Preparing Yourself for a Successful 2021: The Importance of Gathering Key Documents

We like to use the holiday season's quiet times to collect copies of key documents that will be essential to our grant writing success in the future. First, this means asking your staff and key project leaders to update their resumes.

Too many staff members do not even list their current job or their current responsibilities on their resumes. Making sure that this crucial information is current will help you with winning grants in 2021.

Along with the updated resumes, we think the holiday season is a good time to ask your leadership to prepare budgets for the projects they want to get funded in 2021. Getting this sort of information ahead of time will help everyone get real about their needs. Moreover, it will save valuable time in the coming year when you need to prepare budgets for crucial projects.

Finally, the holiday season is a good time to plan ahead and determine which educational conferences you would like to attend. Ideally, you should be preparing yourself to present a paper or make a presentation, at one or more of those conferences. 

Being able to add these kinds of publishing credentials to your resume might make a crucial difference in establishing that you have the imagination and state-off-the-art knowledge needed to implement a truly creative and effective grant project. There is almost no more sure path to success with grants.

Planning Your 2021 Grant Writing: How to Make Next Year Better Than the Last

When we discuss ideas for Lightning Fast Grant Writing, we sometimes forget to mention the power and speed that comes from simply planning ahead.

For example, one of the tasks we recommend for grant writers to get done in the month of December is to chart out the due dates for their most important grant applications.

Often you can find out the upcoming deadlines by reviewing the websites of your most important funders. We like to take that information and add it to an Excel spreadsheet that is organized in chronological order. It also works to put everything into Outlook too. You can even set up tasks to remind you to work on those particular grants ahead of time.

Ideally, these due dates can also be included in your overall fundraising planning calendar so that everyone in your fundraising department, or administrative staff, knows what to expect in the year ahead.

Although it may not be possible to pick exact dates for upcoming federal or state grant competitions, you can often guess when these grants will be available simply by checking on your prior year's experience and assuming the government funders will follow the same rough schedule in the coming year too.

Don't Skip the Basics: Tips for Grant Writers in Tough Times and Beyond

As we have said for years, when times are tough you can always win and succeed by going back to the basics. Sure. You still have to know the basics, right? 

At Drew & Associates, sticking to the basics means realizing that your time with any funder is going to be exceedingly short and that you will also be competing against other charities for the resources of the same funders. This means you have no choice except to develop a winning theme. This theme must call attention to your strengths, distract attention from your weaknesses. It must also call attention to your competitor's weaknesses and undermine their strengths. 

For example, if you are competing against an established charity with a large number of employees, then you need to stress that your volunteers are not only better role-models for your clients but also have better social networks in the larger community too. You should also mention that your volunteers are saving you money so that more of your resources are directly spent on clients. 

Along the same lines, you are wise to write out an elevator speech for your charity. This is the speech that you would give to an interested potential donor if your time with them was limited to the amount of time you spend with them in an elevator going up to the 105th floor. 

This elevator story needs to reflect the power of your winning theme. Ideally, everyone in the organization needs to memorize your elevator pitch so you can communicate with busy donors in a clear, concise, heartfelt way. We want your prospect to be motivated to go back to her office and search for more information about your organization. Of course, you should also make sure that the winning themes in your slogan, match those in your elevator speech, and also on the website too. 

A fellow grant writer reminded us that our charities tend to be better at fundraising than they are at saving money. This means that every time we write a grant proposal we look for some ingenious cost-saving measure which can be highlighted as evidence of our thriftiness. The trick is to let the funder know that you are interested in cost-saving measures and that you are in the process of streamlining your organization. This effort at self-improvement should be taking place, day after day, in good times and bad.  

It is probably a good idea to remember that, in good times and bad, grantmakers want to make sure that the organizations applying for grants really need the money.  They also want to be certain that the money they give will be spent wisely and make an impact.  Funders are eager to justify their grants to their board members and other stakeholders. Accordingly, they are looking for thoughtful ways of measuring impact. You can do that too. You should, however, look for impacts that are also in line with your winning theme. 

You do not want to shoot yourself in the foot by measuring things that make your nonprofit look worse. Instead, you should report measures which show off your strengths. You may, in fact, need to reinvent your field to make that happen. If that is the case, do it. The alternative is to be trapped in the position of being second best. 

Compelling Reasons Why Your Charity Needs Foundation Grants to Survive

According to Dr. Drew, managing director of Drew & Associates, “I see profound evidence supporting why your non-profit organization should stress grant writing for foundation funding in 2021 and maybe even longer.”

Those reasons are:

Stable Giving – Foundations must make charitable grants – in good times and bad – of at least 5% of their assets, averaged over five years. Importantly, foundations frequently increase their donations in challenging times to compensate for the financial difficulties charities face. 2020 has been no exception. According to our friends at Foundation Search – over 7,500 US foundations have explicitly launched COVID-19 relief initiatives. They believe this number will increase significantly in 2021.

Predictable giving – Foundations exist to donate to charity, unlike individuals and corporations, who have a variety of shifting interests and priorities that are dependent on a robust economy.  Foundations often publish giving guidelines relating to geographic and philanthropic areas of giving interest – furthermore, analysis of giving through time indicates that most foundations maintain a strong, consistent focus in the areas they support.

Low risk / low cost – unlike high expenditure / high risk fundraising efforts like golf tournaments and galas, foundation fundraising requires very little upfront investment, typically $5,000-$15,000, and with the average single foundation grant amount of $59,300 (2019, 2020), it provides the most cost-efficient method of fundraising – all that is required to start is a funding database which identifies good funding prospects, a good letter, and a few stamps and envelopes.

Low effort – relative to almost any other form of fundraising, approaching foundations requires fewer resources to succeed. This is particularly true of the upfront work in sorting through the over 135,000 U.S. foundations to identify a list of “best prospects” for your project, a task that a few years ago could consume months of effort. Foundation funding information and management systems are now able to intelligently and accurately identify a shortlist of the best prospects for a variety of project funding needs, including COVID-19 funding – and recommend a safe asking amount based on the funders prior giving history.  The balance of the upfront effort simply involves writing and sending a letter of inquiry to your foundation prospects to determine their interest in helping you.

Growth – the most recent CCS Fundraising survey (August, 2020)  indicates that foundation funding was the fastest-growing giving source since 2015-19, growing at a rate of 5.7%, compared to 3.2% for giving by individual donors. Foundations gave $72  billion, in the form of an estimated 1,164,000 grants – that is more than one grant for every two charities in the US so your odds of getting funded – if you apply of course – are good.

Increased credibility for you and your organization – well, once you get funded by a foundation that is. When you are successful in attracting a foundation grant you will open up many doors in the foundation and corporate world for your organization for years to come – you have proven that you are worth funding and can deliver. 

Diversification of funding sources – financial advisors will strongly advise you not to put your life savings into a single stock or sector; for the same reason, having a variety of funding sources—including foundation funding—will strengthen your organization and protect it from the sharp downturns every economy periodically experiences.

