Pre-Conference Workshop: Introduction to Grants Management

8:30 am - 9:30 am       

Orientation

Get to know your colleagues and prepare together for your intensive introduction to grants management. Plan to make connections, and even friends, that will last throughout and after the conference.

9:30 am - 11:00 am

New to the Field: Introduction to Private Foundations and Public Charities

Speaker: Adam Liebling, Director of Grants Compliance,
Grants Management, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

What exactly are the differences between private foundations and public charities? In this session, we will demystify 501(c)(3)s and provide a framework for understanding the different types of nonprofits and their lifecycles and the basic rules for oversight and compliance.

View Materials

11:15 am - 12:30 pm

Finance 101: Reading and Understanding Financial Statements

Speaker: Coleith Molstad, Executive Director, The Mitte Foundation

This session provides an introduction to the audit process and the components of nonprofits' financial statements. Understanding the balance sheet and income statement, and the information they tell you about an organization's financial health, can help guide your organization's grantmaking decisions. Particular attention will be given to identifying red flags and conducting appropriate due diligence.

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

Lunch 

Take a break and absorb what you’ve learned so far. The GMN board and staff will be on hand to get to know you and answer your questions about GMN and the grants management profession.

1:30 pm - 2:45 pm

Planning and Designing Your Proposal Process

Speakers: Rebecca Martin, Associate Director, The Getty Foundation and Teresa Crawford, Grants Manager, Frey Foundation

Learn how to plan and design a rational, clear and efficient application process. The presentation will focus on how eligibility quizzes and letters of intent can be helpful in screening requests and what kinds of proposal questions and background materials can be helpful in programmatic and administrative reviews. Tips will be shared on approving and declining requests carefully.

2:45 pm - 4:00 pm

Awarding, Monitoring, and Closing Grants

Speaker: Rikard Treiber, Director of Grants Management, Peter G. Peterson Foundation

In this session, the basic components of the grant agreement will be explained, as well as best practices in handling common grant modification requests. There will also be discussion on scheduling and reviewing progress reports, payments, and other grant requirements, and, finally, best practices in grant close-outs.

4:15 pm - 5:30 pm

Legal 101: Grantmaking Compliance and Best Practices

Speaker: Kelly Shipp Simone, Deputy General Counsel, Council on Foundations

Learn the key grantmaking rules that will keep you out of trouble with the IRS. Topics will include grants to public charities, non-charities (including for-profit entities), and non-U.S. entities. We will also touch on general principles for grants to individuals. Issues of documentation and file retention will be addressed throughout the session.