Today I was surfing and found a site called www.activistcash.com

It shows how money from various charities, foundations and corporations is spent.

What is detailed is striking. The funding is almost always for causes that are way, way left of center. It also details donations to causes that redefine themselves as their original mission is largely accomplished-such as Mothers against Drunk Driving- (I'm defending even one DWI- I just understand that human beings will do bad things-as we were all reminded oday)

It also shows that various legacies are well insane. Doris Duke left $100,000 to her DOG

I picked one organization @ random. Here's a summary of the DR. Scholl Foundation

Lots of money in bunion pads, eh?

Dr. Scholl Foundation

Finances

Assets In 2000
$186,645,652.00

Grants Awarded In 2000
$12,815,494.00

Whether or not you agree with foundation politics, its clear there's money out there. Certain foundations are required by the IRS to disburse money every year and that might be why they are so free to so many organizations.

Its seems to me that perhaps the preservation movement needs to start getting smart with these things. We need to solicit or establish these sorts of organizations.

Whatever your diet, do you think that the organizations that advocate a strict vegan lifestyle would survive on market forces in a country where a McDonalds or a Burger King seem to be around every corner?

I don't have all the answers, but since I became interested in this advocation- I've seen some very important landmarks fall (Lima and Lagrange) and now it seems that the next thing to fall will be big steam operations. Financial issues seem to
occupying more and more posts here on RYPN, whether its CATS, EBT, Steamtown, etc.

Its clear that a new approach needs to be taken.

I open the floor....

Is it time to start hiring grantwriters along with boiler guys?



ACTIVIST CASH
superheater@beer.com

> Is it time to start hiring grantwriters
> along with boiler guys?

Or, maybe seeing if there are a some in your organization that are willing to take a grantwriting class.

One of the first postings I can remember responding to on the old RyPN involved grantwriting--and the availability of an online course.

Since then, the executive director and I have taken a course at the local State College (Adult Evening Courses)--cost was about $90.00 for eight hours of instruction which covered 1. finding out what's out there (that is, learning where to look), 2. writing the proposal 3. writing the request. A small syllabus and interactive CD-ROM were provided.

I'd like to report that we've since brought millions to the railroad for all of our projects--but the truth is that we are just finishing the proposal for re-flueing #75

As an aside, it was interesting to see the variety of individuals that were taking the class when we did. Representatives from the Boy Scouts, Red Cross, and other service organizations and one individual (artist type) that was looking for someone to fund their existance (read pay the rent, power the lights, and put the food on the table!) I guess they couldn't qualify for the dole.

--doc

The Heber Valley Railroad
utweyesguy@aol.com

> Is it time to start hiring grantwriters
> along with boiler guys?

YES. I wondered when someone would finally see the light. It all takes money, and IMHO, the job of a museum director worth his salt these days is finding and writing grants. The administration ain't your enemy; you've got to work with 'em if you want to succeed. My director realized that he didn't know what it took to get a correct period combine, but he knew where to get the money to pay for the resto. How many times has it been the other way around?

NEXT BUZZ WORD: ENDOWMENT. It what allows you to help the next generation continue to take care of the hard work you are doing today. Money may be a dirty word, but its a whole lot dirtier when you don't have any.

TJG



Port Huron Museum
tjgaffney@phmuseum.org

A well-written and planned out project grant application sent to the right entity usually has a decent chance for success. One word of caution: If you have largely volunteer staff, get their buy-in to the grantor's schedule for completion or you may end up with a black eye. Remember: "A good name is better than great riches."

wyld@sbcglobal.net