Foundations – Why Should They be Key to Your Pandemic Treasure Hunt?

Our staff at Drew & Associates speaks with hundreds of non-profits and foundations each month.

The news we are hearing tells us that too many of the reliable strategies charities traditionally used to raise money in 2020 have proven inadequate.

The worst-hit has been to events-based fundraising, which, according to the folks at Foundation Search, “has shrunk in terms of proceeds by over 70% since March 2020.”

Sadly, individual giving has also dropped in 2020. Individual donors are feeling less generous, in part, because of the side effects of double-digit unemployment and bleak job futures.

As you might expect corporate giving is in trouble too. Corporate philanthropy is flat in the financial and technology sectors, and down significantly in most other sectors, including energy, resources, retail, travel and hospitality.

Is 2021 going to be better?

Despite the late summer optimism as COVID-19 cases fell and lockdowns eased, many forecasters are now saying it will very likely be a “2020 repeat” given the fall spike in cases, despite prospects for an effective vaccine, and hopefulness about its wide-spread distribution.

So, what should a non-profit do to stay alive (and perhaps even thrive) in 2021?

We believe that the things that worked in 2020 should continue to work in 2021.

Thanks to all the reports we have received from a considerable number of clients and other non-profits, we know that 2020 has been a good year to date for foundation giving 

Importantly, over 7,500 US foundations have announced funding initiatives directly focusing on COVID-19 relief.

Since April, we have directly assisted over 25 charities in their efforts to locate and secure COVID-19 emergency funding.

If you are still looking for assistance, contact us for our most recent COVID-19 funders list – it is free for the asking for all non-profits. Call Drew & Associates at 949-338-5921. 

Mark Your Calendar: Join Dr. Drew's Live Remote Grant and Fundraising Workshops for Spring 2021

Grant Writing Fundamentals (Remote Live) 

Learn this valuable skill in a highly interactive videoconferencing format from the comfort of your home. Join Dr. Drew in an invigorating and informative workshop created for new and experienced grant writers, executive directors, organizers, board members, community volunteers, and individuals who want to get a detailed look at the grant writing process. Dr. Drew will introduce you to all information needed for a successful grant proposal. You will learn how funding is announced, how applications are judged, and how to construct each element of a winning proposal. The techniques Dr. Drew emphasizes—including how to work quickly, how to create a winning message, and basic evaluation techniques—apply with equal force to small or large grants. Certificate of completion given to each participant who finishes the class. 

Meeting: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 27, 2021.

Course Fee: $144 includes $36 materials fee for handouts and booklet. Pay before February 1, 2021 and you will receive the early bird special pricing of 20% off. 

Grant Writing Intermediate (Remote Live)

Dr. Drew presents this hands-on workshop as part of the Grant Writing series of classes. In it, he reveals the secrets of cashing in on grants for individuals in a new, innovative videoconferencing format. Unlimited by the boundaries of a classroom, this new class leverages all the benefits of modern technology to assist individuals seeking resources from corporations, foundations, and government agencies. Dr. Drew also teaches the skills needed to be successful in researching individual grants or educational scholarships. You will have step-by-step guidance on how to become a grant-writing consultant or to create a non-profit charity. John C. Drew, Ph.D., is a speaker, author, and consultant who has raised $52 million for non-profits. 

Meeting: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 13, 2021

Course Fee: $144 includes $36 materials fee for handouts and booklet. Pay before February 1, 2021 and you will receive the early bird special pricing of 20% off. 

Grant Research Fundamentals (Remote Live)

NOW Remote – Truly at least half of your success in winning grants depends on your skill in researching them. Accordingly, this class has been created for non-profit leaders and staff who need a detailed look at the technology and the practical tips needed to speed-up the grant research process. Participants will be introduced to: 

• Top websites for grant research including those provided by the federal government, State of California, and the Foundation Directory Online by Candid.
• Useful websites for identifying individual grants for art projects, scholarly research, and college and graduate school scholarships.

This course has been redesigned for the on-line environment. It will now be easier for students to see grant research websites and other tools in action and simultaneously interact with the instructor. 

Meeting: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 10, 2021

Course Fee: $144 includes $36 materials fee for handouts and booklet. Pay before February 1, 2021 and you will receive the early bird special pricing of 20% off. 

Fundraising Fundamentals (Remote Live)

NOW Remote – Learn this valuable skill in a highly interactive videoconferencing format from the comfort of your home. Non-profits can win reliable support through grants, but they also need to know the most important basics about other fundraising methods. "I can’t teach everything I know about fundraising," says Dr. Drew, "but I can teach the six most important things I think will make the biggest possible difference for your success." In this workshop, an award-winning author, trainer, and consultant introduces simple proven techniques and strategies. Participants will learn how fundraising has evolved, how new software keeps track of donors, and how to win individual gifts without the pressure of a face-to-face ask. 

Meeting: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 8, 2021

Course Fee: $144 includes $36 materials fee for handouts and booklet. Pay before February 1, 2021 and you will receive the early bird special pricing of 20% off. 

Praise for Dr. Drew’s Workshops 

“Learned about the database to find grants.” – Nicole Sims, West Los Angeles College

 “Interacting with the group sparked many great ideas.” - Neekole Glaspie, West Los Angeles College

"Very informative, with positive energy transferred to the students." 

"The course was very inviting. Dr. Drew was very clear and knowledgeable. He made it easier for me to achieve my goals and enjoy success in life." 

"Dr. John Drew was very knowledgeable, invigorating, timely, and made learning interesting and clear." 

"This was constant, good practical information. The first 15 minutes made the whole class worth it!" 

"Dr. Drew is wonderful. He taught me a lot in a very short time." 

"The course was very informative and gave me a good insight into what it takes to be a grant writer." 

"This class was excellent and very informative." 

"Great class. Thank you for offering it!" 

"Yay! Great class!" 

"Excellent-- I really enjoyed Dr. Drew. Best organized information." 

"Dr. Drew has given me the tools to stay motivated and to move forward on my non-profit." 

"Overall outstanding." 

More Upcoming Dates for Fall 2021

Grant Writing Fundamentals - September 18, 2021

Grant Writing Intermediate – October 9, 2021

Grant Research Fundamentals - November 13, 2021

Fund Raising Fundamentals – December 4, 2021

Ahead of the Curve: How to Capture the Benefits of Being Well-Informed

Au courant is a fancy way of saying, "aware of what is going on; well informed." Why is this important to the success of any charity seeking grants?

If you have already read the article above, then you would know at least part of the answer. After all, a charity is meant to be a living, problem-solving organism that is continuously scanning its environment, and looking for ever better ways to come to the rescue of those who can most benefit from its help.

There are many ways to show that your charity is a thriving organization that fits this description. 

One of the best ways to make sure that you are sending a message that your charity is au courant is by documenting your evidence of need or the quality of your solutions is by relying only on peer-reviewed research articles that were published within the last two years.  If you depend on older citations, it makes you and your staff with the lazy.  Even worse it may make it look like you and your program are dangerously out-of-date. 

