top of page
Workshops

PRODUCED BY

WITH VOLUNTEER SUPPORT FROM

THE ART OF PROPOSAL WRITING: OPEN GYM

Drop-in, peer-led roundtable review sessions 

Offered every other month, six times per year.

Synergistic professional development at your fingertips.

REGISTER

Single session tickets and

annual passes available.

OVERVIEW

 

You ask, we deliver. In response to feedback fielded during our successful spring workshops, UpCity Consulting is now collaborating with Oregon's most influential foundations to host drop-in, peer-led, dialog-driven workshops that will help position you and your organization for increased grant funding.

 

During each interactive workshop, you will receive direct feedback on one of your proposals while working in small groups of peers and expert grant writers. Foundation representatives will also be on hand at the start of each session to teach you "how to think like a program officer" and answer questions about their upcoming grant opportunties.

 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

 

These workshops are primarily designed for skilled grant writers and fundraising professionalsNonprofit managers, board members, consultants and others who have experience writing proposals are also welcome.

 

THE AGENDA

 

  • Networking, coffee and light breakfast  [8:30 AM]

  • "Think Like a Program Officer" Q&A with foundation rep   [9:00 AM]

  • Small group proposal review session  [9:30 AM]

  • Large group reflections and closing  [10:50 AM]

COME PREPARED

 

All participants must bring four (4) copies of a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) or full proposal which will be reviewed in small groups led by your peers.

 

If you choose to bring a full proposal of significant length, please identify several sections of highest priority in advance, as there may not be time to review the entire document during your round table session.

Questions? Contact us!

UPCOMING SESSIONS

TBA: September 2016 / 8:30 AM - 11:00 AM PST

Exact date and location coming soon!

TBA: November 2016 / 8:30 AM - 11:00 AM PST

Exact date and location coming soon!

TBA: January 2017 / 8:30 AM - 11:00 AM PST

Exact date and location coming soon!

TBA: March 2017 / 8:30 AM - 11:00 AM PST

Exact date and location coming soon!

TBA: May 2017 / 8:30 AM - 11:00 AM PST

Exact date and location coming soon!

TBA: July 2017 / 8:30 AM - 11:00 AM PST

Exact date and location coming soon!

REGISTER
Workshop I

A R C H I V E D   E V E N T

PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

THE ART OF PROPOSAL WRITING:

Program Officer + Trustee Perspectives

Thursday, May 26, 2016

REGISTER

TICKETS LEFT: 0

[Total seats: 50]

OVERVIEW

 

Unlike any workshop you've been to before, this full-day training introduces you to nine of the most influential foundation representatives in Oregon, as well as a panel of highly distinguished past and present trustees from Meyer Memorial Trust, the James F. & Marion L. Miller Foundation, and The Oregon Community FoundationAll will share firsthand how and why they make funding decisions. 

 

During this interactive training, you will receive direct feedback on one of your proposals* while working in small groups with the following funders:

 

  • Collins Foundation

  • Spirit Mountain Community Fund

  • The Oregon Community Foundation

  • James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation

  • The Standard Charitable Foundation

  • Jackson Foundation

  • PGE Foundation

 

Working side-by-side with these funders, you will also have the opportunity to provide feedback to your peers. This will help you learn to "think like a program officer" and apply the same principles to your own writing.

 

Meet the presenters, roundtable leaders and panelists [CLICK]

 

ABOUT THE TRAINERS

 

The workshop is co-facilitated by Rick and Eli Levine, a father/son team that spans two generations of grant writers. Together they bring 40 years of experience and have trained over 10,000 grant seekers. Read their full bios here. [PDF]

 

Special guest presenter Candy Solovjovs, Director of Programs at Meyer Memorial Trust, has been intimately involved with the evolution of the foundation's new giving priorities and procedures. During the morning session, Candy will provide in-depth insights regarding the recent changes while also illuminating the elements that they and other funders look for in a strong proposal.

