Is my organization ready to apply to Foundations for Funding?

Generally, non profit organizations under three years of operation are rarely funded by many foundations. If your organization has been incorporated for more than three years and you can check off the boxes below, you may be ready to pursue grants from foundations:

Grants Readiness Questionnaire

	A board of trustee/directors who are engaged and committed to the organization mission and that financially support the organization
	An audited financial statement
	Full tax exempt 501 C 3 status with the Internal Revenue Service
	A reasonable program to administration/fund raising ratio (no more than 30% dedicated to administration and fund raising)
	Strong programs and services that can withstand external evaluations

How does Michelle Whiting and Associates work with clients?

Contracts are developed to meet the needs of each individual client. From Grants development and major gifts strategies to executive searches, each scope of work is designed to obtain maximum results and offer solutions in a reasonable amount of time.

How are fees determined?

Fees are agreed upon by the client and the consultant based upon the scope of work and the organization’s annual budget. Clients are invoiced for services on a monthly basis.

Can we pay a fund raising consultant on a contingency basis (a portion of the funds raised)?

This practice is actually frowned upon by many Foundations and individual donors. Professional organization representing both the philanthropic community and fund development professionals also consider this an unethical way to solicit funding. While a small portion of people do work this way, most do not have a strong verifiable track record of success.