You may be inadvertently leaving the funder with the impression that you are taking action on behalf of others when you really do not know for sure what is going on or what are the best practices for helping them.  Ideally, your grant applications should be teaching the funders about both the actual needs and the best possible solutions. 

Next, it does matter whether not you have mentioned COVID-19.  Failing to mention the ongoing pandemic makes it look like you and your organization are out of touch with reality. This is true whether or not your program has any COVID-19 related features. 

Along the same lines, there is nothing wrong with acknowledging that things are happening in the world in terms of rioting in the streets or the stresses of a presidential campaign. There is no reason for you to take any sides when acknowledging current events. It is enough to simply signal that you realize the world is changing and that you are on top of that change. 

Looking Good: Understand the Ideal Charity Before You Describe Yourself

We have been fans of the James Bond series since we were kids in the 1960s. The genre, of course, was popular for many years and started out as novels by Ian Fleming.

James Bond was sort of the perfect guy, handsome, patriotic, intelligent, and able to handle himself in a fight. To blow away your funder, your charity needs to be something of an ideal too. The funders, after all, may have a stereotyped understanding of what an ideal charity looks like and then use this image to judge your strengths or weaknesses.

The solution? Understand what an ideal charity looks like and become one.

I'm not suggesting that you should live to the funder. In fact I think that is counterproductive . The people that run these foundations or government agencies that giveaway grants aren't stupid. They have their own sources of information including insight from your competitors so I don't think you can count on getting away with things that are untruthful .

Nevertheless you may get away with looking better than your competition by having a clearer understanding of what an ideal charity looks like . Basically in the ideal charity is a glamorous self-less problem solving machine that makes its community dash broadly defined path of a better place .

This means that is going to have some common features , features that you should talk about 80 have fun and features that you should probably add to your charity if you do not. Among these ideal aspects of the charity including adding it up to date profile on guide star or charity navigator . It is too easy for the funder to google you and see where you stand. If you're up to date on these things she looked old-fashion or perhaps like you really aren't paying sufficient attention to your charity and how does seem by the outside world. Remember, these funders are going to be embarrassed if they get the money and then one of their bodies: supper profile and find a pitcher not doing so good .

Next to an ideal charity should have a strong board of directors ideally filled with some of the Mo six else: wealthiest people in the community . You may already have a board like that but you've been to Cheyenne haven't been bragging about how incredible some of your people really are. Now's the time to start bragging .

It's also good to let people know that you haven't audited financial statement . These are important even for smaller charities. I can say with my four heart that could you pay the extra money to have an audited financial statement you easily get that money back by winning more grants .

It's also important to let the funder know that you have a strategic planning process that the charity just isn't moving from crisis to crisis . Your let people know that you have considered your strengths and weaknesses the environmental opportunities and threats and that you're moving rationally on the basis of a well thought out board approved a five year plan . The father doesn't have to know that this is a two page document that she created the day before turning in the grant proposal . Nevertheless that's a good idea to have a document like that in place. In fact it should improve your operations.

It is also important to put in some sort of equity diversity and inclusion statement . These things are rather far most and difficult to follow up on. Nevertheless the funder appreciates it if you put something like that in their . Also the funders are products of liberal and leftist educational institutions . Putting in this sort of skinheads to their politically correct preferences will simply remove one more excuse for them to toss your application out .

Finally, it is important that everything lines of this means that you have the right mission statement , the corrected vision for your charity , a crack team in place , the best possible solution , and the greatest possible need in the community to six . What she may not realize, however, is that all five of these variables can be adjusted . There's nothing wrong with changing your mission statement so it reflects what you really do , there's nothing wrong with identifying the greatest need in the community and then adjusting of other elements of your charity to address that need . If you have one solution that you're really get that there's nothing bad about shopping around in finding an appropriate problem just sat with that solution all that really matters, in the end, is the coherence of your charity . Another words everything he asks a line of all five of these things need to line up so that your charity looks like a smart well organized the machine .

No Time for Boredom: The Best Approach for Creating Grants that Blow Away the Funders

LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA - The new James Bond thriller, No Time to Die, will be in theaters November 25, 2020. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, most of us at Drew & Associates will be waiting to watch the film when it is available at home, preferably on Hulu. This is not because of our health status, but because of our pessimism.

At any rate, the return of James Bond reminds us that one of the most important secrets of success for grant writers is to blow away the funder. After they have read your application, they should be in awe of your charity and what you are doing. This is particularly true when you are writing grants for a newer charity that may not have the built-in credibility or experience of older charities.

This raises the question of what techniques can you rely on to help you come up with a creative, remarkable project that would impress even a hard-boiled villain like Ernst Stavro Blofeld?

To generate excitement, the best and fastest procedure is to trust your own instincts. This means you need to trust your own perceptions of the wow factor surrounding the project. Others have taught that this wow-factor arises in the awesome moment when you realize why the funder will have no choice except to approve your application. 

For us, the sign of truly great grant applications is the feeling that we have had an epiphany. 

According to our online dictionary, some define an epiphany is a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience. 

For us, a better definition is that an epiphany is when you have an intuitive grasp of reality through something (such as an event) usually simple and striking. 

This fits how epiphanies work for us. Amazingly, we find that an epiphany can occur at any stage of the grant writing project. 

It can happen immediately when you hear the idea and understand that no one else has seen something so simple or clever as this before. It may be halfway through the project when you realize that new research gives you powerful support for a fresh approach that no one else has anticipated. It may, in fact, occur at the last minute, when you realize that a single missing piece puts everything else in order. 

Practically speaking, the earlier epiphanies are the best. 

Often early epiphanies appear as moments of confidence when you realize that the only thing the client needed to win a grant was you. This happens fairly frequently because the client may not be aware of the funder's interest in their work.  

By interviewing the client you can identify a unique and original approach at the beginning and then proceed with confidence that you can bring that idea to exactly the right funder. 

One of our secrets for benefiting from early epiphanies is to hold on to them tight. This is because the strategy and vision we set up at the beginning of the grant writing process have been achieved in an atmosphere of relatively low stress and low conflict. We think we are most rational at the beginning of the project. As stress increases - right up to the deadline - we find we are increasingly less likely to make good decisions regarding the overall grant strategy. It pays to hold tight to your initial vision.

Another way to generate an early epiphany is to look for ideas that apply new technology to solve existing problems. 

For us, this has been the quickest and fastest way to create a project that will "blow away the funder."  For example, you might provide access to your program through a new app instead of a personal face-to-face classroom or workshop. You might invent a new way to counsel people through Zoom or figure out how to deliver groceries with a drone. Often, you can spark an epiphany by asking what new technology the client is using or by bringing the value of new technology to their attention.   

How to Use Your Cover Letter to Influence a Grant Reader

In the History Channel's new Grant miniseries, they report on the blunt philosophy of Ulysses S. Grant. "The art of war is simple enough," he said. "Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him as hard as you can, and keep moving on."

If you want to follow his exploits they now have an interactive map of his key Civil War battles which helps you appreciate what he did to win the war.

