This document provides an overview of fundraising goals and strategies for Sati International, a nonprofit focused on mindfulness and awareness. It discusses trends in charitable giving, how to research funding opportunities, and tips for developing successful grant proposals and cultivating donor relationships. The presentation aims to help nonprofits understand the philanthropic landscape and best practices for fundraising.

1. +
Introduction to Sati International
Fundraising Goals
Jonathan Lossos
Director of Programs
Sati International

2. +
Topics for Today
■ Introductions
■ Landscape of Giving: U.S. and International
■ Fundraising Fundamentals
■ Grants 101: What do Grantmakers look for?
■ Understanding Buddhism Philanthropy
■ Questions & Answers

3. +
Sati International Meditation & Research
Center
■ Mission, “Building a better world by embracing two universally shared
values of Buddhism: Midnfulness and Awareness”
■ Private Grantmaking Foundation
■ Strategic areas of focus include: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
(PTSD)

4. + The World Giving Index – Top 20 Countries
World Giving Index 2012 https://www.cafonline.org/PDF/WorldGivingIndex2012WEB.pdf

5. +
World Giving Index: Western Asia
World Giving Index 2012 https://www.cafonline.org/PDF/WorldGivingIndex2012WEB.pdf

6. +
Religion is a
huge sector
WGI Rank #5: U.S.A

7. +
And individuals give the
majority of all nonprofit
funding…
WGI Rank #5: U.S.A

8. +
Religion is a
huge sector
WGI Rank #5: U.S.A

9. +
And individuals give the
majority of all nonprofit
funding…
WGI Rank #5: U.S.A

10. + Trends for Giving Amongst Peace
(Mindfulness) Foundations
Peace Related Foundations
A.J. Muste Memorial Institute
Alan B. Slifka Foundation
Ben and Jerry’s Foundation
Better World Fund
Biosophical Institute
Blaustein Foundation, Inc., Morton K.
and Jane, The
Carnegie Corporation of New York
Catalyst for Peace
Compton Foundation
El-Hibri Foundation
Firedoll Foundation
Ford Foundation
Foundation for Middle East Peace
Fred J. Hansen Foundation
Germanacos Foundation
Holthues Trust
Humanity United
J & L Foundation
Kalliopeia Foundation
Lydia B. Stokes Foundation
MacArthur Foundation
MADRE
North Star Fund
Open Society Institute
Peace Development Fund

11. + Trends for Giving Amongst Interfaith
Foundations
Interfaith Relations and Respect for Diversity Related
Foundations
Alan B. Slifka Foundation
Alavi Foundation
Bernstein Family Foundation
Berrie Foundation, Russell
Berry Foundation, Grant and Donna
Blumenthal Foundation
Center for Interfaith Action on Global Poverty
Chino Cienega Foundation
Connemara Fund
David & Barbara B. Hirschhorn Foundation
Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art
Einhorn Family Charitable Trust
El-Hibri Foundation
England Family Foundation, Inc., Lois & Richard
Gambrill Foundation

12. +
What is Fundraising?
■ “Fundraising is the gentle art of teaching the joy of giving.”
- Hank Rosso, Renown fundraising expert and coauthor of Hank Rosso’s Achieving
Excellence in Fund Raising
■ “Fundraising is not an event; it is a process.” -
Edgar D. Powell, Established fundraiser

13. +
Funding Sources –
Where Does The $ Come From?
■ Foundations
■ Corporations
■ Other Nonprofits
■ Government Funders
■ HNWIs and special cultivations
■ Individual Donors (Direct Mail, Online, Crowdsourcing, Board
Members, Annual Appeals, etc.)
■ Special Events (Gala, Telethon, Run/Walk, etc.)

14. +
Fundraising Fundamentals – Top 10
1. If you don’t ask – you don’t get. You will be rejected. A lot. Get over it.
2. More specifically, the more you ask – the more you get.
3. But ask smartly – do your homework so that asks are nearer to “yes,” than “no.”
4. 20% of your donors will give you 80% of your funding. Feed them!
5. Fundraising is: building and sustaining relationships, donor-centered, & mission-guided.
It follows strong ethical principles.
6. Start with articulating a case for support that is concise, believable, and shows urgency.
Write it. Refine it. Rewrite it.
7. Use your board and contacts to get noticed and a conversation.
8. Ask open-ended questions and let your donor talk. God gave you two ears, one mouth.
9. Say thank you promptly, formally and informally. Say it again.
10. Data is king / queen. Record, track, and focus.

