We have all had to answer the “sustainability question” at one time or another, one of the most vexing questions in a standard grant application:

• How will the program be sustained after the grant ends?
• What is your plan for sustaining the project beyond the grant period?
• Describe the future of this program and how will you support it beyond the grant.

This practical session is designed to spark new ideas on how to answer the question for both your organization and program through:

• insights from foundation program officers on what they look for in the answer;
• exploring different ways to look at the question;
• factors that help prove sustainability that may not seem related; and
• real-life examples

Never be intimidated by this question again. Answer it with confidence, authority, and “chutzpah”!

Presenter:

Ellen Gugel GPC, Principal of Grants & More, has developed hundreds of successful proposals for social services, environment, arts, and advocacy organizations from grassroots to $60+ million agencies. As Director of Foundation & Corporate Relations at Ascentria Care Alliance (formerly Lutheran Social Services), she established a successful grants program. She was previous development manager at a botanic garden and executive director of a land trust. She has an MBA from Boston University.

Laura Leacu is the Director of Institutional Giving at Hebrew SeniorLife, a Harvard-affiliated organization improving the lives of seniors in Greater Boston through health care, senior living communities, chronic care, home care, hospice and more. Laura is the former Secretary of the New England GPA Chapter, and has presented at the GPA annual conference, the chapter’s regional conference, and local workshops in the Boston area. She has an MBA from Boston University.

 
Skill Level:
Mid-Career

Learning Path: 
Proposal Development/Communication Strategies
 

GPC Competencies:
How to craft, construct, and submit an effective grant application
Strategies for effective program and project design and development
Organizational development as it pertains to grant seeking