One of the most popular GMN member benefits is its vibrant online member community.  The Community is a unique place to find solutions to everyday grants management topics and issues, and it provides a means for members to get connected with other grants managers without limitations.  It also offers an opportunity to share and gather input, which can help increase and extend a member’s knowledge in a particular subject area.  Dee Slater of The Dekko Foundation finds that “GMN’s Online Community helps me to keep abreast of the conversations and hottest topics in the field.  It has served as a research tool to verify information on a particular subject while allowing me to reinforce the knowledge I already have and to reach out to my colleagues if in doubt.” 

From coast to coast, the Online Community bridges the gap between members and brings together subject matter experts and learners.  This level of interaction and dialogue in GMN’s community is second to none in advancing the profession and role of grants managers at every level. 

GMN’s Online Community plays an important role in achieving the organization’s goals.  It is used throughout the year by national volunteer teams and regional leaders to accomplish their work and achieve their goals in support of GMN’s strategic plan.  Body of Knowledge Advisory Group Co-Chair (and GMN Board Secretary), Chad Gorski of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute notes that “GMN’s online community has not only helped the team to keep members informed of our efforts, it has also helped us continuously refine our goals to align with what members need.  There is a lot to be learned by engaging members directly or simply by observing the conversations taking place.”

Both new and experienced grants managers are prominent contributors to GMN’s Online Community.  In fact, GMN members welcome the chance to start a discussion with either a simple question or complex idea.  “Any time, 24/7, I can either post or research a discussion topic and be confident that I will receive responses from friends and colleagues from around the country eager to share their knowledge,” says Lisa Arnold (Paul G. Allen Family Foundation).  The key is to remember that other grants managers may be seeking an answer to a similar issue or looking to share their expertise with a colleague.  So go ahead -- jump in and start networking with fellow GMN members. 

The Online Community is more than just a place to share ideas or post discussion items.  Visit today at https://www.gmnetwork.org/groups and contribute to your own success and the success of your colleagues and the industry.  You will discover that a venture into GMN’s Online Community can lead to improved job performance each day and higher levels of professional growth throughout your career.