Golden, Susan L. :

Susan L. Golden, a consultant who works with organizations on grantseeking and capital campaigns, has been involved with raising more than $700 million for projects in health care, education, social services, materials science, economic development, and the arts.

"Susan Golden provides not just another book on proposal writing, but one which provides a realistic view of proposal writing with practical step-by-step guidance towards success -- useful for both novice and experienced grantwriters."

--Patricia F. Lewis, ACFR, president and CEO, National Society of Fund Raising Executives

Submitted by the Publisher, September, 2000

Drawing on more than 20 years of experience with more than 100 organizations, Golden arms fundraisers with the grantsmanship skills they need to successfully navigate the grantmaking process. From conducting effective prospect research and making initial conversations count to preparing, submitting, and following up on grant proposals, Susan Golden offers a focused, step-by-step method for reliably achieving success in any fund raising activity.

Competition for grants has escalated dramatically, bringing with it a barrage of how-to instruction manuals discussing the fine points of proposal writing. In this book, Susan Golden argues that grantseekers need to go well beyond strong ideas and beautifully written proposals in today's fundraising arena. Her innovative approach is based on the simple truth that people, not proposals, secure grants. By investing time, energy, and resources into building and maintaining solid relationships with grantmakers, grantseekers can gain the edge in the increasingly competitive quest for philanthropic funds.

Drawing on more than 20 years of experience with more than 100 organizations, Golden arms fundraisers with the "guerrilla" grantsmanship skills they need to successfully navigate the grantmaking process: from avoiding common pitfalls such as perfunctory budget preparation to implementing critical, yet little-taught advocacy techniques. Golden's "relationship model" of fundraising offers the grantseeker proven strategies -- selecting promising opportunities, sizing up the odds, and bringing to bear the proper resources, at the proper time, in the proper way -- that don't require mastering any new jargon, high-tech equipment, or complicated procedures.

Secrets of Successful Grantsmanship will not only equip grantseekers with ways to identify and exploit promising opportunities, but also help them recognize those that hold little real promise. From conducting effective prospect research and making initial conversations count to preparing, submitting, and following up on grant proposals, Susan Golden offers a focused, step-by-step method for reliably achieving success in any fund raising activity.

1. Know Your Territory: The Basic Principles of Guerilla Grantsmanship
2. Where the Money Is: Conducting Effective Prospect Research
3. Opening the Right Doors
4. Making Your First Conversation Count
5. "Send Me Something in Writing": Documents That Get Results
6. Planning for a Successful Meeting (Before Submitting Your Proposal)
7. Preparing and Submitting Your Grant Proposal
8. Successful Meetings (After Submitting Your Proposal)
9. The Critical 25 Percent: Giving Your Request a Competitive Edge

Conclusion: The Guerilla Grantseeker: Focused, Disciplined, Persistent

Resource
A: The Foundation Center Directory of Free Funding Information Centers
B: Budget Preparation Guidelines