Michelle's Musings

Author: Michelle Greanis - GMN's first ED

Michelle’s Musings: a message from the new Executive Director, Michelle Greanias. First, thank you all so much for the warm welcome I received via email, on GIGI, and in person.  Serving as Executive Director of the Grants Managers Network is an amazing opportunity and the only job that I really wanted (and I looked at many). One of GMN’s greatest strengths is the community that we’ve created—a community that provides advice and information at the drop of a hat and whose collegiality and friendships are based on what some may see as an unnatural interest in business processes, tax statuses, and coding (among 10,000 other grants management responsibilities). In short—we “get” each other.(read more)

Meeting the new Executive Director, Michelle Greanias
Author: Tiffany Stuck

I caught up with Michelle, the new, and first, Executive Director of the Grants Managers Network, on day seven of her new job as she sat in her kitchen, which has been serving as her temporary office while she looks for office space in the Washington, DC area.  Her first week consisted of a mini trial-by-fire: she attended the Council on Foundations Conference in DC; met with GMN leadership in New York, and tried to get a handle on the current projects, priorities and operational aspects of GMN.  Michelle and I hope that our conversation will serve as both a personal and professional introduction to GMN’s new leader. .(read more)

ANNUAL CONFERENCE WRAP-UP
Author: Laurel Lee-Alexander
In April, Chicago welcomed over 330 grants management professionals to the Grants Managers Network’s third annual conference, “At the Crossroads of Philanthropy.”
  
Organized by the 2007/2008 GMN Program Committee, which was co-chaired by Jordan Faires of The California Endowment, and Andrew McFarland of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the conference featured sessions on best practices, legal and financial compliance and accountability, information technology, and professional development.  (read more)

CALL FOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS CANDIDATE NOMINATIONS

GMN Is Your Organization
One of the most vital ways you can take a leadership role in the network is to act on the annual opportunity to nominate a fellow member for board service.  (Of course you can nominate yourself or ask someone to nominate you.) (read more)

Professional Certification for Grants Managers, Where We Stand: And Update from the Collective Knowledge Committee
Liason: Bonnie Rivers

During its strategic planning process in 2005, the Board of the Grants Managers Network (GMN) decided that the organization should investigate the feasibility of a professional certification program. In 2006, a certification subcommittee representing both the membership and board was established..(read more)

Drowning in Paperwork? Grab a Green Life Raft

Author: Richard Toth
Liason: Ericka Novotny

Today, there are more than 70,000 foundations and other grantmaking organizations in the United States.  Most have their own specialized process and information requirements for application and reporting. Some of these requirements create duplication of effort, while others are contradictory.  (read more)