A grant proposal is a story. It tells the prospective grantor who you are, what need you fulfill in the community, what you plan to achieve with the money you’re requesting, and how you will measure your success. The most compelling stories are the ones that get funded. Who better to help you tell your story than a professional storyteller?
Unexpected Company’s Lisa’s Norris-Lynner has been writing successful grant proposals and helping Central Iowa non-profit organizations with fund development for more than eighteen years. Her specialty is obtaining grants for arts, cultural and educational programs. Lisa understands how to research funding sources and match an organization with grant opportunities most likely to yield charitable dollars.
As an artist, Lisa understands why arts organizations need funding. More importantly, she can craft a compelling case for why communities need the arts. As someone with producing and non-profit management experience, she understands budgets and can help explain where the money goes and why. As someone with experience in education and curriculum development, she understands results-based accountability – she can help an organization define performance measures, set up assessment procedures, and craft a logic model to show grantors how you establish your goals and measure your success.
Lisa genuinely cares about the arts and education – particularly programs that serve children and people who have limited access to culture. She knows that the arts have value, and wants to ensure that artists in the community are compensated for their talents. She understands the importance of education, and has seen firsthand how arts education can be a life-changing experience for children.Lisa never takes a contract unless she can connect passionately to your organization’s mission.
Lisa never takes on projects indiscriminately. The grants process is highly competitive, and Lisa will always be honest with you about your chances for getting a grant. While she cannot guarantee that every single proposal she writes will yield big money, Lisa will never waste her time – or your money – writing a proposal that has no hope of being funded. Lisa can also assist you with grants management, helping you to track your program’s success and prepare reports for your grantors.
Working only part time, on a part-time contracted basis, Lisa has helped Central Iowa non-profits obtain millions of dollars dollars in grant funding from local, state, and national sources including:
The National Endowment for the Arts
U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
The Iowa Arts Council
The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
Humanities Iowa
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources
The Iowa Department of Public Health
Bank of America Charitable Foundation
Wells Fargo
Target Foundation
General MIlls Foundation
Staples Foundation
Bank of the West Foundation
ING Foundation
Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino
Principal Financial Group Foundation
Aviva Charitable Foundation
Meredith Corporation Foundation
West Bancorporation Foundation
Pioneer Hi-Bred International
Bravo of Greater Des Moines
The Greater Des Moines Community Foundation
Story County Community Foundation
Warren County Philanthropic Partnership
Jasper County Foundation
Polk County Board of Supervisors
Alliant Energy Foundation
General Mills Foundation
The Iowa Womens’ Foundation
Chrysalis Foundation
Nationwide Insurance Foundation
Gannett Foundation
United Ways of Central Iowa, Story, Jasper, Mahaska, and Wapello Counties
And many more!
At present, Lisa accepts new clients on a very limited basis. However, if you think your organization would benefit from her grantwriting expertise, you can contact her by phone at 515-288-9163 or by e-mail at development@unexpectedcompany.com.
For information on the other services Unexpected Company can provide your organization, click here.
