Class Title: Strengthening Foundation Relationships

Class Format: This is a recording of a 90-minute, interactive teleclass held November 20, 2009. Since we recorded the class, you can listen to it in the convenience of your home or office.

To take this class, add it to your cart, provide your credit card information, and go through the checkout process. Immediately on registering you will automatically be taken to a classroom page where you will download the class materials and listen to the class via streaming audio from your web browser. The controls on the player enable you to listen to, or re-listen to, any part of the class. You may log out and come back at a later time or times time within 365 days from the date you registered for the class. In other words, you can decide when to listen to a class, even breaking it over over different days. Even better, you replay portions that you'd like to re-hear.

As soon as you register, you will also be sent emails providing you with your username and password, in case you need to log in again, good for 365 days. You'll also receive an electronic receipt, in case you need it for reimbursement or for tax purposes.

Class Description:

The key to success in attracting philanthropic investments from independent, community and corporate foundations is no different than other major gifts work.

It all comes down to relationships.

A big part of relationship building is providing services that few, and perhaps no one else, can deliver. As fundraisers, we need to provide value to our prospective donors. In Strengthening Foundation Relationships, John Greenhoe, CFRE, provides an overview of proven methods for building relationships with foundations of varying types and sizes.

Drawing upon his unique background as a former journalist, public relations director and constituent major gift officer, John will lead a thought-provoking session that will provide specific strategies for building lasting and fulfilling foundation partnerships.

Outcomes:

At the conclusion of the webinar, participants will...

• understand the value of building ongoing relationships with a select number of funders – rather than employing the “shotgun” approach.

• have learned strategies for building partnerships, including serving as an authority on programs of interest, providing access and becoming a promoter/advocate for the funder.

• have learned specific methods for making the initial approach to a prospective funder, and for following up in ways that make them stand out.

• understand various strategies for cultivating different types (e.g., independent, community, corporate, etc.) of foundations.

About the Instructor

John Greenhoe, CFRE, has more than 20 years of experience in non-profit leadership roles. He has worked at Western Michigan University (WMU) since 2001, and his current responsibilities include establishing and cultivating new relationships with local, regional and national foundations.

John has worked extensively with the WMU College of Health and Human Services, locating new sources of foundation funding for several programs. He has a proven record of success in attracting investments from foundations with little or no previous connection to the University. Prior to WMU, Greenhoe served as Director of Development and Assistant Executive Director for the Greater Kalamazoo Area American Red Cross. He started his professional career as sports editor of the Greenville (Mich.) Daily News, and served as public relations director at Kalamazoo College.

John has been a featured speaker at the 2008 AFP International Conference in San Diego and for the Forum for Fundraising in 2009. He currently serves as an adjunct faculty member in graduate fundraising coursework at both WMU and Grand Valley State University. Greenhoe has an MA degree in Philanthropy and Development from Saint Mary’s University in Minnesota, and obtained his CFRE credential in 2000.