bean. Laura is a frequent speaker and writer on nonprofit technology topics.
Panelists to be announced soon!
