Drew & Associates: We Keep Writing For Free Until Your Charity Wins

Dr. Drew Discovers Alliance Global Services

2012-01-20T18:54:00.000-08:00

As you may know, I've been working with a business coach to improve my grant writing consulting practice. It is becoming more and more clear to me that it is important to make use of the best possible software solutions and to seek to automate as many as possible of my business functions.

Accordingly, I'm proud to introduce you to one of the leaders in the field of custom software development, Alliance Global Services. The folks at Alliance Global Services have what it takes to take your business to the next level including bringing you to the attention of cell phone users and transfering your operations to the world of cloud computing.

They have assembled a strong team of experts who build quality into their software, in part, by asking you the right questions and educating you about the choices available to you. I recommend them as leaders in the field of product development technology.

Right now, I have implemented software solutions for my bookkeeping, grant research, marketing and other functions. The sky is the limit for those who understand and apply the latest technology.

NFL Red Zone

2012-01-19T10:36:00.000-08:00

Guest post by Gerard Mcdaniel

This year, we decided not to order direct tv nfl ticket, which I was a little unsure about at first. I had recently gotten into Fantasy Football and I was suddenly interested in teams other than my home team. Luckily, we discovered this channel called Red Zone. Red Zone is to football as Entertainment Tonight is to celebrity gossip. All day on Sunday, it jumps from game to game so you can get keep in touch with all of the games without having to flip back and forth. You get to watch all of the major action without the boring in between stuff. There also doesn’t seem to be as many commercials as there are on regular channels. Since Red Zone highlights major plays from each team, I can really keep up with how my Fantasy Football players are performing each week. Before football starts on Sunday, they even have a spotlight on who to watch each week. They predict who they think will get the most points for Fantasy Football participants.

Merry Christmas from Drew & Associates

2011-12-24T20:10:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

Dear Friends and Family:

The bright moon of March 19 inspired this year’s Christmas card. We still remember how we drove around town to find a high spot to view a rare moment when the Earth, Moon and Sun were all in alignment and the Moon was at its nearest approach to the Earth in 18 years.

Moon Lit Christmas Eve by John C. Drew, Ph.D. December, 2011. Acryllic on canvas.

In a similar manner, we spent much of the year in the grasp of economic and political forces beyond our control and uplifted by some powerful figures that disrupted our thinking and introduced us to better ideas.

Jay McDowell, a corporate-level business coach, brought order and discipline to our small business. With Jay’s guidance, we made changes including recruiting three new grant writing associates, finding a new grant researcher, and setting up new business management systems such as Foundation Search, Drop Box and QuickBooks. John’s speaking schedule took him to Anchorage, Alaska where he saw moose roaming the streets. “The moose are a nuisance and they are out to kill,” he said.

Tricia became an office manager in Irvine, CA. “Now I have three jobs,” she said. Her new job was almost perfect -- 30 hours a week, less pressure, and great corporate benefits. Simultaneously, Tricia has been favorably influenced by her new accountability partner, Julie Schrock, who she met at one of Jay’s workshops. Julie encouraged Tricia to achieve business and personal goals including Tricia’s long-standing desire to learn how to draw.

Over Thanksgiving, we enjoyed a smoked turkey dinner with Tricia’s niece and the extended Korbut/Smith family. We learned how some of our relatives survived the Great Depression by making moonshine in their kitchens. Tricia’s grandparents eked out a living by starting an earth moving business. All in all, we were impressed at how they survived tough times thanks to their entrepreneurial initiative.

The year ended with a surprising bang as we won a number of new contracts for our grant writing services. Accordingly, we are celebrating with jazz piano Christmas music and fresh baked cinnamon raison oatmeal cookies – even as our home is buffeted by strong winds. Although we remember 2011 as a year in which we were stirred and shaken, we are nevertheless pleased to top it off by wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Love,

JOHN AND TRICIA DREW

Love to Travel

2011-10-31T17:06:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Darwin Barton

I love travel and this last year has just been road trip city. I live in North Carolina and generally I do a lot of driving for my job so you wouldn’t assume that when I had time off I’d want to get in the car but you’d be wrong. I love getting out there and using my Satellite Internet to plan a route then just go – you never know who you’re going to meet or what you’re going to see! I think my favorite thing is to stop at a weird roadside restaurant and have some grub – it’s fascinating what other people eat. I never go more than about 5 hours from home and sometimes I take friends while sometimes I go alone. I just never would have imagined this would end up being my favorite way to travel but at the end of the day I guess I’ve just got a gypsy spirit that I can’t shake. There’s really nothing wrong with that – it gets me out there and sightseeing in the USA!

Testimonial: Dr. Drew Wins $1.1 Million for NCACC-OC Alcohol & Drug Prevention Services

2011-10-27T22:36:00.000-07:00

I'm especially proud of this letter from Grant D. McNiff. He has been quite an inspiration in my life because of his personal financial success, his leadership role in Orange County, and his rather remarkable vision and personal courage. They are always writing about what sort of leader you might take a bullet for. I'd take one for Grant. Here's a copy of his recent testimonial letter.

I've written elsewhere about all the important things I learned about grant writing from Grant McNiff. One of the most important is that he sees building a grant as similar to putting together a winning race car. I think he thinks of me as one of his mechanics. I was, no matter what, proud to be part of an important winning team.

Testimonial: Dr. Drew Wins $2.1 Million for Coast Community College District

2011-10-27T20:33:00.001-07:00

Corine Doughty, Dean of Business, Career & Tech Ed
at Santiago Canyon College

I'm breaking new ground by publishing a testimonial letter from one of the most important clients I've served over the years - Ms. Corine Doughty, Dean of Business, Career & Technical Education at Santiago Canyon College. I met Corine in 2004 when she was looking for a grant writing instructor to teach at Rio Hondo College.

With her support and encouragement, I wrote a rather startling series of successful grants for schools in the Coast Community College District (CCCD). If you click on the image below, you will be able to read her letter as a larger document.

In my various workshops and retreats, I teach that grant writing is a team sport and not a lonely academic, scholarly pursuit. Consequently, I do not think my regular readers will be surprised to learn that the secret behind all of these successful grant applications was the speed with which Corine and I worked together to study the newly released RFP, to draft a compelling narrative, and to rally the faculty and administrators needed to make the grant significant, feasible and properly staffed as a project.

Ironically, I should have waited another week before asking her for this testimonial letter. It turns out that Orange Coast College won yet another grant with my assistance that funded just last week. It was a grant for buying new CNC (computer numerically controlled) machining technology that was worth $450,000.00. This was one of the last grants Corine and I worked on before she advanced to a new position as a Dean at Santiago Canyon College.

Dr. Drew and Carl Walsh on Thinking About the Importance of What We Say

2011-10-21T00:48:00.000-07:00

Recently, I got a chance to meet Carl Walsh, an exceptional public speaker who compteted to be a finalist at the World Championship of Speaking conducted by Toastmaster's International in 2009. Carl has a powerful, touching message of hope.He reminds me that as public speakers (and as grant writers) people do listen to what we say.Of course, they may not show it right away. They will apply our words to change their behavior, make a decision, or turn around their lives, but never even let us know that we made a difference for them. Sometimes, they may even be hostile to the suggestion we provide.Nevertheless, it is a good bet to suppose they do listen. It is usually our low self-esteem, focus on showmanship, and ego which keep us from slowing down and making sure that what we are sharing with the audience is important.Remembering the powerful influence of our words is the sort of back-to-the-basics concept that I like to apply to grant writing. The work of grant writers changes lives and makes possible innovative programs. Remembering the impact of our word should be a daily habit that helps us, our clients, and our client's clients.

Dr. Drew Reaches Out Through New Bid Recruiting Service

2011-10-21T00:21:00.000-07:00

What can I say? I'm a sucker for new technology. You can see my grant writing consulting on Thumbtack now. This service is sort of like a game in that it awards you points as you add in the various features of the website and link it with other tools in your internet arsenal. I was startled to see how high it ranked my page in a search for grant writers in California. I'll keep playing with it. If Thumbtack becomes the next hot new thing, I'll let you know.

