I've been so busy getting things done that the time has just flown by!!! I've also been putting in some really long hours, but for a good reason! Last Thursday was Salvation Army's Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, so I helped to set-up and clean-up afterward, but it was an amazing dinner! I got to help pass out awards, sit by the Mayor of Sedalia, and have a great meal among other volunteers.
Friday I had EDS Trainging all day at the Salvation Army. This means that if there is ever a disaster, I have a chance to be deployed to that area to provide food and comfort to the victims.
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday all I did was research!!! The community outreach VISTA wants to have a big multicultural festival, to celebrate all cultures. I love this idea, but times are tough and finding funding for something like that, well it's challenging!! I'm still working on it, my supervisor warned me I needed to be able to take a lot of "no(s)" for an answer!! We started by listing a lot of possiblities for funders, and now it's short!!
Today I made my first budget! I used Excel, which that was an experience since I haven't used Excel much. This YouTube video help so much!! If you need help learning how to make a basic budget, I HIGHLY recomend this video!!! We had a meeting with a UCM Professor so he could show us few basic things about the Pachoro. We have looked high and low around Sedalia to find someone that knows how to play the Pachoro, but we have not had any luck, so I e-mailed the UCM Music Department. UCM doesn't know anyone either, but they do have a stringed insturment department and they helped us get started and found a fingering chart for us!! One of the music students came with us and on the way home he sat in the back seat and had figured out how to play "Go Tell it on the Mountain" before we got back to Sedalia. The student was so excited about the Pachoro!! I also observed the ESL class tonight!! WOW!!! The things there get done in that class!! The teacher is amazing!! Even though these are adults, she still gives them play money so they can practice buy items from other students in the class.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
New Ways of Fundraising
With my graduate degree being in Educational Technology, I find new uses for technology amaze me! When I was at my PSO, they mentioned a new way of fundraising by using the social resources of the web. I had lunch today, with a fellow VISTA, and she made mention of Crowd Funding, which I hadn't heard of it, but then I described www.hopemob.org and www.donorschoose.org. To my amazement, we were talking about the same thing! What are your thoughts on this idea? I know there are a ton of grants out there that can be written, but what about just making your plea to the public? I think the odds are just as good anyway you try! At the time of my PSO, April 19, 2012, was the first day of www.hopemob.org so this is a REALLY new idea.
Yesterday, I was filling out an initial survey for a grant and they said" of everyone that will complete the survey less than 2% will go on to receive funding." I was kind of surprised by this number! My wonderful supervisor said that a number like that is very normal among foundations that give grants. She then said when I receive my first grant, "I'll give you a big party!" Because grant writing is a very competitive field.
Yesterday, I was filling out an initial survey for a grant and they said" of everyone that will complete the survey less than 2% will go on to receive funding." I was kind of surprised by this number! My wonderful supervisor said that a number like that is very normal among foundations that give grants. She then said when I receive my first grant, "I'll give you a big party!" Because grant writing is a very competitive field.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Getting Started as a Grant Writer
Here are a few tips I have learned in my first few weeks of being a grant writer.
I went to a Sedalia Inter-Agency Meeting, this is where all of the non-profit agencies get together and tell each other what they are doing, like fundraisers, projects, or issues they need help solving. I found this information very useful! This meeting happens only once a month, so I think it could be worked into my busy schedule.
- Make 12 folders, one for each month of the year, and keep the details of grants the need to be submitted or looked into for that month.
- I'm writing grants for three different places, but one thing that could be helpful is to gather legal name, address, phone number, tax ID numbers, DUNS number, and other identifying numbers and put it onto a card then keep it close! That will save you from having to look that information every time you start a grant.
- Encourage the organization to have a web site! I ran across a grant today that I couldn't even try to apply for it since we don't have a web site address!! So tomorrows adventure is to invent a web site!
- Don't be afraid to e-mail people to ask for help! I e-mailed the UCM Music Dept. to see if they would help teach one of our volunteers to play the pacharo. They unfortunately don't know anyone who plays that, but they do know how to play other guitars so we could make this work.
