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RHD hosts grant workshop for nonprofits from around the world
7/2/2010 3:34:32 PM
Dotun Olutola came all the way from Nigeria to attend RHD's first grantwriting workshop -- and he left feeling very glad he did.
"I had a skeletal knowledge of writing grants, but now I'm getting the opportunity to see the mistakes we've made and how to correct them,'' said Olutola, who works with the Institute of Human Virology in Nigeria. "The volume of information and the way things have been structured has been very stimulating. We provide health services to poor people who can't afford health care, especially those living with HIV/AIDS, and we're funded through grants. It's such a priority for us, and I am 100 percent sure I will now be able to seek more and better funding opportunities."
Kim Ryan, director of RHD's New Beginnings Nonprofit Incubator, brought this training from The Grantsmanship Center to RHD's corporate offices in Philadelphia.
"Part of our mission is to serve not only our direct clients, but our indirect clients,'' Ryan said. "Resources for Human Development is there for nonprofits around the country who are struggling or need help."
The Grantsmanship Center conducts 150 workshops each year at host sites around the country, providing vital training for organizations 0f all sizes that may lack the skills or the knowledge to compete for grant opportunities.
A select few programs attending the workshop left with grant proposals written for them as part of the training. Access Sports, a New Beginnings program at RHD, was selected to participate in the workshop and receive a grant proposal.
"I am so thrilled,'' said Alyson Harris, Access Sports director. "I can't wait until next week, when I can start implementing everything for my program. I'm so honored and privileged for what RHD provided. I would never be able to do this on my own."
Access Sports serves at-risk youth groups and special needs individuals as they overcome physical and financial barriers and strives to make attending spectator sports events more accessible.
"It's overwhelming, and such an intense process,'' Harris said. "The first night I was up until 2 am pouring through the reading, I was so energized by the potential of what we can do. They make such a commitment to making sure we learn as much as we possibly can. For us, this was desperately needed. I finally feel like our program can turn the corner."
Nonprofits from around the world find helpful hints in RHD's grantwriting workshop.