Grant Writing

Visiting Professor: FOX News Liberal Prof. Heldman Welcomes Dr. Drew to Occidental College Political Science Class

2011-10-14T22:41:00.000-07:00

Last month, I had a rare opportunity to go back to my roots as a political scientist during a brief presentation on politics and ideology at my undergraduate institution - Occidental College. I had been invited to share my memories of young President Obama by political science Professor Caroline Heldman. As you may know, Heldman is a frequent representative of liberal opinion on the Sean Hannity, Mike Huckabee and Bill O'Reilly shows on FOX News.

Personally, I was startled by how different Heldman was behind-the-scenes with me compared what I had expected her to be like after watching her on FOX News.

She was kind, understanding and quite generous with her time. She read my full profile to the students in her class and even allowed a documentary filmmaker, J.D. Wilcox, to record my remarks. As I understand it, my brief story on meeting young Barack Obama will be premiered at the GI Film Festival in May 2012.

For a quick review of Dr. Heldman's performances on FOX News programs, see the video above.

My experience in Dr. Heldman's classroom reminded me that one of the secrets of success in grant writing is to be a good, kindly person behind-the-scenes, even as you are doing all you can to beat the competition in your grant application. More than ever before, I think successful careers in grant writing and television require tact, forbearance and thoughtfulness. It was a good idea for me to get outside my comfort zone last month and watch a true professional in action.

2011-10-14T17:44:00.001-07:00

Check out my new e-newsletter. http://ping.fm/zOOPQ

Fantastic New Resource for Those Seeking Work As Grant Writers

2011-10-12T12:46:00.000-07:00

Rodney Walker's energy and creativity never cease to amaze me. Now he is offering a new service that helps grant writers find work - all over the nation. I'm going to try it myself. In the meantime, please check out his new website feature at http://www.grantwritingonlinecourse.com/jobs This new job site reminds me that in a tough economy, there is still always plenty of work for grant writers.

2011-09-20T15:53:00.001-07:00

Check out Federal Grant Writing Workshop on Friday, September 30 9:00 a.m. - Noon
Rancho Santiago Community College Boardroom
2323 N. Broadway, 1st Floor
Santa Ana, CA 92706

2011-09-20T15:42:00.001-07:00

Check out my first Two Day Grant Writing Retreat in Riverside, CA. See, http://ping.fm/JevgH

Two Day Grant Writing Retreat with Dr. Drew Attracts a Visitor from Guam

2011-09-06T16:31:00.000-07:00

At my last Two Day Retreat, I was startled to learn that we had a participant who flew in all the way from Guam. Her name is Zenaida Natividad, Ph.D. She was trained at the University of the Philippines and took a doctorate in education with an emphasis on research and evaluation. Guam is a territory of the U.S. It is an island in the North Pacific Ocean that is about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines. Dr. Natividad wrote her first successful grant about two years ago when she won about $224,903 in 2008 from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for a group called Sustantia. Sustantia is focused to teaching children and parents about proper nutrition to address the problem of childhood obesity on the Island of Guam. She succeeded with this grant application, in part, because she was given total authority to make it work. One of the most important secrets of success in grant writing is the successful delegation of authority. In my experience, I've seen a lot of charities and schools miss out on important opportunities simply because they were running their grant writing programs according to the rules of a larger committee. Where grant writing succeeds at a profitable level, I've usually found that one person has been put in charge and held responsible for grant writing activities - this was the case with Dr. Natividad whose first grant was an extremely prestigious and lucrative one. Dr. Natividad has travelled to the U.S. and Brussles to present papers on the good work she is doing for the children of Guam. I was deeply honored to get to know her better during her participation in our most recent Two Day Retreat.

The Never Quit Guarantee: We Keep Writing Until Your Charity Wins a Grant

2011-09-06T16:20:00.000-07:00

As you may know, I'm working with a business coach, Jay McDowell, who is helping me improve my business model and staff organization. In the process, we have developed a unique selling proposition (USP) which has already made a difference for my consulting business and changed our relationship with our clients in a favorable manner. Today, we offer what I like to call our Never Quit guarantee which states that we will keep writing until your charity wins a grant. To me, this guarantee is not that hard to stand by since preparing additional copies on an existing grant is a low cost, high perceived value proposition. Moreover, as the charity learns from its rejection letters (and phone calls) it will become increasingly focused on creating a powerful argument that really breaks loose funder resources. Besides, I never felt completely comfortable with the existing model where I write some grants and then disappear for a year. I care too much about the clients our charities serve and about the survival of these charities themselves. At any rate, I'll be curious to hear your reaction to our new guarantee. As always, I appreciate your feedback, so do not worry about my feelings. My goal is to make the new Drew & Associates operate like clockwork.

College Grad

2011-08-17T13:29:00.000-07:00

Guest post from: Constance Rodgers

It seems like just yesterday that I was a young college graduate looking for her first job! Now I’m 31 years old and have been working for 9 years. To celebrate working ten years at my company, I’ve decided to finally invest in a home. It seems like the right thing to do. I just got a promotion that came with a nice bonus and yearly salary increase, the housing market is offering a lot of great real estate at discounted rates, and I’ve also found the house of my dreams. I honestly cannot wait to move in and start decorating my dream home. Doesn’t it seem crazy when we hit those milestones in our lives that make us feel like we’re entering a different stage? I remember I felt grown up when I graduated from college, but now I’m buying a house and feel like much MORE of a grown up! I’m even having to check out energy suppliers like the ones at: www.shopElectricityRatesTexas.com! Most people are having kids: I’m buying real estate.

2011-07-11T22:59:00.001-07:00

Looks like I've been picked up by a third speaker's bureau. See, http://ping.fm/DcViz

2011-07-08T13:49:00.001-07:00

How to grow your grant writing business the Dr. Drew way. See, http://ping.fm/X1XP3

Dr. Drew Reviews New Grant Writing Online Course

2011-06-24T19:16:00.000-07:00

Mask of Tutankhamun's mummy,
the popular icon for ancient
Egypt at The Egyptian Museum.

As a political scientist and a former business school professor, I have always had a strong interest in applying the latest technology to our nation’s most important educational challenges. Consequently, I was intrigued by a recent opportunity to try out the new educational products offered at Grant Writing On-Line Course. As a matter of full disclosure, I should report that I have been watching the development of this new on-line course for over a year now. It is being produced by Walker & Associates and it is the creation of one of the most caring, creative and brilliant MBA students I have ever known – Mr. Rodney Walker. Despite my bias, I’m proud to report that this latest effort represents a stunning, unprecedented advancement in the art and science of high value, on-line grant writing instruction.

This course comes in basic, standard and deluxe editions. I got a sneak preview of the deluxe edition and I think I feel the way Howard Carter must have felt when he first looked into the 3,000 year old Tomb of Tutankhamun back in November 26, 1922.

"Can you see anything?" asked his friend, Lord Carnarvon -- who financed the expedition.

"Yes, wonderful things," said Carter.

I guess this memory comes to my mind because Tricia and I saw the above Mask of Tutankhamun's mummy, at The Egyptian Museum during our visit to Cairo in 2008.

As someone who has written grants for living for almost my entire life, I can report that I was startled by all of the new information contained in the deluxe Grant Writing On-Line course -- including rare documents like state-of-the-art questions for critiquing your own grant proposal, a thorough checklist of things to do prior to writing your grant application, and precious interviews with funders and some of our nation’s most successful grant writers. Not only does this course include all of the information I wish I had when I first started grant writing, it is presented with all the bells and whistles of a world-class website including sound effects, humorous illustrations and motivational text which fires you up and gets you excited about the possibility and profits associated with winning, successful grants.

Like many of the people who have been writing grants for a long time, I have the distinct feeling that the world of grants has become more competitive and more demanding than ever. New trends of transparency and democratization have opened up the world of federal grants, local grants, and foundation grants to many more, eager, aggressive competitors. As such, the old techniques that work for me -- following directions and getting it done – seem woefully inadequate in a brave new world where non-profit organizations are competing against international experts, the power of Google, and the expertise of elite insiders with previous experience.

