Friends of Noise Makin' It Rain $75K
A Quick Story Behind a Successful Grant That Empowers Creative Youth
It’s the BEST feeling getting texts like these from my clients.
As some of you know, part of my small business involves grant writing services.
Over the past five years, I've helped leaders write and secure substantial grant funding—totaling eight figures—for organizations doing meaningful work.
I haven’t shared much about this for a number of reasons, but I’m realizing that’s not the best approach, especially as a small business owner.
Learning how to talk about my clients' accomplishments is an important skill for me to develop, and it might also be valuable for anyone reading this.
For this particular grant, I’ll start by saying my client took the lead on writing it. We met weekly to go over grant language, funder priorities, and provide feedback.
It brings me great joy to say they truly deserve all the credit for writing this grant.
I want to shout out a few things they did that contributed to its success:
1.) The impact of this funding was crystal clear.
Here’s what the grant says about its purpose:
Friends of Noise requests small capital funding to install a sprinkler system in our all-ages arts venue, serving over 1,200 creative youth and other community members annually in Portland by providing a safe, accessible space for the arts.
What’s the money being used for?
To purchase a sprinkler system. (A detailed budget was provided.)
Who will it impact?
1,200 creative youth every year—meaning Oregon Community Foundation’s investment will have a lasting impact year after year.
2.) The grant recognized the importance of funding the not-so-sexy essentials that directly tie to impact.
Again, here’s what the grant says:
Sometimes, the biggest hurdles that limit us from fully focusing on fulfilling our mission are the technical, behind-the-scenes challenges like a fire sprinkler system. By helping us tackle this small capital project, OCF will help launch us into a new chapter of growth and impact, where we can do what we do best: support creative youth and provide opportunities for them to thrive in the arts.
OCF wasn’t just investing in a fire sprinkler system; they were investing in creating an environment where Friends of Noise (FoN) can effectively provide their services.
This is all about concrete impact. (And there are consequences for not measuring impact.)
3.) FoN’s development team focused on relationships and open communication.
The development team at Friends of Noise (FoN) put a lot of effort into building relationships and maintaining open communication about the grant.
They attended Oregon Community Foundation’s virtual open houses to connect with OCF’s program officers and ask questions.
We carefully talked through the questions, which sparked new ways to communicate the impact of this project.
Relationships are one of the most important factors in grant writing, and in today’s climate, they are more crucial than ever.
It’s truly rewarding to witness the dedication and hard work that goes into securing funding for these projects.
It’s not just about the dollars, although the dollars are very important, it’s about the people, the relationships, and the impact that will continue to grow for years to come.
This is a win not just for Friends of Noise, but for the creative youth they serve. I’m grateful to be part of this journey.
Here’s to many more successes and stories like these. Well done to the development team at Friends of Noise! 🥂