Ultimately, I see his views as a call for considerable focus. The same principle applies in the less physical risky and dangerous arena of grant writing.

As a political scientist, I was always interested in how political consultants used direct mail to raise money and advertise their political candidates. As a grant writing consultant, I have adopted a lot of these same techniques to benefit the non-profit clients we serve at Drew & Associates. Many of the political consultant's best ideas were the result of early eye tracking technology experiments.

For example, it turns out that when someone opens a letter the first thing that attracts their eyes is the appearance of their own name. Consequently, I am very careful about having my staff double check the spelling of the recipient's name and also their title. My view is that if we make a mistake with the grant reader's name, then we immediately make a bad impression. If we get their name exactly correct, however, we will have used that initial millisecond of exposure to immediately win the trust and confidence of the reader.

This is why I refuse to issue letters of inquiry or cover letters that are simply addressed to generic appellations like "To Whom It May Concern" or "Dear Sir or Madam." I also use a Ms. or Mr. when I address the letter reader too. If the person's name gives me little indication of their gender, then I try to Google them to figure out the appropriate term of address. If they have a non-English name that I am unfamiliar with, then I will Google that too.

I also avoid using the generic term Grant Administrator or Grant Coordinator. Instead, I review the funder's website or research printout and address the letter to their president or chair. To make sure that I get the name exactly right, I will cut and paste it directly from the website.

It turns out that the next place a person's eye goes to when they read your letter of inquiry or your cover letter is your own signature. Try this yourself and notice how your eyes move over the next letter you receive in the mail. I also seek to leverage this initial bit of information too. If you have ever taken one of my grant writing workshops, then you will remember that I spend time teaching people how to create a professional looking signature. Too often, I have seen people labor over a grant application and then - at the last minute - undercut their own effort by signing the application or cover letter as if they just finished an increasingly rare third grade penmanship class.

Instead, I recommend signing quickly, like you are a doctor signing a prescription. The signature, by the way, should be done with blue ink. We use blue ink so that the reader understands that the signature is applied with a pen and not done with a photo image the same color as the text.

Finally, the folks who taught me about political direct mail always stressed the P.S. at the end of the letter. For some reason, people will scan the entire letter first, but then zero in on the P.S., or post script, at the end of the letter. To take advantage of that habit, I like to place the most compelling message regarding the charity and its project in the P.S. I rarely send out any letter of inquiry or cover letter without including a P.S.

P.S. If you follow these tips, you will be using the reader's most basic habits to quickly get a powerful first impression established in their minds in six seconds or less.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Grant Writing Meetings

I have been watching the new Grant miniseries on the History Channel. I recommend it.

As they write: "While nothing in Grant’s early life marked him for greatness, he now stands as one of the most brilliant military minds in U.S. history—credited with winning the Civil War and preserving the American Union. This map charts his progress and achievements during the nation’s most wrenching conflict." At the very least, the miniseries will remind you of the extent to which politics gets in the way of action.

In grant writing, we typically address the politics of grant writing by asking our clients to fill out a project innovator form and collect the needed documents. This is usually enough to identify issues that might get in the way of creating a winning grant campaign.

We have also found it essential to conduct a well-organized and impressive kick-off meeting for the client and their staff. Over time, I have come to believe that one of the most important secrets of success for a grant writer is learning how to conduct a powerful, influential and effective grant campaign kick-off meeting. This meeting can make a large difference. The reason is that grant writing is a team sport, not an individual effort. To pull together a winning grant application in a short period of time you need to use every technique at your disposal to win participants to your side. Without their earnest help, preparing a conforming grant application will be a slow, lonely process.

Along these lines, I like to run a tightly organized staff meeting when I get together with our Drew & Associates senior grant writers, research assistants, and marketing staff. Here are the tips that I follow myself to build a strong and effective team:

1. Punctuality: My meetings start and end exactly on time. In my experience, if I get sloppy about starting and ending the meeting on time, people start showing up late and failing to use our limited time efficiently. In my experience, no one shows up late.

2. Allow Time to Blow Off Steam: I start each staff meeting with an informal discussion that allows everyone to release their stress by sharing a little information regarding either their personal triumphs and/or struggles. We blow off a little steam too by talking about personal health issues, problems with children and loved ones, or the general madness and insensitivity of those around us. The aim of this portion of the meeting is to allow people to vent some of the tensions and concerns that might otherwise distract them during the rest of the meeting. An additional benefit of this portion of the meeting is that I can identify important clues about how our staff are doing and what--if anything--I need to be doing to make their personal and work lives easier.

3. Use an Agenda: I think it is important to distribute a written agenda at each meeting. The agenda starts with a quick report from each branch of our consulting practice - writing, research, marketing, and collections. We then move on to discuss old business followed by a discussion of new business. If someone wants to suggest an additional discussion item, I usually just add it to the end of the agenda under the category of new business.

4. Keep Meeting Minutes/Record Action Items: Someone takes careful notes at each meeting. My wife, Trish, is remarkably persistent in noting what I and my staff have promised to do to move forward on specific business issues. Later that same day, she sits down with me and goes through the list and we take initial action on each item while we still have the clarity and motivation to get the task done.

5. Foster a Culture of Openness: Although I am not sure that this last tip will help everyone, I do encourage our staff members to speak their minds, criticize me or my practices, or vent their frustrations to the furthest extent possible. To me, this is what it means to be working in a healthy functional consulting practice. At times, however, I do wonder how I got myself into a situation where I'm paying everyone in the room to find fault with me. The benefit, of course, is that I get fresh ideas, honest feedback, and I learn how to avoid serious mistakes. To me, the most dangerous thing in the world is to be surrounded by people who simply repeat back to you your own ideas. As I see it, I am paying for others' honesty and objectivity no matter how much I might be embarrassed as an individual.

6. End on an Inspirational Note: Finally, I like to end each meeting with my sincere thanks to everyone for their time and attention. I remind everyone that what we are doing has a profound impact on some of the most dangerous, urgent, and difficult challenges facing our nation. I think it is important to remind my staff--and myself--that in our society virtually all projects of great significance must first pass across the desk of a talented and insightful writer.

NOW Remote! Check Out All of Dr. Drew's On-Line Courses

Grant Writing Fundamentals (Remote Live)

NOW Remote - Learn this valuable skill in a highly interactive videoconferencing format from the comfort of your home. Join Dr. Drew in an invigorating and informative workshop created for new and experienced grant writers, executive directors, organizers, board members, community volunteers, and individuals who want to get a detailed look at the grant writing process. Dr. Drew will introduce you to all information needed for a successful grant proposal. You will learn how funding is announced, how applications are judged, and how to construct each element of a winning proposal. The techniques Dr. Drew emphasizes—including how to work quickly, how to create a winning message, and basic evaluation techniques—apply with equal force to small or large grants. Certificate of completion given to each participant who finishes the class.

Meeting: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 19, 2020

Course Fee: $144 includes material fee for handouts and booklet all due at registration.