As you face the challenges of this changing environment, I think it is extremely important to be careful about where you invest your scarce time and money. I cannot think of a better investment for a new or experienced grant writer than accessing the full range of memorable and rare materials available through Grant Writing Online Course. When I was a young graduate student, no one really explained to me how much my life would be spent writing grants, reviewing grants, or competing for grants. I expect that those who invest in the deluxe version of this course will enjoy powerful advantages vis-à-vis other grant writers while enjoying the complete confidence that they are on the cutting edge of what it takes to write winning grant proposals today.

Dr. Drew Finds a New Site for Those Who Like Great Looking Glasses and Sunglasses

2011-06-22T18:27:00.000-07:00

I have become a fan of on-line retailers. It makes so much sense to me to save money by buying on line from reputable companies. For example, Warby Parker started out as a small collaboration between four close friends.

As they say on their website, Warby Parker "...was founded with a rebellious spirit and a lofty objective: to create boutique-quality, classically crafted eyewear at a revolutionary price point."

They saw their company as an alternative to the overpriced and bland eyewear. By going on-line, they circumvented brick and mortar stores and now provide higher-quality, better looking prescription eyewear for under $100.

I am impressed that they offer 27 limited run styles, plus one monocle, of their designer eyeglass frames in which they use only the finest custom acetates and materials. As you can see from the example shown above, The Warby Parker aesthetic is vintage-inspired with a contemporary look that reminds me of the 1920s or 1950s. Each is custom fit with anti-reflective, polycarbonate prescription lenses. Warby Parker glasses retail for $95 and they are only available through their website.

2011-06-20T12:06:00.001-07:00

Wall Street Journal reports on more business for grant writers. See, http://t.co/h0r941I

Dr. Drew on Why Life is Too Short to Wear "Frumpy" Scrubs

2011-06-20T11:52:00.000-07:00

As you may know, I'm a big fan of Blue Sky Scrubs. If you are a medical worker, you have no choice, you need to wear a uniform at work. Nevertheless, it does not have to be a frumpy uniform. Even your scrubs can be a telling reminder that you have made it in life and you are in a great career with tremendous public value and prestige.

This is one of the reasons I'd like to call your attention to the following link http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/Scrubs-for-Women/ By clicking on this link, you will enter a whole new world where the lowly scrub is upscaled into a fashion statement which will make your patients proud of you and your profession.

Blue Sky Scrubs is one of the fastest, easiest and most reliable ways to access this important line of nursing scrubs and medical uniforms for women. For better or worse, the way we dress has a profound impact on our attitudes and our performance at work. It also has a major impact on how people treat us in return. Please do not delay. Do yourself a favor and get to know Blue Sky Scrubs.

2011-06-09T22:40:00.001-07:00

Check out my @constantcontact newsletter http://ping.fm/vSm6X

Dr. Drew Visits the Anchorage Museum in Alaska

2011-05-30T00:01:00.000-07:00

When I was a young adult, I remember the Max Headroom video series. See, The Max Headroom Show. This video sort of reminds me of him - along with the stresses we face in contemporary America including terrorism, invasive searches at the airport, Spiderman and the pervasive sense that everything we do is now recorded by a camera.

This image is the result of a special heat sensitive camera installed as part of a science exhibit at the Anchorage Museum in Anchorage, Alaska. For a quick look at the fun I had with this unusual image, please check out the YouTube video below.

2011-05-29T18:07:00.001-07:00

Just got back from Anchorage, Alaska. Here are the hightlights. http://ping.fm/IbNyl

2011-05-29T18:04:00.001-07:00

http://ping.fm/l37ew

2011-05-23T12:37:00.001-07:00

Check out Dr. Drew in Anchorage, Alaska this week. See, http://ping.fm/wqI6P

2011-05-20T16:30:00.001-07:00

Check out my new Dr. Drew on Grants e-newsletter: http://conta.cc/iM8tff

Dr. Drew on Website Development: It's Not As Hard As It Looks

2011-05-18T15:42:00.000-07:00

As you may know, Tricia and I sat out the initial stages of the website development era. My impression, at the time, is that a lot of money went into these websites and they always seemed to disappoint the people who created them -- the people who had high expectations for cashing in on Internet and website wealth.

Overtime, however, it became increasingly clear to us that customers did pay attention to our website and that we often got speaking engagements from people we would not have normally expected to request our assistance - simply because of the information they gained from our website. For example, here's the link to our own, free website at http://johndrew25.intuitwebsites.com/index.html.

As you can see from my personal experience, it was extremely easy for me to check off that nagging duty in my Outlook task list - create website. Luckily, there are many options out there for people looking for website building basics.

The main thing I recommend is to take action and get something up and running. Once you do so, you will be able to put the website address on your business cards and promote it through your Twitter and Facebook accounts. Intellectually, I think it is also helpful to create your own website, in part, because it forces you to rethink your business. Sometimes, in my experience, the effort I put into creating a website has more impact on the creator than the viewer.

Dr. Drew on Credit Cards and the Challenges Facing Young People and Young Charities

2011-05-18T13:50:00.000-07:00

It drives me nuts to realize that if the founders of any particular charity had simply set aside 10% of their resources every year and invested it into an endowment for the charity, then they would not need any grant writing or fund-raising activities at all. Sadly, most charities, like most young people, do not understand the concept of compound interest - or the idea that the small amount of money they protect now will lead to large benefits in the future.

In this context, I think credit cards for charitites, like credit cards for young people, are a disaster.

All in all, it breaks my heart when I meet young people starting careers as fundraisers or grant writers who do not have a clue about compound interest. For example, they seem to be unaware of the long-term damage done to their lives simply by having a poor credit score. This is particularly inexcusable and frustrating to me because now we have systems in place where people can find out their credit score and they can access a free credit score.

I am a person who is known to be blunt and often insensitive to the feelings of others. I am also someone who feels like it is my duty to save everyone from madness by telling them the truth. The truth is that poverty and lack are entirely in our control to stop if we save our money and invest.

The reality of the situation is that many nonprofits would not even need fundraising efforts if only they paid more careful attention to their finances and to the way money grows into bigger money over time. Their lack of attention to compound interest is especially disturbing to me because it is a problem that is so simple and so easy to fix.

2011-05-11T17:23:00.001-07:00

Dr. Drew on ideology of young Obama - The Schiffer Report 95.9 FM 7:00 p.m. Thursday. Live streaming at http://ping.fm/4JNbo #tcot

2011-05-11T17:23:00.000-07:00

Dr. Drew on Twitter at the Association of Professional Consultants in OC. See, http://ping.fm/BG6WX

Dr. Drew Needs a Favor: Please Answer Our Brief Survey Questions

2011-05-10T19:27:00.000-07:00

Ironically, as a political scientist, I have been trained to do surveys and I have developed quite a few to help my previous employers and clients. This is the first one I have done for myself. Please do me a favor and quickly respond to the attached survey instrument. Your responses will make a big difference in terms of the information I share on this and other sites associated with Drew & Associates. See, http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e3umnm5cgnjf82ri/start

Check out Dr. Drew's high school graduation speech from 1975

2011-04-17T23:25:00.000-07:00

My mom was dusting off some old boxes and stumbled over my own high school graduation speech. I gave this on the 50 yard line of the football field at Hart High school in Newhall, Calfornia.

There are a lot of similarities between this piece and my speaking style today including my use of memorized phrases, massive changes in style and voice, and a mixture of practicality and sweet sentimental elements. I was, for better or worse, self-taught, inspired perhaps by my role model Patrick McGowan.