 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

 

This workshop is primarily designed for skilled grant writers and fundraising professionalsNonprofit managers, board members, consultants and others who have experience writing proposals are also welcome.

 

Given the diversity of organizational missions and expertise often representated at our workshops, we encourage you to ask complex questions and steer the discussion so that your experience as a participant feels rewarding.

 

THE AGENDA

 

  • Registration, networking, coffee, breakfast treats [8:30]

  • Opening session with Candy Solovjovs from Meyer Memorial Trust [9:00]

  • Short break [10:20]

  • Small group proposal review with program officers* [10:30]

  • Lunch on your own (or pre-order lunchbox) [12:30]

  • Brief presentation by expert grant writers [1:30]

  • Trustee panel discussion [2:00]

  • Informal coffee break with trustees [3:30]

 

* WHAT TO BRING

 

All participants must bring eight (8) copies of a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) or two-page proposal which will be reviewed in small groups led by program officers.

 

Please ensure your proposal is formatted according to these LOI guidelines [PDF] common to most private foundations.

 

Questions? Contact us!

Presenters II

A R C H I V E D   E V E N T

LIVE IN PORTLAND

+ VIA WEBCAST

PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

FOUNDATION + CORPORATE GRANT STRATEGIES

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

REGISTER

TICKETS LEFT: 0

[Total seats: 50]

LIVE IN PORTLAND / 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM PST

Portland Community Media, 2766 NE MLK Jr Blvd, Portland, Oregon

LIVE VIA WEBCAST / 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM PST

Watch the event on your computer! (Internet and private link required)

OVERVIEW

 

Join two of the Pacific Northwest's most successful grant writers PLUS representatives from Meyer Memorial Trust, The Oregon Community Foundation, and the PGE Foundation for a highly engaging workshop that will help position your organization for increased funding.

 

Meet the presenters and panelists [CLICK]

 

For over 30 years, Rick Levine has provided “insider” expertise to training participants on every aspect of successful grant seeking, including the topics of grant research, proposal development and funder relationships.  In 2014, professional grant writer Eli Levine joined Rick to help update the curriculum and support the facilitation of each workshop.

 

More than 7,000 people have attended Rick's workshops.

 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

 

Nonprofit professionals, board members, independent contractors, and others who wish to position their organizations for increased grant funding.

 

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

 

How to identify potential funders, write a compelling letter of inquiry, and integrate grants funding into an organization's overall fundraising plan. Both foundation and corporate giving opportunities are discussed in depth.

 

WHAT'S UNIQUE?

 

The culmination of the workshop is a 90-minute panel discussion with individuals from Meyer Memorial Trust, The Oregon Community Foundation, and the PGE Foundation. These influential, thoughtful and responsive foundation officers will discuss how to most effectively present a nonprofit’s case in a competitive funding climate, following by an audience-led Q&A session.

 

WHY WEBCAST THE EVENT?

 

We believe all nonprofit organizations serving the Pacific Northwest, including those situated in rural and remote communities, should have equal access to meaningful training opportunities.

 

Additionally, the recorded webinar can be purchased and accessed later (for six months) by anyone anywhere who is unable to attend the live event.

 

WHY ATTEND THE EVENT IN PERSON?

 

First, you'll meet great people. The connections and networks that are discovered and built during events often prove just as valuable as the content itself. But don't worry, the content will be great too.

 

Second, from 3:30 - 4:00 PM, live event attendees only will have a special chance to meet individually with foundation representatives. Are you planning to submit or have you already submitted an application to Meyer, OCF or PGE? This is your chance to introduce yourself and ask a specific question.

 

Third, those watching the live webcast (versus attending in person) may submit their questions and comments online in real time, but questions and comments from live event attendees will be prioritized.

 

Finally, lunch boxes from Tamale Boy will be available. Need we say more?

 

CONTACT US

UpCity Consulting, LLC
 

Email

contact@upcityconsulting.com

 

Phone

503.956.2695

 

Address

PO Box 11066, Portland, OR 97211

bottom of page