Buy Now - 20% Off

Grant Writing Intermediate (Remote Live)

NOW Remote – Dr. John Drew presents this hands-on workshop as part of the Grant Writing series of classes. In it, he reveals the secrets of cashing in on grants for individuals in a new, innovative videoconferencing format. Unlimited by the boundaries of a classroom, this new class leverages all the benefits of modern technology to assist individuals seeking resources from corporations, foundations, and government agencies. Dr. Drew also teaches the skills needed to be successful in researching individual grants or educational scholarships. You will have step-by-step guidance on how to become a grant-writing consultant or to create a non-profit charity. John C. Drew, Ph.D., is a speaker, author, and consultant who has raised $52 million for non-profits.

Meeting: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 10, 2020

Course Fee: $144 includes material fee for handouts and booklet all due at registration.

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Grant Research Fundamentals (Remote Live)

NOW Remote – Truly at least half of your success in winning grants depends on your skill in researching them. Accordingly, this class has been created for non-profit leaders and staff who need a detailed look at the technology and the practical tips needed to speed-up the grant research process. Participants will be introduced to:

• Top websites for grant research including those provided by the federal government, State of California, and the Foundation Directory Online by Candid.
• Useful websites for identifying individual grants for art projects, scholarly research, and college and graduate school scholarships.

This course has been redesigned for the on-line environment. It will now be easier for students to see grant research websites and other tools in action and simultaneously interact with the instructor.

Meeting: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 14, 2020

Course Fee: $144 includes material fee for handouts and booklet all due at registration.

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Fundraising Fundamentals (Remote Live)

NOW Remote – Learn this valuable skill in a highly interactive videoconferencing format from the comfort of your home. Non-profits can win reliable support through grants, but they also need to know the most important basics about other fundraising methods. "I can’t teach everything I know about fundraising," says Dr. Drew, "but I can teach the six most important things I think will make the biggest possible difference for your success." In this workshop, an award-winning author, trainer, and consultant introduces simple proven techniques and strategies. Participants will learn how fundraising has evolved, how new software keeps track of donors and how to win individual gifts without the pressure of a face-to-face ask.

Meeting: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 5, 2020

Course Fee: $144 includes material fee for handouts and booklet all due at registration.

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Praise for Dr. Drew’s Workshops

"Very informative, with positive energy transferred to the students."

"The course was very inviting. Dr. Drew was very clear and knowledgeable. He made it easier for me to achieve my goals and enjoy success in life."

"Dr. John Drew was very knowledgeable, invigorating, timely, and made learning interesting and clear."

"This was constant, good practical information. The first 15 minutes made the whole class worth it!"

"Dr. Drew is wonderful. He taught me a lot in a very short time."

"The course was very informative and gave me a good insight into what it takes to be a grant writer."

"This class was excellent and very informative."

"Great class. Thank you for offering it!"

"Yay! Great class!"

"Excellent-- I really enjoyed Dr. Drew. Best organized information."

"Dr. Drew has given me the tools to stay motivated and to move forward on my non-profit."

"Overall outstanding."

The Start of a Beautiful Friendship: How to Make the Most of Your Phone Calls with the Funders

I have always believed that an attempt at relationship building with a funder should always come before applying for a grant. The best way to engage with a funder is almost always a phone call. At the very least, the funder learns there is a real human being, a beating heart, behind the non-profit's application. The funder needs to be reminded that a real person will be both sad and hurt if the application does not receive fair and thorough evaluation.

It is useful to remember that while grants may come from institutions, the proposals get reviewed by real people. As I like to say in my workshops the reviewers are people just like us. They are not any brighter than us, but not any dumber either.

One good piece of advice is to do your homework ahead of time by thoroughly reviewing information about the funder. This practice helps to prepare what you will say and understand what you are asking for. This call is about beginning a conversation and—we expect—a relationship. Inappropriate reasons to call a program officer might be to flat-out ask if the foundation will fund your request or to ask questions that are addressed in the funder’s guidelines. Although, I have succeeded by doing both.

Appropriate reasons to call could include addressing genuine uncertainty about your organization’s eligibility, clarifying a confusing aspect of the application process, or even requesting a face-to-face introductory meeting. Demonstrate your intention to build a relationship. For example, you could ask for a meeting by explaining: “I know your foundation is concerned about XYZ in the community. We’re concerned about that too and have a plan to address it. Could we meet to trade ideas? I’d like to hear your perspective.”

Finally, it is okay to have the funder tell you no. If you are not a fit in terms of eligibility, then it is better to find that out right away. There are plenty of other funders. 

Act Now! Amazingly SBA-PPP Loans Are Still Available

Our intrepid reporter, Eve Troutt, has been keeping track of the latest news about the SBA-PPP loans coming from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. They say there are funds still left. Since small businesses have started applying, the loan amounts being given out are smaller than during the earlier distributions. 

Clearly, the SBA is processing more loans, but for smaller amounts. 

If a business has not applied yet, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce still thinks they should. Even better news is that they think there will be a fourth stimulus package which will have additional funds available for Paycheck Protection Program loans. Their recommendation is to get into the queue.

Applicants need to remember that the forgivable portions of your payroll and other eligible expenses start the day the PPP gets into the charity or church's business while the remaining 75% must be spent solely on payroll. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says it is okay to pay your employees with the loan funds even if they are not actually working...even it the business or charity is closed. 

If you want to keep your people busy, however, you can use their efforts to help you learn how to order online, establish no touch deliveries, or figure out the new normal procedures per the local city and county guidelines. For some organizations, they may need to keep one employee working full time just to keep up with changing procedures. Organizations can also spend the loan on hardship pay and even give their employees small bonuses. 

To make sure things go smoothly, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce says it is a good idea to document all orders or events which were cancelled due to the COVID-19 crisis. 

The only bit of bad news is that the IRS has ruled that funds used from this grant will not be tax deductible expenses on your 2020 return. Nevertheless, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is hopeful this may change.

Are there other resources out there to help you? They say: Yes! 

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says it still makes sense to consider the SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) too. They were expanded due to COVID-19. SBA is currently processing the EIDL applications. They will provide an advance of up to $10,000. It will go into your accounts within three days. (They maybe a little slower than that, they caution.) 

"The first advance is a grant," writes Troutt, "the loan paperwork will follow. And yes, you can turn down the loan and still keep the grant. Even if you do not qualify for the loan, or eventually get a rejection notice, you may keep the $10,000 advance."

If you want Drew & Associates to help you apply for the SBA's Paycheck Protection Program or their Economic Injury Disaster Loans, please click on this link for more information. All it takes to get started is an initial deposit of $250. 

Tips for Making the Most of the New Home Office, Part 3 of 3

For better or worse, I have worked out of my home for nearly my whole life. Out of necessity, I have learned some tricks for improving my productivity. Mainly, they all boil down to the necessity of staying in the zone - this is the happy, fulfilling moment when the day seems to fly by because you are concentrating so hard and so completely. It is actually easier to get into this highly productive state at home compared to at work. Nevertheless, you need to do everything you can to keep yourself in the zone.