15. +
Why are Metrics so important?
■ Grantmakers want to be able to measure the impact of their grants
■ Metrics help you fundraise. Make them part of the story.
■ How do you know your work is succeeding?
■ Determining the right metrics to evaluate impact is difficult, but if done
correctly will help to monitor your projects
■ Foundations are increasingly aware of there importance and may assist
grantees in developing the right measurements

16. +
The Key - Who Do You Know?
■ Board
■ Staff
■ Friends
■ “Competitors” (don’t count it out! – use open source approach)
■ Luck
Pass around a list of contacts (program officers and directors) and your target list of
foundations. Look for connections. Get past the “only pre-selected applicants” barrier.

17. +
Where to find grant opportunities?
■ Requests for Proposals (rare)
■ Prospect Research (always necessary)
■ Word of Mouth / Referral (promising)
■ Previous Relationship (best)
■ Following e-news and social media feeds from consolidators like the
Foundation Center, Chronicle of Philanthropy, and key foundations
(promising)
■ Luck (hey, grace happens)

18. +
pport
elihood of funding
ing priorities
rking
gress reports
one contact
Only 10% want a
LOI first now
60% will meet with you
as a good effort or due
diligence
The Grant Cycle

19. +
Letter of Inquiry, Common Grant
Application, or Full Proposal
■ Introduction
■ Brief Organization Description
■ Statement of Need / Problem
■ Methodology and Key People Involved
■ Current and Expected Funding, Request, and *Budget*
■ Measurable Outcomes
■ Final Summary
It is like inspecting a book to see if you like it.
You got 30 seconds to make an impression
after days of work.
There will be guidelines -
follow them!

20. +
Every organization has guidelines
Sati's Guidelines
http://elhibrifoundation.org/grants/seekers

21. +
A Cover Letter or Letter of Intent
■ Request your dollar amount and introduce your project in the first
sentence.
■ Describe how your project and/or organization will further the
foundation's mission.
■ Reference your most recent contact with the foundation – you should
have called, visited, been referred, or been invited.
■ Give full contact details in case the funder wants additional information.
■ Signed by your organization's Executive Director

22. +
No contact info
No evidence
research was
performed
No evidence
document was
proofread
Did not calculate
cost correctly
Actual Total = $236,316
No evidence of Tax Exempt
status – Cannot fund
individuals

23. +

24. +
Organized Research and Tracking
■ Shareable tracking of contacts and grants in Word, Excel, SalesForce, or
the like
■ File set of 990s
■ File set of Foundation Directory (or equivalent) profiles
■ File set of foundation’s own data – annual report, guidelines, website
stories or information, notes from meetings, public research data
■ Google and other prospect research finds, e.g., bio of funder/founder,
impact stories, transitions in staff/focus

25. +
Where to get help…
■ The Foundation Center (www.foundationcenter.org)
■ Association of Fundraising Professionals (www.afpnet.org)
■ Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement
(www.aprahome.org)
■ Council on Foundations (www.cof.org)
■ The Grantsmanship Center (www.tgci.com)
■ Guidestar (www.guidestar.org)
■ Giving USA Annual Report (www.givingusareports.org)
■ The Chronicle of Philanthropy (www.philanthropy.com)

26. +
The Foundation Directory Online

27. +
Power Searching on Foundation
Directory Online

28. +
A New Alternative:
The Foundation Search America

29. +
Use criteria to find the right grantmaking
organizations
■ Who Funds in My Geographic Region?
■ Who Funds in My Area of Interest?
■ Who Provides the Type of Support I Need?
■ Who Has Funded Organizations Like Mine?
■ Who Has Given Amounts in the Range I Need?
Make an A, B, and C List and keep simple notes on due dates, policies,
contacts with them, observations about their patterns, and key connections
under each funder. Share your list with staff and board.

30. +
Understanding Buddhism Philanthropy
■ Long and substantial tradition of giving in Buddhism
■ Dana
■ In the U.S., there is a lack of traditional philanthropic participation
amongst Buddhism communities, why?
■ Lack of Trust?
■ Fear?
■ Funding traditional sources?

31. +
Questions & Answers
Please feel free to contact me with questions anytime:
Jonathan Lossos
Director of Programs
7768 Marshall Heights Court
Falls Church, Va 22043
301.529.7409
satiintl@gmail.com