2011-04-12T23:17:00.001-07:00

Book Dr. Drew to speak at your next fundraising event or grant writing training workshop. See, http://ping.fm/WRCG6

Dr. Drew's Expertise: A Partial List of My Grants Applications

2011-03-30T20:31:00.000-07:00

Federal Applications

U.S. Department of Agriculture (1) U.S. Department of Education (2)
U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (2)
U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Dev. (3)
U.S. Department of Justice (2)
National Endowment for the Arts (1)

State of California Applications

California Arts Council (2)
California Council for the Humanities (1)
California Dept. Health and Human Services (1)
CA Comm. College Chancellor’s Office (3)

Local Applications

City of Long Beach Community Development
City of LA Cultural Affairs Department
CDBG – City of Mission Viejo
CDBG – City of Newport Beach
Los Angeles County Arts Council Grant (6)
LA Co. Dept. of Children’s Services
LA County Department of Senior Services
Orange County Probation Department (2)
OC Department of Children’s Services
Orange County’s United Way (2)
OC Workforce Investment Act/ARRA
Public Corporation for the Arts – LB

Representative Foundation Applications

Allergan (2)
Angel’s Care
Bank of America
Baker
Boeing
California Endowment
California Wellness
CA Consumer Protection Fund
DeMoss
Edison International
Fluor Corporation
GTE
In-N-Out
Isuzu
Joseph Drown
Mark S. Taper
Merrill Lynch
Mighty Duck’s Care
Norris
PacifiCare
Pacific Life
Pfaffinger
Parsons
Samueli Family
Southern California Gas Company
Steele
Stillwell
Taper
Target (6)
Tides
Toyota
VSAarts/MetLife
Warner Bros.
Walt Disney Co. Foundation (2)
Weingart Foundation (6)
Wells Fargo Foundation
Wynn

As of March 30, 2011

Checking Out Thumbtack as a Tool for Advertising Grant Writing Services

2011-03-24T15:40:00.000-07:00

The picture above is a montage of all the different Saturn Five launches. I like referring to the Saturn Five because it reminds me of the considerable challenge of launching your first grant proposal. All in all, I guess it is easy to distract me with a new website or technology. Nevertheless, I enjoy learning about these new bells and whistles and sharing the results with our clients and participants in our workshops. In this case, Thumbtack provides a free way of advertising your grant writing consulting services. I'll let you know if this takes off.

2011-03-24T00:29:00.001-07:00

Why our anti-war president went to war http://ping.fm/xYwRm

When You Need to Look Your Best: Love Those Blue Sky Scrub Uniforms

2011-03-20T12:05:00.000-07:00

As a political scientist, I have always been sensitive to the way clothes affect a political or military or business leader's influence. I'm not surprised to see doctors, nurses, surgeons, dentists, veterinarians, and other medical professionals seeking to tap into the same source of power and influence. For a great link to Blue Sky Scrubs for men, see http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/Scrubs-for-Men/

I'm pleased to report that the folks at Blue Sky Scrubs have developed some of the highest quality scrubs for their growing client base. I particularly admire their mens lab coats. These lab coats have high quality piping in slate grey or white.

Blue Sky Scrubs also offers great looking nursing uniforms, uniforms which will brighten the days of both the patients and the nurses who wear them. Even as a grant writing consultant, I have a "uniform" I wear so that I look appropriate to the people who meet me face-to-face and so that I have a consistent look which comforts those who refer me to others for work.

2011-03-19T00:10:00.001-07:00

http://ping.fm/b65Kg

2011-03-18T12:40:00.001-07:00

March e-News from Drew & Associates http://conta.cc/hVPjlg Dr. Drew on Grants

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Dr. Drew's Consulting Practice

2011-03-08T22:22:00.001-08:00

1. How much does it cost?
Drew & Associates charges $6,500 for a standard grant package. In that time, Dr. Drew will deliver one model grant proposal, one model letter of inquiry, research on your most likely funding sources through the Foundation Center website, and then assist you in completing at least 10 applications and/or letters of inquiry to your top 10 funders. Normally, Dr. Drew requests half of this fee up front and the other half at the conclusion of his work depending on your complete satisfaction.

2. What are the most important techniques that you use to make your work special?
Dr. Drew is able to be three times more productive than a normal grant writing consultant because of his expertise in using voice recognition software. In addition, Dr. Drew has a Ph.D. in political science from Cornell University which means he is trained in applying the survey research, program evaluation, and measurement tools needed to complete a high quality grant proposal. Dr. Drew has over 30 years of experience in writing grants and scholarship applications. He has raised more than $8.5 million for various charities and educational institutions over his lifetime. The first eight (8) federal grants he wrote all received funding. In 2009, for example, Dr. Drew helped Coastline Community College District (CCCD) win $1.6 million in new government grants including federal funds associated with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Dr. Drew emphasizes product positioning techniques as part of a larger effort to help new charities break into winning grant money and to revitalize existing charities seeking to get back into the game of creating winning grant proposals. Dr. Drew understands the techniques needed to create clear and compelling arguments in English at a reading comprehension level that appeals to readers working for corporate, foundation and government funders.

3. How do I get started working with Drew & Associates?
To begin working with Drew & Associates, please call us to schedule a one hour appointment with you - either face-to-face or over the telephone. During this initial interview, Dr. Drew will ask your three basic questions:
• What's going well for you and your charity?
• What's not going so well?
• What have you tried to do so far to fix the problem?
Sometimes, there is not much Dr. Drew can do as a grant writer or as a consultant to be of assistance to you. Nevertheless, if looks like his skills might be useful to you and your charity, Dr. Drew will ask for your permission to create a letter of understanding which would guide his grant writing on your behalf. In this letter, Dr. Drew will outline the services he will perform, the hours associated with each segment of the proposal project and the total fee to be charged to you. He will be requesting a check from you for one-half of the total fee which he will need to receive prior to implementing the work indicated in the proposal letter. Dr. Drew will normally follow-up by phone in a few days after this letter is sent to answer any of your questions and see how we should proceed. Typically, all the work should be completed within 45 to 60 days depending on how difficult it is to pull together the necessary supplementary documents and forms to meet the requirements of the grant funders.

4. What sort of documents are needed by a non-profit organization to win funding?
Ideally, the non-profit should have available a copy of its 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) determination letter from the IRS, a copy of its latest IRS 990 tax return, a list of its Board Members and their affiliations, resumes for the Executive Director, Program Manager and Program Coordinator, the most recent audited financial statement, and a list of previous donors and the amount of their gifts to the non-profit organization. Additional information will need to be collected, as needed, to fit the particular requirements of the funders who are the closest match to your charity.

5. What are my chances of actually winning money?
A new charity that follows Dr. Drew’s procedures exactly should win at least one out of every five grant applications that it sends in to funders. Your chances of success increase as you gain more experience in producing grant proposals. Established charities who know who their prominent funders, for example, can easily obtain a 100% success rate over the course of a year simply by going back to the funders who have given them money in the past -- provided the charity has done a good job with the previous grant, properly acknowledged the funders, and spent the money in a way that made a measurable difference for the charity’s clients.

6. How much money might come in from a typical grant for a the charitable organization?
Initial grants given to a new charity tend to be in the $5,000 to $10,000 range. Some of these grants, however, may require a cash or in-kind match so it is important strengthen your other fundraising operations enough to secure the match.

7. What are my other options for winning a grant?
You have many of options and you are not dependent on Dr. Drew or, for that matter, any other grant writing consultant. For example, you can easily learn about grant writing through the courses offered through the Foundation Center in New York or you can take one of Dr. Drew’s grant writing classes. Dr. Drew teaches one day grant writing workshops at various community colleges in Southern and Northern California and has recently added a new two-day grant writing retreat program which will give you the opportunity to create a full grant proposal with his assistance in a small class limited to 12 students. At this retreat, Dr. Drew will guide you through grant-writing, step-by-step, so that you will emerge from the two-day retreat with a document ready to submit to a major funder in your area. If you do not have time for a class, Dr. Drew also sells booklets on-line which give you - in a highly condensed manner - the secrets of success he has used to become a successful grant writer at John Drew's Blogspot.

8. Can I win a grant if I'm not part of a non-profit organization?
Yes! Even though 95% of all grants go to 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, the other 5% do go to individuals. Typically, grants are available to individuals in the form of scholarships for education, arts or research projects. Moreover, you can also work with an existing 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and ask them to serve as the fiscal agent for your grant for a small percentage of the grant. Information on all of these topics is freely available through the Foundation Center website. Dr. Drew is honored to help individuals draft their scholarship, art project, or research grant applications and charges the same rates as his normal work, dependent on the number of hours required to create the relevant individual grant documents. A lot of the techniques Dr. Drew uses in working with individuals are similar to the techniques he uses to assist non-profit or education organizations in obtaining grants.

9. How many clients does Dr. Drew work with every month and does he do the work himself?
Dr. Drew tries to work with at least one or two new clients every month while maintaining his commitment to assist his existing clients. He does the grant writing work himself using voice recognition software. Dr. Drew has a virtual assistant who assists him with grant research and his wife, Patricia Drew, helps with the proofreading responsibilities associated with grant writing.

