The Wise Guides to Fundraising

REVIEWS
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“I can't recommend [The Wise Guide to Winning Grants] enough. I have read numerous grant writing books, and this one wins hands down for clarity, tone, and usefulness.”
“It's like having an expert by your side all the way through.”
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“I don't recall any book I've read in the last few years that has generated more ideas in my head and notes on my legal pad than [The Wise Guide to Winning Grants].”
From Five-Star Reviews on Amazon.com
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“The Quick Guide to Fundraising Readiness is an incredibly focused and practical guide through all of the steps that any organization must take to actualize their fundraising potential.
It is a must-read for any organization starting a program and a great reminder for organizations well on the way."
From Five-Star Reviews on Amazon.com
MICHAEL DAVIDSON
The Board Coach
RESOURCES
Freelance Grant Writing/Consulting
Getting Your First Freelance Grant Writing Assignment
Creating a Budget
The Who, What, When, Where, and How of Grant Budgets
Budget Builder Worksheet (download)
Corporate Sponsorship
Corporate Sponsorship: Turning Intangible Benefits into Tangible Cash
Writing Guides
10 Most Common Grant Writing Mistakes
4 Things Grant Writers Must Get Right
Writing a Proposal They will Want to Read
Fundraising
Fundraising is for Everyone (or The Characteristics of a Good Fundraiser)
Now Casting: Multiple Roles for Grant Writers!
The Hallmarks of Good Grant Writing
Research
Identifying Your Best Funding Prospects
The Concentric Circles of Prospect Research
Fundraising for the Arts
Making the Case for Support of the Arts
My grant writing workshops can train a number of volunteers (or professionals new to grant writing) quickly and efficiently. Workshops can be structured to fit into larger programs.
Workshops I offer include:
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Proposal Writing: Good writing skills are just the beginning. You also need to know what to include in a proposal and what techniques can be used to show your program at its best. (1 to 3 hours)
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Budgets: Learn about indirect costs, salary allocations, and how to make the income section as convincing as the expenses. (1 hour) View an online version of this workshop on YouTube.
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Grant Writing Overview: Everything you need to know about grant writing in a nutshell. Handouts and examples facilitate independent study post-seminar. (1.5 hours)
I have taught writing for development for the New York University, Heyman Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising
To inquire about my conducting a workshop for your organization, email me at waddy [at] grantadviser.com.
SERVICES
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Waddy Thompson’s thirty-five-year career in arts administration encompassed work for a wide variety of organizations serving music, dance, theater, literature, and visual arts.
He held positions at The Whitney Museum of American Art, InterSchool Orchestras of New York, and the Authors Guild Foundation, among others.
His responsibilities at these organizations included fundraising, managing donor-advised funds, marketing, communications, and various other administrative areas. He secured donations, grants, and bequests up to $1 million from the full spectrum of funding sources.
He is also the author of The Wise Guide to Winning Grants (Stitch-in-Time Books, 2017), The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Grant Writing (Alpha Books, 2011), and numerous articles in the NonProfit Times and other periodicals.
He taught grant writing for New York University’s Heyman Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising, and he has been a guest speaker or workshop presenter for several university programs and various arts councils and conferences.
Mr. Thompson is also a composer and you can learn about his works at waddythompsonmusic.com. He now makes his home in Sarasota, Florida.