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A Note From The Grant Committee

Bonjou to all our BLB friends far and wide!

It’s Julia Stefanini and Michael Mazloff posting this week’s BLB Blog. We are volunteers who work on the Grant Committee under the guidance of Alycia Kinney, Director of Development and of course, Cherylann. 


This week, we wanted to provide a little flavor of what we’ve been working on and how we fit into the BLB family in a behind- the- scenes way. We all know that raising 66 children takes time, love, compassion and yes, money! So, here’s where grant writing and fund raising comes in….

Our Grant Committee’s mission is to uncover ways to obtain funds to allow BLB to meet its vision of raising the next generation of leaders in Haiti.  We research foundations and other sources to assess whether they would consider grant proposals from BLB to fund our various activities. We review each foundation’s requirements and develop content to tell the BLB story and justify our requests to fund programs and operational expenses. In developing the applications, we work with our BLB team on the ground in Haiti to ensure our grant request is viable and matches the need at hand. We also develop the associated budgets and follow up mechanisms to ensure we can showcase results. We track success to be able to appropriately evaluate the use of the grant money. 

As a result, BLB has been awarded grants and funding to support the purchase of solar batteries, irrigation systems, building improvements, funds for the Britsionary House, enrichment programs, tuition including support for the BLB Academy, medical supplies and community projects. 

We are constantly looking for creative ways to help provide funding for Be Like Brit. As an example, in 2017 and 2018, we applied and were accepted into the John Hancock Boston Marathon Non-Profit Program. This is a competitive process to obtain the bibs needed to participate. We wrote the qualifying application (which turned out to be the easy part!) because thankfully, we had 4 runners who raised over $40,000 for BLB. As importantly, each of them had they had the strength and tenacity to finish 26.2 miles. Let’s just say they gave their hearts and “soles” for Be Like Brit! Big call out again to Jenny Foley, Joe Rezuke, GR Dulac and Ashley Tocci! 




As another example, last year, we applied for the Myra Kraft Community MVP Award (through The New England Patriots Foundation!), an award “celebrating leadership, dedication and commitment to improving community through volunteerism.” We were particularly proud to join other non-profits, share their stories and learn from each other. BLB was one of 26 winners among several hundred worthy applicants across New England and was awarded $10,000. And, it sure didn’t hurt that we got to try on the Super Bowl rings and had pictures taken with the 5 Lombardi Trophies! And, Cherylann had her picture taken with Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman…not a bad day’s work!



Grant research and development doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Obtaining foundation and other charitable funds is extremely competitive. We’re a small program, providing services for poor people in another country. Most foundations focus on programs benefiting their local community which makes our role all the more challenging. The Grant Committee consists of volunteers and we need your help!. We need to hear from you. You can be our eyes and ears at your company, at your church, at your community service organization, your school...or, among groups of your friends!   

Here’s where we could use your help. Here are a few things we want you to have in the back of your head as you go about your daily routine. Be an Ambassador for BLB in these ways:  

-Does the company you work for have a Matching Gift Program?

-Do you know of a Volunteer Recognition Program or Volunteer Days?

-Does your employer have a Charity-Giving Program?

-Are you aware of any Foundations where BLB could be a good candidate for grant funding? Or, do you know anyone who serves as a trustee of a Family Foundation where funds could be directed to BLB projects?

-Do you have friends or family who have Donor-Advised Funds where monies could be contributed to BLB?

-Did you meet anyone on your Britsionary team who have links to charitable foundations? 

-Are you aware of recognition programs in your towns and communities where we can showcase Be Like Brit?

If so, let’s talk! Contact Alycia@BeLikeBrit.org or (508) 886-4500. She would love to hear from you, answer your questions and pass your leads on to us!

The expression, “it takes a village” really is true for us at Be Like Brit and for the Grant Committee. None of us can do it alone. With your help, the Grant Committee will keep writing and making the case for the organization that binds us all: Be Like Brit.  

Thank you!

 



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