1. Don't answer the phone. Phone calls are a terrible distraction. The worst thing about answering them all immediately is that you teach your customers, lenders, suppliers, and employees to call you at the drop of a hat when things get tough. Surprisingly, if you are a little tougher to get hold of they can sometimes solve the problem on their own. I like to avoid answering calls immediately. Instead, I allow phone messages to pile up and then I deal with them all at once. 
2. Don't do email first thing in the morning. Sadly, responding too quickly to your emails is also a great way to bust up your home office routine. It is better to batch those as well. I try not to even open up my email until later in the day. If you begin with your email, you will quickly find yourself doing less important tasks, generating additional unnecessary work, and distracting yourself from the work that really matters - meeting deadlines, closing deals, collecting checks. 
3. Eat the frogs first. This means get your unpleasant chores done first. I number all my chores each evening or morning and then force myself to do the top one or two first thing in the morning. Usually, the call or confrontation isn't any where near as disturbing or as time consuming as I feared. I also feel great for the rest of the day because I know I accomplished something that was tough for me to do or say.  
4. Use games to stop procrastination - remember you don't have a boss watching you any more or peers to inspire you. For example, to overcome call reluctance, I often find it helps to imagine that when I call someone I'm just calling their answering machine. 
5. Take a baby step to get started. Another great gimmick is to just tell yourself you are just going to do something for five minutes. You will often find that once you are started you fall into the flow state and you work until the task is finished. 
6. Leverage your advantages. Use all the resources around you to be more productive. Have your wife or children help with simple tasks. Make use of your assistants, co-workers, and others around you. Just because you are alone at home doesn't mean you can't be on the phone every hour checking up on people, assigning tasks, and leveraging the talents of others to get things done. 
7. Bliss out. It is easier to be spiritual at home than in the office. Use this to your advantage. You have more ability at home to be serene, in the moment, and happy. You don't need to conform to useless social conventions. In fact, you have more time to meditate, feel the balls of your feet, enjoy the fact that you are alive. I know I am taking advantage of this COVID-19 crisis to improve my meditation skills. I'm noticing I'm seeing opportunities sooner and profiting from them.
8. Don't wear pajamas. I think it is better to dress up for work at home just like you would at the office. Clothing is a psychological cue for you even if no one else notices it. I think people can tell if you are answering the phone in your pajamas. Don't do it. 
9. Watch out for sound quality. Remember that small sounds travel when you work at home. More likely than not, the other party on the phone will hear the clatter in the kitchen, the flushing toilet, or the dog in the background. You need to be sensitive to these sounds and not allow them to impact your listener. This means no music during phone calls. No television in the distance. Above all, don't wash dishes or clean cabinets while on the phone with a client. They can hear the noises and know that you are distracted. 

In the absence of office peer pressure, you need to find other ways to make yourself productive. Creating a happy, calm, quiet atmosphere will go a long way toward allowing you to outperform your office self by making it easy to concentrate and harder to be interrupted.

Tips for Making the Most of the New Home Office, Part 2 of 3

Due to the spread of COVID-19 many of us be working from home. As I heard a friend say, "It makes no sense to drive one hour just to go from one computer screen to another computer screen."

Nevertheless, I think there is good reason to be cautious about the benefits of working from home. The only thing that makes the office more productive is peer pressure. It forces you to show up on time and leave on time. You are in a competitive environment and the social pressure for performance is immense. Without that social pressure your productivity now seems to depend on an almost inhuman level of self-discipline.

To be productive at home, you need something else to keep you working. For me, I've found it helps to get into the flow state. This is the state-of-mind where you happily work for hours seemingly unaware of your surroundings. Getting into and staying in the flow state is the principle behind all my specific suggestions for improving home office productivity.

If you follow them, there is a chance that you may be more productive than you would normally be in an office.

1. Set aside special times for phone calls, writing, reading, and other work related activities. It is more efficient to batch these activities than to mix them up. Remember, the key thing is to get into the unconscious work flow state. If you establish the habit of doing certain activities on certain days at certain times of the day, then you will be more disciplined about following through. For example, at Drew & Associates I set aside specific times each week for introducing myself to new potential clients. Every Thursday between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. that is what I'm doing.
2. Never rewrite anything the same day you write it. This is a huge productivity advantage. Too many people tear their hair out writing and rewriting the same sentence over and over again until it is perfect. You cannot write and edit at the same time and expect to be successful. Instead, write without rewriting whenever you do a first draft. Then only review it the next day when your mind is fresh. Sometimes you will find that the material you were agonizing over what actually pretty good. You were just being hypercritical during the drafting process.
3. Make sure you have music in the background. It seems especially helpful to have familiar music which keeps part of your mind distracted while your higher mind focuses on getting the real work done. I have my own mix that I sued which you can see on YouTube. Using music to distract your wandering mind leave the rest of your brain the space it needs to concentrate. 
4. I like having a beverage on my desk, usually coffee, often a Diet Coke. Getting up for a drink breaks the flow state that is the key to home office productivity. This means anything that keeps you in your seat longer is good for you. This means moving the coffee pot close to your desk, keeping a refrigerator in your office, or making sure you have a beverage when ever you sit down before your keyboard. 
5. Go through everything in your office and reorganize it. Make sure the things you use the most are in the drawers or shelves closest to you. Things you use infrequently should be further away physically. It sometimes help to have an outsider help you decide which objects and which files should be closer or farther away. 
6. Create a tight, brilliant filing plan. Be consistent in your labeling and organization of your file folders. I was reminded of the importance of internal organization when we helped charities apply for Paycheck Protection Program loans earlier this month. I was under stress and moving quickly. I saved a lot of time my setting up a system beforehand which put the key information I needed for a loan application all in one place. In a sense, orderly files are more important than brains. 
7. Make sure you are happy at work. If you are feeling unhappy it is probably because you are doing something you don't need to do. Your subconscious will warn you. Your level of happiness is also a key indicator of whether or not you are in the flow state. Changing the task so that you remain happy is one of the secrets of staying in the productive flow state. 
8. Use fans, air-conditioning and/or space heaters to maintain a consistent temperature. If you work at home you absolutely need to pay attention to your environment. Anything which makes you too hot or too cold will now be more likely to knock you out of the flow state. Ideally, your environmental temperature and humidity, if you can control it, should be perfectly consistent in your home work space. You need a stable environment if you want to be able to focus 100% on your work. 

If you rely on the same techniques which worked at your regular office, you most likely will fail at working from home. This is what a lot of people advice however. This is why they say you need to dress up for work, maintain consistent hours, check in with other people to be accountable. You are better off, in my view, to take a completely different tact and concentrate instead on doing something you could never do at the office - maintain a clean, consistent, uninterrupted state of productive focus. If you are having fun, then it is working.

On-Line Teaching: Why I Love It, Why You Should Try It Out

I have always been a big fan of online courses. I think they are a great way to reduce the costs of education while also increasing its quality.