I went to a Sedalia Inter-Agency Meeting, this is where all of the non-profit agencies get together and tell each other what they are doing, like fundraisers, projects, or issues they need help solving. I found this information very useful! This meeting happens only once a month, so I think it could be worked into my busy schedule.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Day 18
I spent my day reaserching funding for a couple of projects. Such as a culture festival we have started planning as a community outreach project. With Cinco de Mayo we just did everything with donations and really didn't spend a lot of money on it, but it was a really nice family event. This time we are planning to have professional entertainment instead of a VISTA in a chicken outfit!! Although that was the funnest chicken ever and I'm not sure how we will top that!!! We also wrote down several ideas of what we would like to see there and an estimated cost of each section. So we have got that project started, now to find funding!!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Day 17
I used this QR Code maker to make this QR Code 
I found it very easy to follow the steps on the QR Code maker web site. To me this is a simple way to guide people to an online/digital destination. All anyone needs to access the information is a phone with a QR Scanner that you can download free from any of the app stores.
I found it very easy to follow the steps on the QR Code maker web site. To me this is a simple way to guide people to an online/digital destination. All anyone needs to access the information is a phone with a QR Scanner that you can download free from any of the app stores.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Day 16
Today I set up two Facebook Pages for Minority Outreach of Sedalia and Sedalia Salvation Army, soon I will posts links to these!!! I also worked with one of my supervisors on setting up a project budget. That was very interesting!!! Since this project involves welding, I felt comfortable in knowing at least what was needed, since I have several years experience in welding. We started by listing out everything the SABER project needs, such as rent, utilities, and supplies, and then putting down estimates of each item we listed. The local newspaper had this article about the SABER Program.
I also went to my first Diversified Community Outreach (DCO) meeting. The people there were so nice and informative!!! We discussed the Community Garden they have for people to plant whatever they want in it. I found the whole meeting very informative.
I also went to my first Diversified Community Outreach (DCO) meeting. The people there were so nice and informative!!! We discussed the Community Garden they have for people to plant whatever they want in it. I found the whole meeting very informative.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Day 15
Our Cinco de Mayo Festival was on the front page of the Sedalia Democrat!!
Yes, that is one of my fellow VISTA's dressed as the chicken!! She was so awesome and the kids just loved to chase her in the chicken chases. To read more about it and to see more pictures click here. The festival was a big success!!! We estimate about 300 people showed up Saturday. This event was not meant to be a fundraiser, but our goal was just to break even and have a fun family event, and we did!!! We broke even by having a raffle, donation jar, and sold both spaces to both profit and non-profit agencies.
Today, we wrote thank you notes to all the volunteers that ran the games and other activities, and to everyone that donated items for us to use. I also made us a data base for us to make address labels and for future records.
Yes, that is one of my fellow VISTA's dressed as the chicken!! She was so awesome and the kids just loved to chase her in the chicken chases. To read more about it and to see more pictures click here. The festival was a big success!!! We estimate about 300 people showed up Saturday. This event was not meant to be a fundraiser, but our goal was just to break even and have a fun family event, and we did!!! We broke even by having a raffle, donation jar, and sold both spaces to both profit and non-profit agencies.
Today, we wrote thank you notes to all the volunteers that ran the games and other activities, and to everyone that donated items for us to use. I also made us a data base for us to make address labels and for future records.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Days 12 & 13
For all my readers, sorry I didn't make a post yesterday, but I was busy graduating from grad school!! I received my Master of Science in Educational Technology from the University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Missouri.
The Cinco de Mayo Celebration was my first major community outreach project as a VISTA! Since this is the end of week 2 for me, most of the planning was in place before I started, but I was informed of the activities. The VISTA in charge of it (the Community Outreach VISTA for our site) had to leave to go to her daughter's college graduation, and she then gave me the clipboard, some details, and then left me in charge!!! WOW!!! The things I learned today!!!! The one thing I want to tell anyone that is about to tackle any project like this is to be prepared to think creatively to solve problems and to use what you have at the site!!! Everything went smoothly, oh sure there were things I had to try to figure out last minute (like not enough tables for all the vendors that showed up and then how do I squeeze an extra table in a very small space!!LOL!!!). Lots of people showed up and told they had a nice time, so that made me feel good that others enjoyed our hard work!!! There were a lot of AWESOME volunteers there to help out us VISTA's to pull all of this off without a lot of major problems. Overall, I feel that it went over well!!! We had a great turn out and everyone had fun!!!
