To Pursue or Not to Pursue - That is the Question

by Gwen Mathews (gmathews) on 06-14-2009 09:34 PM - last edited on 06-15-2009 09:00 AM

Both the economy and the American Recovery Act have many healthcare organizations rethinking their funding strategies; however as I mentioned in my first post many are intimidated by what they see as a very challenging process. Thus, despite the billions of dollars available through the federal agencies on an annual basis as well as through the Recovery Act, many folks instead look to balancing their budgets by cutting staff and services or raising fees at a time when many families are having to radically tighten their belts.   

 

The rationalizations that I most often hear are that "it" is too hard or takes too much time or is too competitive or costs too much to administer if they should be so lucky to overcome these hurdles.  These are the folks who really have not put together a grant funding strategy; who only look at "it" from the perspective of one grant at a time and not as a long term fundraising strategy.  Certainly it is true that not every healthcare organization is eligible for every grant. But, how do you know if federal grants should or should not be a part of your fundraising portfolio unless you take an in depth look at it from the perspective of a long term strategy instead of a one grant at a time gamble?

 

What prevents your organization from pursuing federal grants?

Comments
by on 06-22-2009 11:16 AM

I'd like to know...who IS pursuing funding...and how are they faring? 

by Gwen Mathews (gmathews) on 06-22-2009 01:07 PM

That is a great question! I would certainly also like to hear from others about are they pursuing and receiving funding. Of course, I come at this question from a slightly different perspective, since that is my business to help folks to successfully weave their way through the maze of federal funding opportunities. I could point to many folks who do and are being successful. However, like you I would like to hear from others on this subject. Especially why they think they are or are not being successful or why they have chosen or not to chosen to pursue these opportunities.

by on 06-22-2009 01:28 PM

Well, maybe that is a better question...Who do you know of who is successful and what have they done to achieve this success?

by Gwen Mathews (gmathews) on 06-23-2009 09:53 AM

Below are the names of a couple of folks that I know have been successful in the grants world, both federal and foundation. I am happy to share a more extensive list; just email me at gmathews@shcare.net and I'll forward it to you. 

 

Blaine Pieper (Gwen Mathews)

CEO, Ohio County Hospital, Hartford, Kentucky

bpieper@ohiocountyhospital.com

(270) 298-5433

$250,000 / year for up to 3 years for Telehealth Network Development

$298,432 over 2 years for outreach efforts to increase access to care

Bruce D. Thorsen, President

Mission Healthcare Foundation, Inc.

Asheville, North Carolina 28803

bruce.thorsen@msj.org

$1.5 million - 1 year grant award from the DoD for CPOE project

by on 06-23-2009 10:03 AM

Thank you for the information! 

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