This is because there are things you can do with an online class that would be less efficient to do in a face-to-face class such as conducting online grant research, sharing screens, polling students, and otherwise interacting with course materials is a fresh and ingenious way.

If you want to take one of my online classes - as an introduction to grant writing - or as a helpful refresher course, then you'll want to check out this upcoming grant writing course.

I will be teaching my Grant Writing Fundamentals course on-line thanks to the support of Glendale Community College (GCC). The six-hour course will run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on April 25, 2020.

You can register for the course right now by going to the GCC website at https://www.glendale.edu/academics/continuing-education-garfield

You can call them at (818) 240-1000, Ext. 5678 or email them at ce-glendale@glendale.edu

$65 course fee + $36 for materials
Total: $104.

Course materials includes sample grants, the project innovator form, and other documents essential to succeeding at grant writing.

Don't Delay: There is Still Time to Submit an Application for a SBA Paycheck Protection Program Loan

The SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is a bold and timely reaction by the federal government to the present crisis. It provides $350 billion in relief to small businesses and nonprofits.

The popularity of this program has been so great that the first round of funding ran out on April 16, 2020. This is less than two weeks after the money was made available through the Small Business Administration.

There is a chance that Congress will approve a second round of funding, an additional $250 million. To have a chance at obtaining a piece of this funding for you or your charity, you need to take action now to keep or establish your place in line. 

PPP will give you the resources to pay salaries and benefits even as charitable contributions continue to decline. I'm sure many charity leaders and board members are anxious to benefit from this program. They do not want to be left out of what may be a once-in-a-lifetime deal that will keep their churches, charities or schools alive.

After all, the loans that will be given out can be completely forgiven. It will be like having an ATM in the lobby of your institution spitting out money all day long.

Buy Now

For most of us, the problem is we are not sure where to turn for help, whether we are eligible, if we are too late, or how to prepare ourselves to secure PPP funding if and when more money is made available. Even worse, we can be frustrated that only larger charities or small businesses with up to 500 employees will have the resources, connections or staff needed to be first in line to get this money. After all, this is exactly what has happened, isn't it?

I know what it's like. I had a tough time applying for a PPP forgivable loan myself to protect Drew & Associates and our staff. My lender, Wells Fargo, let me down. I ended up applying through another institution. I don't want anyone else to jump through the hoops I've had to scale. 

We are now working with a number of our non-profit clients to get them ready to apply right now. As one of them reminded me it easy to put this off because you're afraid it is too much work, that it is a waste of time, or that it only goes to more established charities. I get it.

Frankly, it seems silly for me and my staff to work hard to win you grants when the SBA Paycheck Protection Program is potentially available. I can't think of anything more important right now that to help you participate in this program. The amounts and benefits will be amazing.

According to the SBA, your total loan amount will be equal to your annual expenses for labor - wages, salaries, benefits, and 1099s - divided by 12 and then multiplied by 2.5. We have a spreadsheet calculator that will help you figure out the exact amount you can request. It is important to remember that if there person receiving the 1099 is classified as an independent contractor - someone who provides you with services and not just labor - then those payments need to be dropped from the mix. 

As long as you maintain at least 90% of your current staffing, you can spend this money anyway you want as long as you focus on payroll, utilities, rent and interest expenses. If you do that, your loan will be completely forgiven.

I have put together a new service to help you quickly, easily and reliably access these funds with the assistance of our conscientious team. 

Personally, I've got 25 years of experience in dealing with federal loan programs as a loan officer, a client of the SBA, and as a grant writing consultant. My skills will help you to get started and to secure this money. We will:

• Save you time by screening your charity for eligibility;
• Fill out the appropriate PPP paperwork for you;
• Help you gather the necessary documentation;
• If you do not have it, we will help you find it or create it for you;
• Work with your banker or help you find a banker that does SBA loans;
• Submit your application on time;
• Answer any inquiries or requests for additional information, and
• Make sure you get paid quickly.

As far as we know, you should be getting your funding within 30 days of receiving your application approval from the bank or lender. Later, we will work with you to make sure you collect the exact receipts, records, and financial reports you need to qualify for 100% forgiveness of your loan.

One of the cool things about this process is that we will help you become one of the first community leaders to protect their employees and their non-profit by accessing PPP funding. You will be a hero.

On the other hand, I have to be real with you. If you do not apply for this funding it may be catastrophic for your charity.

Buy Now

We have no way of knowing exactly how long this crisis will last or how much more PPP funding will be available. Since this money is given on a first come, first served basis, it will eventually run out and some people will not be able to get it. Even if you manage to survive without the income needed to cover your payroll, utilities and rent, your charity will be threatened because it will emerge from this crisis damaged, living on a tighter margin and potentially even more vulnerable to continuing financial and pandemic shocks.

All it takes to get started is to pay a small deposit of $250.00 and set-up an intake phone call with me at 949-338-5921.

In that phone call, I ask you some questions about your charity, screen you for eligibility, and then make a recommendation on whether or not it makes sense to bring you on as a client for this PPP opportunity. If it is not a fit, then I will refund your money. If it looks like you are a good prospect, then we will move forward with the paperwork. I'll provide you with a list of needed documents, a loan amount calculator, urgent program updates, official SBA application w/ instructions, unlimited email and phone support.

Once we are ready to go we will charge you an additional $250.00 The total fee for our service will be a flat rate of $500.00

The final result will be astounding for you and your charity. Your employees will enjoy the peace of mind and security that you have wisely provided for them. You will be able to keep up your rent and utility payments. You will be able to put your people to work again doing useful things even if they are no longer meeting with your clients face-to-face.

You will also be prepared to go after a second round of funding too. This will most likely happen if stay-at-home orders, quarantines or marshal law are declared in your area. All in all, you will be appreciated for leading your charity in a crisis and protecting its capacity to complete its mission now and in the years to come. I'm excited to work with you to make this happen. To get started, use the Buy Now button below.

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Wells Fargo Closes Window for PPP Loans for Nonprofits and Small Businesses

I'm so angry. I wasn't getting any responses from Wells Fargo on Friday when the window for securing Paycheck Protection loans opened up. I thought they would start accepting applications Monday morning.

Instead, they opened up for inquiries only and then shut that down on April 5. I have a checking account there so I should have been eligible for a loan. So should one of my best clients. Now, I'll need to start looking for another opportunity. 

Apparently the reason Wells Fargo shut down its lending so quickly is that they are under limitations set to punish them for cheating their customers earlier. Here's the note from Wells Fargo:

We know that these are tough times, and we’re committed to helping you get through this. We announced on April 5, 2020 that Wells Fargo is targeting to distribute a total of $10 billion to small business customers under the requirements of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and will focus on serving two segments: nonprofits and small businesses with fewer than 50 employees. 

We have received forms from customers expressing interest in the PPP that we expect will fill the company’s capacity to lend under the program, as Wells Fargo continues to operate under existing asset cap limitations. Given the exceptionally high volume of requests we have already received, we will not be able to accept any additional requests for a loan through the Paycheck Protection Program. We will review all expressions of interest submitted by customers via our online form through April 5 and provide updates in the coming days. 

