Grassroots Grants: An Activist's Guide to Grantseeking, Second Edition

Building Peer-to-Peer Relationships with Grantmakers

Most proposals say, in some form, “Give us money to do the work.” Few say, “We are doing this work regardless—join us.” What gets my attention is a proposal that invites partnership rather than saying, “If you don't fund us, the world will end.” If you act powerless, you are.

—MARTY TEITEL, Cedar Tree Foundation

Build the relationship. Don't forget that funders are in social justice work, too. We got into this to make the biggest contribution we could, so try to learn more about the funder as a person.

—MARJORIE FINE, Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter Rock

In his classic book ...