10. What do I need to do to get started?
Simply give Drew & Associates a call right now at 949-643-8058 or send us an e-mail at johndrew25@msn.com. We will work with you to promptly schedule a one hour appointment to see if Drew & Associates can be useful to you and your charitable project.

11. What other resources are available for staying in touch with Dr. Drew’s consulting, workshops, retreats or literature?
Dr. Drew provides access to his ideas for producing winning grant proposals through a wide variety of communication channels including the following resources:
To buy one of Dr. Drew’s booklets, order through http://johndrew25.blogspot.com/
To sign-up for his e-newsletter, Dr. Drew on Grants, and see where Dr. Drew is teaching next, go to http://grantwriters.ning.com/profile/JohnCDrewPhD

On-Line Grant Writing Course

2011-02-28T16:44:00.000-08:00

One of my most brilliant former students, Rodney Walker, has put together an imaginative and compelling on-line grant-writing training course. I want to recommend it to you as the most sophisticated, easiest to apply, and accurate on-line grant writing course available today.

2011-02-04T21:07:00.001-08:00

Check out my new Two Day Grant Writing Retreat in Costa Mesa, CA. See, http://conta.cc/f5Zznh

2011-02-02T16:24:00.001-08:00

It is amazing to me what you can do with YouTube. See, http://ping.fm/mzM59

2011-02-02T16:23:00.001-08:00

Amazing work by one of my most gifted students - Rodney Walker. See, http://ping.fm/RrLWR

2011-01-30T23:45:00.001-08:00

Trying out a new website for Drew & Associates. See, http://ping.fm/GXv7z

2011-01-30T15:06:00.001-08:00

Just got back from doing a talk at Imperial Valley College. http://ping.fm/qZx0w

2010-12-30T21:14:00.001-08:00

Here's my latest post at P2P. Stopping child labor is our primary mission. See, http://ping.fm/nVrrt

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

2010-12-25T14:58:00.000-08:00

As this year’s card hints, John is a big fan of the 1960s television series, The Prisoner. In this cult classic, Patrick McGoohan plays a British secret agent – Number Six - who abruptly resigns, and then finds himself held prisoner in a mysterious seaside village. Number Six escapes repeatedly only to be returned to custody. John used Netflix to watch the entire series including the individualistic line: “I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered.”

We “pushed” our small business to a new level in May. We launched a program called “Dr. Drew’s Lightning Fast Grant Writing Techniques.” Unfortunately, we landed in hot water during a speech for 150 firefighters “numbered” at the Agua Caliente Resort in Palm Desert, CA. “Thank goodness there were firefighters,” said John, “because it was a disaster.” We picked up our spirits at the nostalgic Palm Springs Follies – a celebration of the music, dance, and comedy of the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s with “…a cast old enough to have lived it.” “The dancers were beautiful,” said Tricia.

Later that month, we “filed” a smoother version of this program at the Neighborhoods USA Conference in Little Rock, AK. While in Little Rock, we visited the Clinton Presidential Library, saw President Clinton, toured Little Rock Central High School and enjoyed Southern delicacies including fried chicken, greens and sweet potato pie. “The best part of our visit” said John “was seeing a riverboat lit up in bright lights.”

Back home, Tricia was active in volunteering at Coast Hills Church and in spending time with her network of friends and family. She made our small business possible as she “briefed” John on travel arrangements and accounts receivables. With her encouragement, John “stamped” out his first two-day grant writing retreat in Lancaster, CA.

At Saddleback Church, we saw Pastor Rick Warren interview President Bush on his new book, Decision Points. John finished the year with a presentation at the Rebuild Afghanistan Summit 2010 at UCLA. His Pathway to Prosperity (P2P) charity was represented by a Board Member who visited Fiji to study child labor law and human-trafficking issues.

We are reminded Patrick McGoohan chose the penny farthing bicycle as an “ironic symbol of progress.” As they say in The Prisoner: “Be seeing you.”

Dr. Drew's Website Tips: Just Discovered Blue Sky Scrubs - Beautiful Scrubs for Medical Professionals

2010-12-18T15:36:00.000-08:00

As a political scientist, I have been among the first to assert that dressing well was one of the undying secrets of charismatic leadership. I'm fascinated that I can now apply this idea to the world of scrubs. Accordingly, I'm intrigued by a new website called Blue Sky Scrubs which brings this principle into the active medical field.

Blue Sky Scrubs started in 2005 as a manufacturer of scrub caps. They added nursing scrubs, medical scrubs, and hospital uniforms to their line in December 2005. Now, their line even includes lab coats and scrub uniforms.

As you might imagine, their luxury scrub hats quickly became a "must-have" item for doctors, nurses, surgeons, dentists, veterinarians. In the process, they have also become something of a role-model for companies that sell clothing over the internet. Their nursing scrubs and designer surgical scrub hats are only available online at blueskyscrubs.com.

In the future, the company hopes to retail stores in the UK, Canada and the USA. As I like to say, you only get one chance to make a good first impression. I cannot imagine fewer places where that matters more than in the field of health care. At any rate, thank you to our friends at blueskyscrubs.com for supporting my blog.

2010-12-16T17:04:00.001-08:00

Here's our newest Dr. Drew on Grants. See, http://conta.cc/eCPFqI

2010-12-04T15:27:00.001-08:00

Pathway to Prosperity Weekly ▸ Today's top stories are contributed by @savethechildren @savechildrenuk and @Camfed ▸ http://t.co/phTnQ5O

2010-12-04T15:22:00.001-08:00

Dr. Dilip will be the featured speaker on our upcoming cruise to Alaska. See, http://www.drdilip.com/

2010-11-25T22:16:00.001-08:00

Painful realities dealt with at Rebuild Afghanistan Summit 2010. See, http://ping.fm/z2uQJ

2010-11-25T22:15:00.001-08:00

New YouTube Video from Two-Day Grant Writing Retreat with Dr. Drew. See, http://ping.fm/rPpTx

2010-11-14T18:05:00.001-08:00

Last day to sign up for my 2 Day Grant Writing Retreat. See, http://ping.fm/g52jb

Anxious About Your Health Benefits? Meet the Einstein of Health Insurance Advisors

2010-10-25T11:55:00.000-07:00

Tricia and I are sort of scrambling to make sure that we have our health care needs handled properly with insurance. This gets more and more difficult as you age and as you grow as a small business. At any rate, we are at one of those very awkward moments when it is not particularly clear - to us, at least - what is the best way to go.

Thankfully, we just got back from a wonderful visit with Tom Christian of Corporate Benefit Planners. I've know about Tom since 1996 when he helped set-up my health care options when I was working, full-time for an anti-child abuse agency called Family Solutions in Santa Ana, CA.

Tom is a kind, thoughtful, conscientious and extremely well-informed advisor. I think his help is particularly useful right now because of all the cost increases we are seeing in the health insurance business and because of the rapidly changing legal environment. This changing legal environment is also provoking changes in the way various corporations - for-profit and non-profit - do business and offer health insurance benefits.

In these dangerous and insecure times, I'm honored to recommend Tom Christian as one of the most important people in Orange County to contact if you have difficult problems to address, problems that keep you awake at night. To contact Tom, your best bet is to send him an e-mail at tchristian@corporatebenefitplan.com Please let him know you heard about his work from Dr. Drew.

2010-10-20T21:03:00.001-07:00

I'm testing out a new concept - a two-day grant writing retreat. Please let me have your honest feedback. Thanks. See, http://conta.cc/cy0tfC

2010-10-14T13:35:00.001-07:00

Here's my new October 2010 e-newsletter. Our business doubled when we started using Constant Contact. http://lnkd.in/yMdEpv

Paying Attention to Earthwhile’s New Products: James Bond Gadgets for the Green Energy Crowd

2010-10-10T18:53:00.000-07:00

As a former Hope International University business school professor, I’m fascinated with the possibilities of on-line marketing – especially with the power of these new on-line tools to meet the needs of specific audiences.

Along these lines, I’d like to recommend to you a new website called www.Earthwhile.co.uk This website offers you product options that enable you “…to save energy and make greener lifestyle choices without having to compromise on quality or style.”

