A few years ago I first "discovered" Don Griesmann, Esq. (yes, he's an attorney, but did you know he was also an Episcopal priest?) the same way many of my CharityChannel colleagues did, when he began posting to our forums. Over time I began to see that he was a colleague who spent a great deal of time researching funding opportunities and then making us aware of them not just in his forum postings, but in a home-grown electronic newsletter that he sent around to colleagues who requested it. As a retired attorney, his contributions to the forums weren't limited just to funding opportunities. He would often discuss legal and other non-funding-related topics, too.

One day it dawned on me that CharityChannel could move the microphone a bit closer his way, metaphorically speaking. What if we were to build an eNewsletter around Don's ongoing search for funding sources? We could help him reach a considerably larger audience, and perhaps give him a little snazzier way of presenting the very useful information he was gathering. I presented the idea and the rest was history. CharityChannel began publishing Don Griesmann's Grant Opportunities, which has a loyal and dedicated following of several thousand colleagues.

Because I have been impressed with Don's insights into funding sources, he is someone I have wanted to interview, not for my benefit since I get to chat with him often, but for the benefit of his fans. I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did.

— Steve

About Don Griesmann

Don Griesmann, the editor of Don Griesmann's Grant Opportunities, worked in nonprofit organizations as an Episcopal priest and as an attorney for 44 years.

In 1963 he developed a community center across the street from the Church where he was the rector in Camden NJ. The Center featured daily programs of recreation, summer camps, homework assistance and youth work for over 300 children a day. Hundreds of adults participated in seniors clubs, community groups and alcohol rehabilitation activities. A Head Start program was also featured. Don raised State, Federal, corporate and foundation grants throughout the 1960s. The "faith-based initiative" was not yet created by the Federal Government. He also conducted fund raising through the Episcopal Church. The Center continues to be run by the community in Camden; some of the children have grown and are now leaders there.

Don switched gears to an extent when he went to law school. His goal was to work in legal services programs and increase his ability to work for social justice. Over the next 27 years Don worked for legal services programs as a director or managing attorney in Camden NJ, Sacramento CA, Lexington KY, Youngstown OH and Atlantic City NJ. For four years he served as Assistant Attorney General in American Samoa.

In 2000 Don changed gears again. He became a virtual volunteer preparing a weekly E-Newsletter about grants and writing articles. In 2004 Don and Stephen Nill, CEO and Founder of CharityChannel, discussed the possibility of a partnership. They joined hands to increase the availability of the E-Newsletter and blog to nonprofit and nongovernmental leaders.  Don’s articles appear on CharityChannel, Idealist.com, the National Legal Aid and Defenders Association, and the Equal Justice Network.

Don’s personal mission: To provide and to broker information about grants, grant writing, management, human resources, data and resources for leaders of nonprofit, nongovernmental, community-based and faith-based organizations, educators and government.

For more information about Don see http://www.linkedin.com/in/dgriesmann.