Oftentimes, people charged with the task of writing grant proposals have little or no training in the process, and many actually feel intimidated by the act of writing. In Storytelling for Grantseekers, consultant and trainer Cheryl A. Clarke helps fundraisers overcome these hurdles by presenting an organic approach to proposal writing. Grantseekers who have used this unique process discover that telling the organization's story in narrative form (complete with settings, characters, antagonists, and resolutions), can help them connect with grantmakers and ultimately have greater success with funders.

This fresh and creative guide contains the resources needed to help you craft a persuasive synopsis, package a compelling story, and create a short story approach to the inquiry and cover letters that support the larger proposal. Clarke walks grantseekers through all the phases of developing an effective proposal and highlights the creative elements that link components to each other and unify the entire proposal. Clarke also stresses the need to see proposal writing as part of a larger grantseeking effort, one that emphasizes preparation, working with the entire development staff, and maintaining good relations with funders.

Using the suggestions outlined in Storytelling for Grantseekers, new and seasoned grantseekers will discover how to channel their passion to tell their organization's tale and create winning proposals.

When Fortune Magazine estimated that 70% of all strategies fail, it also noted that most of these strategies were basically sound, but could not be executed. The central premise of Strategic Project Management Made Simple is that most projects and strategies never get off the ground because of adhoc, haphazard, and obsolete methods used to turn their ideas into coherent and actionable plans. Strategic Project Management Made Simple is the first book to couple a step-by-step process with an interactive thinking tool that takes a strategic approach to designing projects and action initiatives. Strategic Project Management Made Simple builds a solid platform upon four critical questions that are vital for teams to intelligently answer in order to create their own strong, strategic foundation. These questions are:

1. What are we trying to accomplish and why?

2. How will we measure success?

3. What other conditions must exist?

4. How do we get there?

This fresh approach begins with clearly understanding the what and why of a project - comprehending the bigger picture goals that are often given only lip service or cursory reviews. The second and third questions clarify success measures and identify the risky assumptions that can later cause pain if not spotted early. The how questions - what are the activities, budgets, and schedules - comes last in our four-question system. By contrast, most project approaches prematurely concentrate on the how without first adequately addressing the three other questions. These four questions guide readers into fleshing out a simple, yet sophisticated, mental workbench called "the Logical Framework" - a Systems Thinking paradigm that lays out one's own project strategy in an easily accessible, interactive 4x4 matrix. The inclusion of memorable features and concepts (four critical questions, LogFrame matrix, If-then thinking, and Implementation Equation) make this book unique.

Managers in social work and social care contexts are required to manage a wide range of projects: long-term and short-term, on large and small scales, in partnership with other agencies, and covering a broad range of issues and contexts.

Management of these projects requires specific expertise, and this book sets out what these core skills are and how they can be achieved. Topics such as managing resources, assessing risks, and measuring outcomes are covered, as well as how to start and end a project. The authors acknowledge the values and ethics inherent to care environments, as well as the business skills necessary for good management. Detailed case studies demonstrate the ideas in action, and reflective activities, practical tools and action checklists are included throughout.

This practical handbook provides a clear and comprehensive guide to how to be an excellent project manager, and is a must-read for all social work and social care managers and post-qualifying social work and social care students.

This new edition includes hands-on, practical strategies and accessible techniques for both practitioners and activists who want their organizations to grow and thrive. It includes topics such as asking for money, using direct mail effectively, using the Internet, and making a career of social change fundraising.

Challenging Oppression and Confronting Privilege is the definitive guide to anti-oppressive social work, which is a prominent part of social work theory and practice in Canada. Bob Mullaly examines the many forms that oppression can take, at the personal, cultural, and structural (or institutional) levels. The text outlines the necessary practices and approaches that social work must adopt in order to fight against oppression and assist those who have been oppressed. Features: Thoroughly revised. Every chapter has been completely revised in this second edition to include new research and updated resources. Encourages critical thought. New discussion questions draw attention to key concepts and encourage students to look at issues from different points of view. Multidimensional Approach. Extensive coverage of theory and practical applications in social work situations ensures students can connect theoretical concepts to real life. Comprehensive and accessible. Complex issues in critical or anti-oppressive social work are clearly and thoroughly explained with an undergraduate audience in mind. * New! Chapter added explaining the dynamics of privilege and how dominant groups have the power to make a difference in the lives of oppressed citizens and demonstrates how an understanding of privilege can improve social work practice.

A national bestseller and acclaimed guide to Buddhism for beginners and practitioners alike

In this simple but important volume, Stephen Batchelor reminds us that the Buddha was not a mystic who claimed privileged, esoteric knowledge of the universe, but a man who challenged us to understand the nature of anguish, let go of its origins, and bring into being a way of life that is available to us all. The concepts and practices of Buddhism, says Batchelor, are not something to believe in but something to do—and as he explains clearly and compellingly, it is a practice that we can engage in, regardless of our background or beliefs, as we live every day on the path to spiritual enlightenment.

This is a VERY dry read

The most comprehensive manual of the practice of insight meditation (vipassana), written by one of its foremost 20th century proponents, is translated into English for the first time.

Manual of Insight is the magnum opus of Mahasi Sayadaw, one of the originators of the “vipassana movement” that has swept through the Buddhist world over the last hundred years. The manual presents a comprehensive overview of the practice of insight meditation, including the foundational aspects of ethical self-discipline, understanding the philosophical framework for the practice, and developing basic concentration and mindfulness. It culminates with an in-depth exploration of the various types of insight and spiritual fruits that the practice yields.

Authored by the master who brought insight meditation to the West and whose students include Joseph Goldstein, Jack Kornfield, and Sharon Salzberg, Manual of Insight is a veritable Bible for any practitioner of vipassana.