Personally, I love James Bond-type gadgets. My frequent readers will remember that I’ve always been a strong fan of British secret agent television – particularly the cult classic, The Prisoner. Accordingly, I’m excited to announce that this site has more than its fair share of unusual gadgets including a calculator that runs on water and a nifty solar radio.

In the picture attached to this post, you can see a special Solar Magic Globe that reminds me a little of the globe security feature - called Rover - which kept Number Six trapped in the Village.

I had a lot of fun looking through the Earthwhile website and I recommend it to you. I'm in favor of anything that allows us to benefit from the power of the sun: Be seeing you.

One of Dr. Drew's Former MBA Students Makes It Big In Fashion

2010-09-23T23:50:00.000-07:00

When I met Peter Rhima I could just see the energy crackling out of him. I'm not sure everyone in the MBA program at Hope International University knew how to deal with him. For me, I immediately saw him as a pure genius, the sort of energetic and creative soul who would make a big contribution to the world.

My predictions regarding Peter Rhima have come true over and over again. He now has his own fashion line called Urban Republic Clothing.

One of the things that Peter did which I like to teach is that he did much more that just create a line of clothing, he created a whole larger story and romance to go along with the look he was creating as a designer. Like many charismatic leaders, he relies on tradition and then gains extra power by taking massive action in situations which would frighten and hold back other people. He is also well rounded and well-versed in technology.

http://conta.cc/9faKyj

2010-09-22T22:06:00.000-07:00

http://conta.cc/9faKyj

John C. Drew, Ph.D. is an award-winning political scientist.

Casa de Amma Needs Help Finding Jobs for Its Consumers

2010-08-23T13:42:00.000-07:00

Casa de Amma is an amazing charity in Southern California that focuses on providing supportive living assistance to adults with intellectual disabilities. It is a beautiful, modern facility - much like an elite private college - that provides its residents with access to a gym, a dining room and a theatre. The residents have their own apartments and manage their own finances. Some drive cars and all of them are eager to make a living and contribute to society through jobs and through volunteer service in the community. My wife and I are big fans of Casa de Amma and we want to encourage you to get to know them and perhaps hire one of their residents to work at your company or your charity. For more information on Casa de Amma, please contact Michael S. Sullivan, M.A. their Vocational/Community Manager at
msullivan@casadeamma.org

Casa De Amma
27231 Calle Arroyo
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Tel. 949-496-9001
Fax 949-373-1399
http://www.casadeamma.org/

2010-07-26T17:21:00.001-07:00

One of our favorite clients, REACH, has launched their new website. See, http://bit.ly/bMLuGH

Great News! REACH Launches Orange County Addiction Recovery Network – The Network of Hope

2010-07-25T16:57:00.000-07:00

Pictured on the right is Mr. Rial Barnett, Chairman of the Board of Directors of REACH and the person most responsible for pulling together a new, on-line resource for addicts and their families. Under his leadership, REACH is announcing an exciting new, non-profit addiction recovery network which is harnessing the power of over 200 local providers to treat alcohol and drug addiction.

As you may know, REACH, a Newport Beach based nonprofit that helps local alcohol and drug addicts get immediate treatment regardless of financial situation, has announced their launching of the REACH Network of Hope.

For reasons of full disclosure, I should point out they were also a former client for my little consulting practice.

“This is really a big deal. For over 30 years Orange County has needed this type of recovery resource”, said Carl Mosen, founder of Sober Living by the Sea.

“The Network of Hope is usually the last line of defense for many of the addicted individuals who come to REACH’, said Rial Barnett, REACH Chairman of the Board. “We find a bed in a qualified addiction treatment facility within a few hours after applying regardless of their financial situation. Our approach has delivered remarkable results because we place them in the right facility and stay connected to their progress every step of the way”, said Mr. Barnett.

“Addicts who are committed to recovery can find financial aid in the form of Welcome Back Scholarships where REACH funds sober living arrangements and treatment while they get their lives back on track”, said Jan Brewer, Executive Director of REACH.

REACH has formed a partnership with over 200 local addiction treatment providers and refers screened candidates for subsidized treatment. “One of the reasons the REACH model has been so successful is that we believe that addiction is a treatable disease”, said Paul Alexander of National Therapeutic Services, Costa Mesa, CA. “We all have to step up and help those who are falling through the cracks because they don’t have the financial support or insurance to pay for treatment. REACH is a perfect solution,” said Mr. Alexander.

REACH receives scholarship funding via donations from individuals, foundations and corporations. REACH is an Orange County-based nonprofit organization committed to assisting in finding addiction treatment for anyone regardless of their financial situation. REACH has been involved with the local Orange County addiction community since 1998. There new website is at http://www.reachoc.org/ Over the last couple of years, I've been inspired to watch a team of volunteers pull together an extremely professional, friendly and positive community resource.

To get additional information, please contact, Ms. Jan Brewer, Executive Director, REACH at 949.722.2935 and e-mail address jbrewer@reachoc.org. Their offices are located at 500 Old Newport Blvd. Suite 204, Newport Beach, CA 92663.

Modern medicine sees alcoholism as a disease and not a character flaw or a persona weakness. This simple shift in perspective has been responsible for creating healthier, happier lives and has restored many families and marriages. I recommend REACH with my whole heart and suggest that you and your family get to know them now...in anticipation that you or a loved one may someday need their services during a crisis.

2010-07-24T17:45:00.001-07:00

I did a little Animoto video based on my Dad's funeral yesterday. See, http://ping.fm/LMuTO

A Tribute to My Late Father: Richard C. Drew, Sr. (1926 - 2010)

2010-07-23T03:23:00.001-07:00

My father passed away this week and I thought it would be appropriate to share some comments that would be comforting for my father’s siblings, his wife, his children and his grandchildren and – perhaps - his great-grandchildren. He is pictured here on the right holding the hand of his younger brother Albert Drew. He died peacefully on July 20, 2010.

1. For His Siblings: He was born in Michigan in 1926. This is the same year that welcomed Queen Elizabeth, Andy Griffith and Marilyn Monroe. While my father was in elementary school, he endured the economic disaster of the Great Depression and after high school served in World War II in the U.S. Navy. As I said during his eulogy:

He had two siblings: a sister, Marilyn and a brother, Albert. His family moved to California in 1933 and his siblings always struck me as contemporary Californians while Richard was much more of an import product of the Mid-West. I know he valued their time together as a family…and spoke tenderly about a trip he made to Redmond, WA in 1985 when they were last all together.

If you want insight into my father’s childhood, I recommend you check out the 1983 movie A Christmas Story. My father identified with the main character, Ralphie, a nine-year old Hammond, Indiana boy whose fervent Christmas wish was to receive "…an official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot Range Model air rifle with a compass in the stock, and this thing which tells time." (The thing which tells time is a sundial.) Ralphie, of course, continually hears the refrain: “No, you’ll shoot your eye out.”

2. For His Wife: Richard met my mother, May, and they got married in the 1950s. From the photos of their early married life, you can see that they were an ideal 1950s couple. My mother is extraordinarily beautiful and you can tell that being married to her was the best thing that ever happened to him.

3. For His Children: My earliest memories of him include kissing him as he came home from work. I still remember the smell of his after shave…and love and affection he had for me. I remember him, at the height of Cold War, stockpiling materials for a nuclear bomb shelter in the garage including wood frames, army water tanks, military food rations and burlap bags. Because of time constraints, I could not fit this into his eulogy, but I meant to say:

It goes without saying that he loved his job as a CAL-OSHA safety engineer and later as a top manager. When I saw him at work I was introduced to a whole new world of power and authority, a world in which opportunities for devoted public service were supplemented by lunches with his colleagues at Italian restaurants with fresh sawdust on the floor or by visits to cafeterias that looked like movie sets complete with colorful lights, waterfalls and California-themed dioramas.

Politically, he was an ardent anti-communist, a Goldwater supporter, and early Reagan supporter. My father took to Scouting – especially its religious values and code of character - and was remembered for it for many years. He raised money and took us to National Jamboree where we saw Bob Hope perform. He was active at district level and had the number one Boy Scout Camporee Troop in 1976.

