The Massachusetts Chapter currently has over 35 members.  The Chapter meets quarterly (September, December, March and May) at Minuteman Regional High School conveniently located off Rte 128 in Lexington, MA.  At each meeting, members and guests attend a presentation by an individual or panel with expertise in the selected topic.  During the half-hour lunch/networking time from 12:15 to 12:45, attendees meet in small groups to discuss a topic related to the presentation.

New members are always welcome.   Visitors are invited to attend a Chapter meeting; those who wish to return may either join the Chapter or pay $10 per meeting.  Chapter dues are $25 per year, and one must be a member of AAGP national to join.

The MA Chapter has three major goals for the 2009 program year:

1. Implement a comprehensive plan to attract and retain membership of grant writers from a variety of nonprofit organizations and institutions.

2.  Continue to develop an accurate, consistent, and up-to-date chapter membership list.

3.  Continue to work on establishing the chapter as a quality resource for professional development, both at meetings and throughout the year.

Congratulations Karen L. Watkins-Watts, GPC

Karen Watkins-Watts, the Massachusetts Chapter Board Secretary, has passed the GPC Exam which was developed through rigorous national standards for professional credentials.

The Board of Directors of the Grant Professional Certification Institute (GPCI) has announced the names of 28 new GPCs from the exam hosted in Long Beach on October 25 and 26. The newest GPCs – who represent 20 states – bring the total number of GPCs to 225. Congratulations, Karen!

 Navigating an Economic Downturn: 10 Useful Resources for Chapter Members

1. Economic Crisis Resource Center (Meyer Foundation) A list of learning opportunities, tips, tactics, and strategies to help you navigate through the economic downturn.

2. Managing in Tough Times: 7 Steps(Bridgespan Group) Insights and advice from clients, from other nonprofit leaders and experts, and from our own leadership.

3. How Charities Cope With a Troubled Economy (Chronicle of Philanthropy) Recent stories, live discussions, and statistics about how charities deal with turbulent times.

4. Economic Xchange (Council on Foundations) A collaborative initiative on how the current economy impacts philanthropy.

5. Opportunities In Lean Times: What's A Nonprofit To Do? (Fieldstone Alliance) While we don't have a crystal ball to foresee the future, we are in the business of helping others figure out how to move forward.  Here are steps we recommend.

6. Focus on the Economic Crisis (Foundation Center) A myriad of resources regarding the effect of the economy on philanthropy and nonprofits, including articles from experts in the field, links to additional resources and events, and a bibliography of online and print resources dealing with nonprofits and the economic downturn.

7. Nonprofit Economic Vitality Center (National Council of Nonprofits) Ever-evolving resource to help nonprofits better understand strategies for getting through a recession.

8. Navigating the Financial Crisis: A Nonprofit FAQ (Nonprofit Finance Fund) Questions and answers about what nonprofits should do and avoid, plus links to additional resources.

9. Survival Guide EBook (Network for Good) A free 45 page handbook full of tips, survival guides, strategies, and a coupon to save 50% on Network for Good's online fundraising services.

10. Sustaining Nonprofits During Economic Downturns (Nonprofit Risk Management Center) George Thread, PhD, provides insight on both threats and opportunities for nonprofits during times of economic recession. 

2009 Chapter Board of Directors Officers Elected 

At the December 5, 2008 Chapter meeting, the following new Board of Directors officers were elected to a one-year term beginning January 1, 2009.  Congratulations!

President:  Eva Benda
Vice-President:  Lisa Glickstein
Secretary: Karen Watkins-Watts
Treasurer:  Mark Beamis

May 22, 2009 Presentation:  The Grant Writer as Consultant 

As a grant writer, you are a consultant to an organization whether you are on staff, hired on a one-time basis, are on retainer, or are on-call as needed.  The panel members will discuss the respective roles, responsibilities, and expectations of the grant writer/consultant and of the organization in the grant development process, the grant writer/consultant's expectations for the organization's readiness to apply for the grant, and the process an organization uses to identify and hire a highly qualified grants consultant.

Panel members from Urban Edge are Mossik Hacobian, President; Leroy Stoddard, Resource Development Manager; and Vanessa Tan, Resource Development Officer.  The two other panelists are Sharon S. McDonald, a grant writing consultant, and Lisa Perry-Wood, a principal in Clarity Consulting Partners.

WELCOME TO 2009 NEW AND RENEWING MEMBERS    

Cassie Boyd
Partner
Bailey Boyd Associates
120 Main Street
P. O. Box 215
West Harwich, MA   02671    

Lynne White-Robbins
Teacher
Boston Public Schools
PO Box 385
Newton Ctre., MA 02459 

Susanne Shavelson
Managing Director
Shavelson Associates
8 John Poulter Road, Suite 202
Lexington, MA 02421  

Karen Watkins-Watts, MBA
Grants Administrator
Brockton Public Schools
43 Crescent St
Brockton, MA 02301 

Katherine Kimberlee Howard, Ph.D.
Grants Coordinator
Communities for People, Inc.
296 Newton St, Ste 350
Waltham, MA  02453  

Alicia LeClaire
Director, Strategic Initiatives
South Coastal Workforce Investment Board
152 Parkingway
Quincy, MA 02169

Kathleen Murphy
Grant Writer
Greater Lowell Tech High School
250 Pawtucket Blvd
Tyngsboro, MA 01879

Shawna Erickson Dowling
Grant Writer/Developer
Worcester Public Schools
20 Irving St
Worcester, MA 01609

Amy Martin
Dir. Of Pgm. Review & Grants
Brookline Public Schools
333 Washington St
Brookline, MA 02445

Illene Karnow
Business & Consumer Services Academy Supervisor
Greater Lawrence Tech. School
57 River Rd
Andover, MA 01810