That morning I did help with the set up of our Cinco de Mayo Celebration, but then I left in time to take part in my celebrations!!The Cinco de Mayo Celebration was my first major community outreach project as a VISTA! Since this is the end of week 2 for me, most of the planning was in place before I started, but I was informed of the activities. The VISTA in charge of it (the Community Outreach VISTA for our site) had to leave to go to her daughter's college graduation, and she then gave me the clipboard, some details, and then left me in charge!!! WOW!!! The things I learned today!!!! The one thing I want to tell anyone that is about to tackle any project like this is to be prepared to think creatively to solve problems and to use what you have at the site!!! Everything went smoothly, oh sure there were things I had to try to figure out last minute (like not enough tables for all the vendors that showed up and then how do I squeeze an extra table in a very small space!!LOL!!!). Lots of people showed up and told they had a nice time, so that made me feel good that others enjoyed our hard work!!! There were a lot of AWESOME volunteers there to help out us VISTA's to pull all of this off without a lot of major problems. Overall, I feel that it went over well!!! We had a great turn out and everyone had fun!!!
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Day 11
My wonderful supervisor, that has over 20 years of grant writing experience, looked over my first grant application today. Yes, she made a few changes and I had one concern that I asked her about, but other than that...she loved it!!! I got a "that a girl" for my work!!!! That helped boost my confidence with my grant writing skills, considering that I've never done one before!!
The rest of the day was spent working on last minute items for the big Cinco de Mayo Celebration on Saturday. I've enjoyed helping make things for the celebration!! I've made all sorts of items such as coupons, signs, 6 boats-all with different sails, oh yes it's been a lot of work!! Here is a link to the article that the local paper, The Sedalia Democrat, wrote about out celebrations. We talked about it at work and we all agreed that they did a nice job describing what will be going on Saturday.
By the way, this article is a follow-up article, from The Sedalia Democrat, that I blogged about on Day 9.
The rest of the day was spent working on last minute items for the big Cinco de Mayo Celebration on Saturday. I've enjoyed helping make things for the celebration!! I've made all sorts of items such as coupons, signs, 6 boats-all with different sails, oh yes it's been a lot of work!! Here is a link to the article that the local paper, The Sedalia Democrat, wrote about out celebrations. We talked about it at work and we all agreed that they did a nice job describing what will be going on Saturday.
By the way, this article is a follow-up article, from The Sedalia Democrat, that I blogged about on Day 9.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Day 10
Yet another exciting day as a VISTA!!!! I tell you, everyday is something new, but I wouldn't change that!! So we continued to prepare things to get ready for the big Cinco de Mayo Festival that is on Saturday. I made small certificates for children who show good sportsmanship skills to receive and then they will get to participate in the final rounds of the games we have set up for them to play.
Just before my arrival, as a VISTA, the others had started to set up a group that is called "Hand to Hand Outreach" which is a group of crafty people that want to get together to make crafts for those who need them, such as classroom aids for a Head Start class, out of donated materials. Today we finalized the name and decided to come up with a mission statement, then we also wanted to get tags made up so everything the group makes can get a tag to identify that Hand to Hand Outreach made it.
Just before my arrival, as a VISTA, the others had started to set up a group that is called "Hand to Hand Outreach" which is a group of crafty people that want to get together to make crafts for those who need them, such as classroom aids for a Head Start class, out of donated materials. Today we finalized the name and decided to come up with a mission statement, then we also wanted to get tags made up so everything the group makes can get a tag to identify that Hand to Hand Outreach made it.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Day 9
Today, the Senior Center partnered with St. Pauls Luthern School to have a walk-a-thon and raised money for the Senior Center. The students had people sponsor them during the walk, then they walked to a nearby park. Where we had a lunch set up for the, some Senior Center board members BBQ hot dogs, seniors citizens supplied donated bags of chips and baked cookies, and Open Door donated the hot dogs and buns. Sonic even donated their holders for hot dogs, which was really nice! I thought this was a great example of using your resources to have a simple and successful fundraiser. At the park, we had reserved 2 shelter houses, one to serve the food and the other for students to eat. A parent volunteer even brought over the students instruments and they preformed along with the choir after lunch.
I also finished my very first grant! I still need to add some documents and let my mentors read it first before I submit it. The grant is with the Allen P. and Josephine B. Green Foundation and their web site is http://greenfdn.org/. One of my mentors, said she has wrote grants with them before and they are really nice people since she had meet them. The Green Foundation just happens to be located not far from us. My grant with them is to help fund GEDs and transprotation costs for the Salvation Army.
I also finished my very first grant! I still need to add some documents and let my mentors read it first before I submit it. The grant is with the Allen P. and Josephine B. Green Foundation and their web site is http://greenfdn.org/. One of my mentors, said she has wrote grants with them before and they are really nice people since she had meet them. The Green Foundation just happens to be located not far from us. My grant with them is to help fund GEDs and transprotation costs for the Salvation Army.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)