4. For His Grandchildren: Later in life, he was a devoted grandfather who loved hosting the grandchildren (seven in all) at his house in Big Bear for the holidays. Remembering how much fun I had as a child playing around the Newhall house, I’m sure it warmed Richard’s heart to see his grandchildren happily running around the same hunting grounds.

5. For His Great Grandchildren: My father’s great grandchildren will undoubtedly learn about him from YouTube videos, blog sites, and genealogy charts - all freely available on the Internet. They will find he represented a proud tradition of American values and patriotism, a tradition extending all the way back to the Civil War and the American Revolution.

Nothing was more moving to me, at my father's funeral, than the final moments when a naval officer handed a folded U.S. flag to my mother and said: "This flag is presented on behalf of a grateful nation as an expression of appreciation for your loved one's honorable and faithful service."

I expect his great grandchildren will see a profound link to our nation’s heritage my father's life and in his love for God, country and family.

There is a special on-line obituary for him at http://bit.ly/9GiO7Z which includes a beautiful photo essay illustrating his life, career, and rich family connections.

2010-07-22T18:50:00.001-07:00

Guest Book for Richard Drew â€“ Online Guest Book by Dignity Memorial http://bit.ly/bS5PDo (Dr. Drew: My dad passed away this week.)

2010-07-12T16:09:00.001-07:00

My friend Dr. Ron Gellis has a new website called CrossFit-Recovery. Please check it out at http://ping.fm/7e3v3 #gellis

2010-07-01T16:34:00.001-07:00

Here's the July 2010 Dr. Drew on Grants e-newsletter with pictures from the Clinton Library. See, http://conta.cc/c15Lsu

2010-06-26T23:42:00.001-07:00

Trying out a new idea: Combine my grant writing workshop with a cruise to Alaska. See, http://ping.fm/noWUZ

Fundraising Insight from Steven Levitt the Author of Freakonomics and Super Freakonomics

2010-06-23T20:50:00.000-07:00

I stumbled over an interesting article in the July 2010 issue of Money: an interview by David Futrelle of Steven Levitt, the University of Chicago professor who applies the tools of economics to surprising new topics. His bestselling books include the popular Freakonomics and SuperFreakonomics. He is the co-author of these books along with journalist Stephen Dubner.

I was particularly interested in the portion of the interview in which Levitt discusses why people are so stingy. His politically incorrect comments are worth studying:

In your new book you argue that people are probably even more selfish than we think.

It's complex. The percentage of income people give to charities is on the order of 3%. Research my colleague John List is doing suggests that even when people do give, they don't give willingly except when someone's watching. He's looked at how people react when a person comes to the door asking for a charitable contribution. When he tells people in advance that there will be someone coming at a specific time, people either aren't there or don't open the door. Social pressure is behind a lot of contributions rather than altruism. If you and I were on TV and you'd just won the lottery and I asked you to give some to children in Haiti, you'd have a very hard time turning me down. But what if I sent you a letter in the mail making the exact same request?

I've never really thought about this before - in a systematic manner - but Steven Levitt's comments definitely match my personal experience that social pressure is one of the uncomfortable facts of life regarding fundraising. As a grant writer, however, I think I think of myself as being in a less high pressure arena. Nevertheless, when I write a grant, I am thinking about how I will make the corporate, foundation or government reviewer feel guilty if they don't approve my grant request.

I do this by playing up the hardwork apparent in the grant, the careful planning that has gone into organizing it, and playing up the quality of the research which shows that an innovative solution is at hand for a powerful, previously neglected community problem. I'm also an advocate of getting on the phone to communicate with the funder ahead of time so that they know you are a real person and that your feelings will be hurt if they reject your grant application.

Understanding the hidden social pressure in grant writing will definitely help you improve your success at this seemingly "low pressure" fundraising technique.

If you want to check out the blog he and Dubner participate in on the New York Times website, see http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/

2010-06-02T18:44:00.001-07:00

Sent out a new Dr. Drew on Grants e-newsletter. See, http://ping.fm/KtC1N

Visit to Clinton Library

2010-06-01T15:42:00.000-07:00

Weeks Ahead of Your Deadline: Understand Why Small Breaks Cost You Big Money

2010-06-01T03:11:00.000-07:00

As a management consultant, I've come to believe that most people underestimate how costly it is to indulge even a small break in mental concentration.

I learned this valuable lesson while I was writing my award-winning doctoral dissertation. In contrast to most of the other graduate students, I made it a habit to work every day on my thesis - and not just focus on it on the weekends.

The problem with the weekend warrior approach to writing is that it takes a couple of hours each weekend just to remember where you were at mentally and theoretically prior to breaking off from your work. By writing every day, I saved valuable time because I did not need to invest additional time in warming myself up mentally to do my writing.

My normal procedure then, and still now, is to start by editing what I've written the day before. Then, I launch into writing fresh materials following the rule of NEVER rewriting anything the same day that I write it.

In addition, I understand that the same principle applies even to short breaks of just five or ten minutes.

Once my concentration is broken, it takes a bit of a time wasting struggle to get back to writing. This is true if only because I need to get back into the emotional spirit and energy of writing on behalf of a client.

Although I cannot shield my work from all interruptions, I have benefited by doing what I can to bring them to a minimum. For example, when I'm working on a grant application, I do not answer the phone; I do not check my e-mail. I shut the door and hang a sign on it that my wife created to remind me to say hello during my breaks. It says:

"MAN WORKING - Tricia: Please do not disturb me. I'll come chat with you when I take my break. Love, John."

I have also found that it works for me to write late at night when there are not as many people sending me e-mails or trying to connect with me by telephone. All in all, I think it's wise to select the office for the grant writer very carefully with an eye for... peacefulness, quiet, isolation, and tranquility.

At its highest level, grant writing is not a standard business procedure. To do it right, I think we will need to be much more sensitive to adapting the grant writer's physical environment so that it is a much better match with the functions essential to implementing this sort of high speed writing.

Accordingly, I think a fresh look at the physical environment of the grant writer will result in happier grant writers, happier clients, and happier results for everyone.

The Best Advice I Ever Received: Spend Time Like Money

2010-06-01T03:06:00.000-07:00

What's the best advice I ever received? While I was teaching at Williams College in MA, James MacGregor Burns - the Pulitzer Prize winning historian - told me to "spend time like money."

Implementing his practical advice, I've revised my public speaking to reflect the simple, chronological perspective that informs how I apply lightning fast grant writing to benefit our non-profit clients.

2010-05-31T23:42:00.001-07:00

Spoke at the Neighborhoods U.S.A. Conference in Little Rock, AR. Here's a 30 sec. highlight video. See, http://ping.fm/Ml4cc

Dr. Drew is Now Represented by Five Star Speakers & Trainers Bureau

2010-05-09T21:06:00.000-07:00

As you may know, I've been balancing my career as a public speaker with my existing grant writing consulting business, Drew & Associates. For me, the common theme has always been the lessons I've learned from my study of charismatic leadership. When I'm focusing on grant writing, I'm explaning how agencies can use the various tricks of the trade to speed up their organizational and application processes.

Ironically, I seem to be able to teach what I've always like to teach about. Now, however, I don't need to deal with the unnecessary bureaucracy of a traditional college or university campus. Accordingly, I'm proud to report that I've recently been included in the client roster of Five Star Speakers & Trainers Speakers Bureau. See, http://www.fivestarspeakers.com/espeakers/16585/John-C-Drew.html

The other clients are people you've probably heard of including Dennis Miller, Sen. Bob Dole, and Dr. John Maxwell. They charge a lot more than I do, but I'm honored now to be on the same website.

John C. Drew, Ph.D. is an award-winning political scientist.

New Video by Matt Kresling: Seventeen

2010-04-21T21:40:00.000-07:00

Before we had Google, a grant writer needed to have careful listening skills and the talent of a professional journalist. In my case, I had an unfair advantage in becoming a grant writer because of my experience as a journalist at Hart High school in Newhall, CA. While I was still in my teens, I enjoyed the unusual opportunity of writing a weeking column in the Newhall Signal regarding what what going on at my high school under the 1960s sounding title, "Hart Happenings."

