Financial sustainability is not created simply by writing more proposals. It comes from thinking differently about how grants fit into your organization’s long-term growth strategy. Many nonprofits work harder each year pursuing grants, yet remain in the same financial position because they have never built a strategic grant-funding system.

Drawing on a 45-year career as a grant strategist, educator, consultant, and nonprofit leader, Dr. Rockis has helped schools and nonprofit organizations secure more than $72 million in grant funding and has trained thousands of professionals across the United States.

During this session, she will explore five proven principles:

1. Grant readiness comes before grant writing.
2. Successful organizations pursue the right grants—not every grant.
3. Winning grants requires a system, not sporadic effort.
4. Funders invest in relationships before they invest in proposals
5. Grants should strengthen your organization—not become its survival strategy. 

Whether your organization has secured grants for years or is just beginning its grant-funding journey, you will leave with practical strategies you can apply immediately and learn a stronger way of thinking about grants as part of long-term organizational sustainability.

This session will also preview the next stage of our work: the soon-to-be-launched C-Suite Institute for Nonprofit Growth & Sustainability, which will help nonprofit leaders, grant professionals, and fundraising teams integrate these funding strategies into a practical roadmap for building organizations that do not simply survive but thrive.

Please mark your calendar and join us for this important Council presentation.