Cummings Coaches
A pilot program providing grant-writing mentorship to a limited number of small nonprofits
In a spring 2023 survey of applicants, several respondents strongly encouraged Cummings Foundation to offer coaching to help organizations more effectively navigate the grant application process. It was suggested that providing this type of support to small nonprofits with limited experience, resources, and/or professional networks could help address disparities and make the process more accessible, equitable, and inclusive.
As a direct result of this feedback, Cummings Foundation is delighted to introduce a pilot program that offers one-on-one coaching to a limited number of applicants during the 2023 grant cycle.
LOI Coaching Timeline
July:
Applicants complete a brief form to request coaching and, while awaiting response, begin to draft an LOI.
Aug 7:
Cummings sends an introductory email to each assigned applicant and its coach.
Aug 7 – Sep 8:
Each applicant contacts its coach to schedule an introductory meeting, share a working draft of the LOI, and discuss how they would like to structure their meetings. Applicants and coaches will then meet over this four-week period.
Sep 8:
Applicants submit LOIs by 5:00 PM.
Application Coaching Timeline
Nov 1:
Applicants receive invitation to the full application stage and to submit a simple form by November 8 to request coaching.
Nov 8:
Submissions to express interest in coaching due.
Nov 10:
CFI sends introductory email to each assigned applicant and its coach.
Nov 10 – Dec 20:
Applicant contacts coach to schedule introductory meeting. Applicant and coach meet.
Dec 20:
Applicant submits application by 5:00 PM.
Who is eligible?
Eligible nonprofits must:
- operate with an annual budget of $500,000 or less,
- meet all eligibility requirements of the Cummings $30 Million Grant Program, and
- use their own staff or volunteers (rather than a third-party professional) for their grant writing.
Because space is limited, preference is given to:
- applicants that have not previously participated in Cummings Coaches
- nonprofits with limited experience, resources, and/or professional networks, and
- applicants that have not received a prior award through Cummings’ primary annual grant program (smaller awards, such as through Cummings Community Giving, are not disqualifying).
To ensure a diverse pool of applicants for this program, the Foundation highly encourages requests from Black- and Brown-led nonprofits.
Who are the coaches and how much time will they dedicate?
The coaches, listed below, are community volunteers who have previously served on a Cummings grant selection committee and are very familiar with both the Foundation and its selection process.
They will attend an orientation session with Cummings staff, receive a guidebook, and commit to at least two hours of meeting time (virtually or in person), which can be broken up over multiple meetings. It is up to each coach and nonprofit pair to determine when, where, and for how long to meet. Some coaches may choose to dedicate more than two hours, but not all of them will have that ability.
2023 LOI Coaches
- Adele Fleet Bacow, founder, Community Partners Consultants
- Margot Botsford, JD, associate justice (retired), Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
- Betsy Busch, M.D., developmental pediatrician, Tufts University
- Lisa Craig, former V.P., Boston Private Bank & Trust Co.; nonprofit advisor
- Gale Druga, PhD, fundraising professional (retired)
- Marcia Hertz, nonprofit marketing and fundraising consultant
- Heidi Heinlein, senior program officer, GMA Foundations
- Robert D. Keefe, JD , senior counsel, WilmerHale
- Andrew Kendall, executive director, Henry P. Kendall Foundation
- Debbie Kochevar, DVM, PhD, former Cummings School dean, Tufts University
- Jim Kraus, senior consultant, Development Guild
- Patricia McCauley, DNP, director (retired), Clinical Resource & Simulation, Regis College
- Kara McLaughlin, first spouse, Salem State University.; former executive director, The House of the Seven Gables
- Gerry & Tony Sobkowicz, procurement coordinator (retired), commonwealth of Massachusetts; and environmental engineer (retired)
- Norman Stein, CEO, Development Solutions; SVP development (retired), Boston Medical Center
2023 Application Coaches
- Adele Fleet Bacow, founder, Community Partners Consultants
- Sharyn Bahn, fundraising consultant
- Margot Botsford, JD, associate justice (retired), Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
- Betsy Busch, MD, developmental pediatrician, Tufts University
- Paul Carberry, nonprofit fundraising and development consultant
- Gale Druga, PhD, fundraising professional
- Heidi Heinlein, senior program officer, GMA Foundations
- Marcia Hertz, nonprofit marketing and fundraising consultant
- Robert D. Keefe, JD , senior counsel, WilmerHale
- Andrew Kendall, executive director, Henry P. Kendall Foundation
- Jim Kraus, senior consultant, Development Guild
- Pat McCauley, DNP, director (retired), Clinical Resource & Simulation, Regis College
- Kara McLaughlin, interim executive director, Destination Salem
- Gerry and Tony Sobkowicz, procurement coordinator (retired), commonwealth of Massachusetts; and environmental engineer (retired)
- Greg Smith, associate professor of business & marketing, Gordon College
- Norman Stein, CEO, Development Solutions; senior VP development (retired), Boston Medical Center
What will the coaches offer?
Coaches will:
- Serve as a sounding board and help the applicant think through how it presents itself—and conveys the impact of its work—in writing.
- Help ensure that the applicant is providing information that will be valuable to the grant evaluators.
- Provide feedback and recommendations to help improve a draft.
- Identify potential gaps in a proposal.
Coaches will not:
- Write any portion of, or provide redline edits for, a draft.
- Be involved in evaluating an applicant they coached, if they serve on a 2024 grant selection committee.
What will the meetings be like?
Coaches will commit to at least two hours of meeting time (virtually or in person), which can be broken up over multiple meetings. Beyond this, Cummings Foundation will not prescribe an approach for them to follow.
We encourage each coach and nonprofit pair to conduct their meetings in the manner that seems most helpful for the nonprofit. Given that this is a pilot program, we look forward to gathering feedback from both coaches and nonprofits and, hopefully, developing some helpful tips or best practices for future coaching programs.
Will participants of this program receive special consideration?
Participants will, hopefully, be able to submit a stronger proposal as a result of the coaching. They will, however, go through the standard competitive process and will not receive any special consideration for advancement.
How do I sign up?
Simply complete this brief form by Wednesday, November 8. Cummings expects to reach out to every applicant who expressed interest by November 10to either connect them with their coach or notify them that space did not permit their participation.
Questions?
Contact Deputy Director Andrew Bishop (aeb@cummings.com, 781-569-2337) or Executive Director Joyce Vyriotes (jkv@cummings.com, 781-932-7072).