Ironically, I enjoyed the process of creating a weekly column so much that I'm still sort of doing the same thing 35 years later as an adult. I've never gotten over the thrill of seeing my words and ideas in newsprint. In fact, the thrill has outlasted my subscription to my local newspapers here in Orange County, CA.

At any rate, I've discovered this new video by one of my favorite artists, Matt Kresling. I thought you'd enjoy his little YouTube video and draw strength from your own days as a student journalist exploring a career as the next Bob Woodward or Carl Bernstein.

2010-04-21T20:53:00.001-07:00

IASB Talent Scout regarding John C. Drew workshops and public speaking. See, http://bit.ly/cyX4Ov http://is.gd/bquVF

2010-04-21T20:52:00.001-07:00

Dr. Drew performs at the Neighborhoods, USA Conference on May 28, 2010 http://is.gd/aNsEf http://is.gd/bzmJd

Write the Grant First and Then Do the Research

2010-04-06T21:47:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while, I'm surprised at the power of my own techniques. Recently, I was putting a document together for a new client with a new potential funder. Following my usual strategy, I started writing the application without doing any research - except interviewing a staff member and a Board member.

As I wrote the application, I quickly figured out that it was a much more limited project than what I and the client had expected at first. In addition, I saw the source was interested in funding only a handful of limited programs.

When I was about 3/4 through the first draft, I noticed the source's website had a lot of the information I was looking for regarding the proposed intervention. If I had read through their website beforehand, I do not think I would have noticed - or paid much attention - to the valuable information posted there, information that was immediately relevant to the grant application.

Since I was already writing the first draft of their application, I was hypersensitive to the exact information I needed and it just jumped out at me when I flipped to their website.

I think you will have this experience too if you trust my experience and give this technique a try. Often, I find I do not need to do the extensive research as I previously thought the application required from the client.

Moreover, staff experts can often quickly provide me with the most relevant research - once they have read a draft and understand the internal logic of the application and precisely what is at stake. In a world of limited rationality, it is expensive for the client to figure out the fundamental issues of significance simply by reading the request for proposals. They and their staff can often be more helpful if they have a fully fleshed out rough draft in front of them.

Best of all, I think that if you do your research second, you will sometimes find you already know more than enough to write a tolerable solicitation document. With this technique, I have been able to avoid losing valuable hours and minutes researching things that may - in the end - have nothing to do with my client's proposed project.

2010-04-05T21:26:00.001-07:00

teaching a grant writing workshop for faith-based programs, see http://ping.fm/xl5jf

2010-04-05T21:21:00.001-07:00

putting together some 30 sec. Animoto videos about our workshop in Cairo, Egypt. See, http://ping.fm/5z5Lc

2010-03-31T19:38:00.001-07:00

Latest Dr. Drew on Grants e-newsletter. See, http://ping.fm/R3813 My secrets for lightning fast grant writing.

Lightning Fast Grant Writing Tips: Give Your Charity an Advantage by Starting on Your Budget Early

2010-03-24T12:35:00.000-07:00

One of the most important things I like to teach in my Lightning Fast Grant Writing Workshops is the suggestion that charities should start working on their project budget right away.

Too often, charities work on their budget at the last minute. They will only focus on the budget after they have written much of the grant which is odd, when you think about it, because the grant writer would have a better idea of what to write if there was a realistic budget to work off of...

Ironically, busy grant reviewers will often skim (or not read at all) the text of the charity's grant application and instead turn to the budget to make an informed decision about whether the charity has a clear enough plan and a realistic understanding of their proposed project. In this context, it is easier to understand why a strong, detailed, accurate budget will always give an agency an unfair advantage over its competition.

One of the best ways to get started on your budget is to work off of a copy of an existing, winning budget. You can obtain copies of a winning budget examples from other agencies, off of the internet, or from your own agency's previous grant applications.

2010-03-22T12:43:00.003-07:00

Dr. Drew on Grants e-Newsletter. See, http://ping.fm/8w78T

2010-03-22T12:43:00.001-07:00

Dr. Drew to speak at Neighborhoods - USA Conference in Little Rock, AK. Check out http://bit.ly/9W8uQU

Dr. Drew to Appear at Neighborhoods, USA on May 28, 2010

2010-03-17T18:31:00.000-07:00

I'll be teaching my Dr. Drew's Lightning Fast Grant Writing Techniques at the next Neighborhoods, USA Conference in Little Rock, AK.

As you may know, Neighborhoods, USA is a national non-profit organization committed to building and strengthening neighborhood organizations. It was created in 1975 to share information and experiences toward building stronger communities. http://www.nusa.org/index.htm

The organization maintains a stable membership base of approximately 1,000, with annual conference attendance’s that range from 600-900 participants.

They have a very professional looking conference document. See, http://www.littlerock.com/test/housing/pdf.html

The conference next year will be in Anchorage, AK on May 25-28, 2011. The one after that will be in Louisville, KY. Tricia and I are really looking forward to visiting Little Rock, AK.

2010-03-15T21:21:00.001-07:00

Good news from Antelope Valley College. I'm approved now to teach both Fundraising Fundamentals and Intermediate Grant Writing.

A Couple of Great Ideas for Researching Grant Possibilities

2010-03-10T12:03:00.000-08:00

My aim is to speed up the process of winning grants. This means that I like to bring fresh eyes to the grant writing process and place my stress on techniques that make it easier for you to move decisively and quickly when it comes to researching funders and preparing applications for them.

One of the ironic things about teaching "grant writing" classes is that a lot of the success you experience is actually due to "grant researching." Accordingly, it is important to know where to look for funding for your project.

In my experience, people who dive into the Internet searching for grants are quickly overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information available to them. I like to simplify things by recommending the three most important sites I use to get information about potential grant opportunities.

I turn to the Foundation Center in New York for information on corporate and foundation grants.

http://www.foundationcenter.org

I turn to the federal government's special site for federal grants.

http://www.grants.gov/

And, finally, I look to another site for full information on potential scholarship applications.

http://www.fastweb.com/

With these three sites at hand, you'll have about 90% of the resources you need to find grants for yourself, your clients, or your non-profit agency. Also, please don't forget that it is okay to ask other for help. In a fix, I like to contact the staff members of your Congressional representative for your district or your city manager's office for assistance.

2010-03-08T17:03:00.001-08:00

Networking (oasis) for grant writers. http://ping.fm/o5HCD

2010-03-08T17:02:00.003-08:00

Dr. Drew on Grants E-Newsletter. Link to Archive at http://ping.fm/V8Kyu

2010-03-08T17:02:00.001-08:00

Analyze impact of stimulus package on your neighborhood - go to http//:www.recovery.gov

2010-03-08T16:51:00.001-08:00

My cholesterol is down 30%. I have to give credit to CrossFit workouts. See, http://www.crossfitnlp.com/

Keep on Keeping On: Don't Get Spooked By a Bad Economy

2010-03-03T15:11:00.000-08:00

As you may know, Tricia and I are enjoying a good year economically. Although she was laid off in March 2009 - and is still looking for work - our grant writing consulting business is growing nicely and producing more than enough to keep us afloat. Nevertheless, these are dark times for our U.S. economy.

As you can see from the private employment chart above, this particular recession is much worse than previous recessions from the standpoint of overall employment numbers. The good news for grant writers, however, is that foundations are still required to give away 5% of their assets no matter what. Even if the charity doesn't have enough money for staff, it usually has enough money squirreled away to cover the cost of a grant writing consultant to help them put together a series of winning grant proposals.

Moreover, there are a lot of people making a lot of money. Government employees are doing well. Certain sectors of the economy are taking off even as other portions of the economy slide. The danger kicks in only when you allow yourself to get discouraged and stop trying with your soliciation efforts, grant writing, and normal follow-up activities. No matter what, tough times don't last...but tough people do.

2010-03-02T14:55:00.001-08:00

Latest Dr. Drew on Grants e-newsletter. Link to archive at http://ping.fm/V8Kyu

2010-03-01T17:10:00.001-08:00

I'll be on the air with Andrea Shea King at 9:00 p.m. EST. See, http://ping.fm/DPpsI

2010-02-10T21:29:00.001-08:00

Dr. Drew will be on Steve Malzberg talk radio in DC and NY on Monday 2-15-10 http://ping.fm/t2ZX1 Obama's Occidental Ideology...