Reviews and Previews

It seems like you can’t turn on the television or open a magazine this time of year without seeing an awards program celebrating accomplishments and thanking those responsible for them.  So I’d like to take my turn, though this virtual podium, to express my thanks to GMN’s volunteers and members for another fantastic year.

This organization was built on the passion and engagement of its members, and the majority of GMN’s work continues to be done by its 150+ volunteers.  Without their donation of time and talent, the amazing, award-worthy accomplishments achieved in 2009 would not be possible.  These volunteers work not only on the delivery of services to members, but also to build the infrastructure and operational sophistication needed for GMN to grow and develop in the future.  I hope you will join me in thanking them for all of their hard work!

Reviews

In addition, I’d like to thank the 455 members who participated in GMN’s 2009 member survey.  Attached is a summary of the survey results.  This is a critical source of feedback and direction that we use to drive GMN’s operational and strategic plans. 

We heard great feedback about GMN:

1. 84% of members agree or strongly agree that GMN helps them perform better in their current job;
2. 95% of members agree or strongly agree that GMN connects them to a professional community, and
3. 76% of members agree or strongly agree that GMN promotes the profession and helps the leadership at their organization better appreciate the role and contribution of grants managers.

“I really feel grateful to GMN, its leadership, and members for all the support [they’ve] provided to me. I hope we can continue to strengthen our profession together, communicate better with each other, and keep getting better at what we do!”

“I've been very pleased with the services GMN has offered and am happy that an organization like GMN exists as a central resource to grantmakers!”

While this is wonderful reinforcement of our work to date, the GMN board, volunteers, and staff spend far more time focusing on your recommendations and evolving needs to improve our future work.  Read further to learn how your feedback is driving GMN’s future plans.

Previews

GMN is just entering the second year of its three-year plan.  Each year, the board makes adjustments to our strategic priorities and goals to best meet member needs and the ever-changing environment in which we work.  We encourage you to take a few moments to review GMN’s complete strategic plan.

Here’s what to expect in 2010:

• Expanding streamlining tools and resources.  Members listed streamlining as their number one grants management topic for 2010.  Click here to read more. 
• Promoting the grants management profession by engaging in more field-wide collaborative efforts and increasing our visibility in philanthropic forums to reinforce the importance of grants management to philanthropic leaders.  Ensuring that the grants management function is valued continues to be high on member’s lists of the most pressing issues facing grants managers.
• Continuing to improve member programs, resources, and services.  This includes:
   
  • Making the GMN member community more intuitive and the notifications of new community content more useful.  This was the most cited area for GMN to improve;
  • Delivering a fantastic annual conference that provides members with timely and concrete information, gives them the knowledge to do their jobs, and helps them improve the grantmaking practices at their organizations;
  • Building on the GM Guide through frequent updates and expanded content;
  • Increasing support of GMN’s regional chapters and their leadership to assist them in delivering quality programs to members, and 
  • Releasing the “green grants” report and launching a discussion among membership on how grantmaking can become more environmentally friendly.

• Focusing GMN’s membership efforts on increasing member engagement by developing strategies to help members access GMN’s resources and services, make GMN volunteerism part of their professional development plans, and connect to each other more easily and more frequently.
• Ensuring GMN has the governance, resources, and infrastructure to do everything listed above and remain transparent and accountable to members and funders.

I hope you’ll mgreanias [at] gmnetwork [dot] org (contact me) with any questions about our 2010 plans and continue to provide us with ongoing ideas and feedback for how GMN can better serve you.  Just email or call me directly or post your ideas on the feedback area of our web site.

Happy 2010!