We have also announced that fees generated through the program will be quickly returned to small businesses as charitable grants to non-profits that support small businesses, which is a focus of Wells Fargo’s philanthropic efforts.

At this point, I'm exploring all the other local lenders. I'll be happy to abandon my Wells Fargo checking account and go with someone else.  Maybe Bank of America. 

Bank of America Releases Information Regarding Paperwork Demands for Paycheck Protection Loans

LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA - Bank of America has given its customers a heads up on what sort of documentation they are looking for from their loan applicants. Specifically, they are asking for the follow documents:

• 2019 Payroll – total payroll for full year 2019, by employee, as reported to the IRS.
• 2019 Independent Contractor Costs – Listing of 1099’s-MISC for 2019 independent contractors, by person, as reported to the IRS. (Note: Do NOT include 1099’s for services).
• Payroll report – as of February 15, 2020, or closest date after that date, by employee.

According to Forbes, Bank of America was the first major bank to begin accepting applications for the Paycheck Protection Program loans. Unfortunately, they are limiting access to these loans to just the customers who are already borrowing from the bank. Just having a checking account with them is not enough to gain access to these loans.

"The banking industry fears they may end up holding too many low interest loans if borrowers fail to meet the SBA's standards for 100% loan forgiveness," said John Drew. "The toughest part about getting this loan may be finding a funder willing to work with you."

"In the worst case," he says, "we are advising our clients to apply for the Small Business Administration's Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program instead."

The EIDL is more attracting to banks because of its higher interest rate of 3.75% for small businesses and 2.75% for non-profits. The best part of an EIDL program is that it includes a $10,000 advance which does not have to be repaid.

Elsewhere, we see applications are now being accepted for the Paycheck Protection Program through JPMorgan Chase’s online portal. Citigroup says their applications will be “available shortly.” Wells Fargo is not yet accepting applications either. We called a few times with no luck.

Drew & Associates is recommending that its clients have these documents ready to go as PDF files so they will be ready to upload, if and when, their bank begins accepting applications on-line. Right now, we think it maybe best to apply through the bank that holds your mortgage or other loans rather than the bank that handles your checking account.

If you have news about your bank that you would like us to share with others, please call 949-338-5921.

For more information about having the Drew & Associates team assist you with your application for a Paycheck Protection Program loan, please click on the following link, Drew & Associates' Paycheck Protection DocPrep Program.

The Front of the Line: How Can Your Charity Access the SBA Paycheck Protection Program?

The SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is a bold and timely reaction by the federal government to the present crisis. It provides $350 billion in relief to small businesses and nonprofits.

PPP will give you the resources to pay salaries and benefits even as charitable contributions continue to decline. I'm sure many charity leaders and board members are anxious to benefit from this program. They do not want to be left out of what may be a once-in-a-lifetime deal that will keep their churches, charities or schools alive.

After all, the loans that will be given out can be completely forgiven. It will be like having an ATM in the lobby of your institution spitting out money all day long.

Buy Now

For most of us, the problem is we are not sure where to turn for help, whether we are eligible, if we are too late, or how to prepare ourselves to secure PPP funding once the application process opens up on Friday, April 3, 2020. Even worse, we can be frustrated that only larger charities or small businesses with up to 500 employees will have the resources, connections or staff needed to be first in line to get this money.

I know what it's like. I'm applying for a PPP forgivable loan myself to protect Drew & Associates and our staff.

We are now working with a number of our non-profit clients to get them ready to apply later this week. As one of them reminded me it easy to put this off because you're afraid it is too much work, that it is a waste of time, or that it only goes to more established charities. I get it.

Frankly, it seems silly for me and my staff to work hard to win you grants when the SBA Paycheck Protection Program is coming on line. I can't think of anything more important right now that to help you participate in this program. The amounts and benefits will be amazing.

According to the SBA, your total loan amount will be equal to your annual expenses for labor - wages, salaries, benefits, and 1099s - divided by 12 and then multiplied by 2.5. We have a spreadsheet calculator that will help you figure out the exact amount you can request. It is important to remember that if there person receiving the 1099 is classified as an independent contractor - someone who provides you with services and not just labor - then those payments need to be dropped from the mix. 

As long as you maintain at least 90% of your current staffing, you can spend this money anyway you want as long as you focus on payroll, utilities, rent and interest expenses. If you do that, your loan will be completely forgiven.

I have put together a new service to help you quickly, easily and reliably access these funds with the assistance of our conscientious team. 

Personally, I've got 25 years of experience in dealing with federal loan programs as a loan officer, a client of the SBA, and as a grant writing consultant. My skills will help you to get started and to secure this money. We will:

• Save you time by screening your charity for eligibility;
• Fill out the appropriate PPP paperwork for you;
• Help you gather the necessary documentation;
• If you do not have it, we will help you find it or create it for you;
• Work with your banker or help you find a banker that does SBA loans;
• Submit your application on time;
• Answer any inquiries or requests for additional information, and
• Make sure you get paid quickly.

As far as we know, you should be getting your funding within 30 days of receiving your application approval from the bank or lender. Later, we will work with you to make sure you collect the exact receipts, records, and financial reports you need to qualify for 100% forgiveness of your loan.

One of the cool things about this process is that we will help you become one of the first community leaders to protect their employees and their non-profit by accessing PPP funding. You will be a hero.

On the other hand, I have to be real with you. If you do not apply for this funding it may be catastrophic for your charity.

Buy Now

We have no way of knowing exactly how long this crisis will last or how long this PPP funding will be available. Since this money is given on a first come, first served basis, it will eventually run out and some people will not be able to get it. Even if you manage to survive without the income needed to cover your payroll, utilities and rent, your charity will be threatened because it will emerge from this crisis damaged, living on a tighter margin and potentially even more vulnerable to continuing financial and pandemic shocks.

All it takes to get started is to pay a small deposit of $250.00 and set-up an intake phone call with me at 949-338-5921.

In that phone call, I ask you some questions about your charity, screen you for eligibility, and then make a recommendation on whether or not it makes sense to bring you on as a client for this PPP opportunity. If it is not a fit, then I will refund your money. If it looks like you are a good prospect, then we will move forward with the paperwork. I'll provide you with a list of needed documents, a loan amount calculator, urgent program updates, official SBA application w/ instructions, unlimited email and phone support.

Once we are ready to go we will charge you an additional $750.00 The total fee for our service will be a flat rate of $1,000.00

The final result will be astounding for you and your charity. Your employees will enjoy the peace of mind and security that you have wisely provided for them. You will be able to keep up your rent and utility payments. You will be able to put your people to work again doing useful things even if they are no longer meeting with your clients face-to-face.

You will also be prepared to go after a second round of funding too. This will most likely happen if stay-at-home orders, quarantines or marshal law are declared in your area. All in all, you will be appreciated for leading your charity in a crisis and protecting its capacity to complete its mission now and in the years to come. I'm excited to work with you to make this happen. To get started, use the Buy Now button below.

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