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Minimal Investment In Local Grant Writer Is Paying Big Dividends For Carroll Public Library Foundation

The Carroll Public Library Foundation has recently made announcements that they are receiving support for the expansion of the library from several different entities outside of Carroll. Local grant writer, Becky Vonnahme says that she was approached by members of the foundation for her assistance with the difficult task of finding and applying for the various grants available.

The first five applications went out last fall. Vonnahme says four of those responses have been positive and they are awaiting word on the final determination for the fifth one. Last month, another two went out, there is one scheduled for March and she says that there are several more coming up. Vice President of the foundation, Douglas Burns, says that they have had some extraordinary interaction with Vonnahme and her Breda-based business, The Right Grants. He says there have been some rumors circulating that Vonnahme was working on a contingency, or commission basis, and he wants to dispel those.

Vonnahme says that pay-for-production type of arrangements are simply just not done anymore. It is a risk to pay for a service before you know whether or not there will be a return on that investment, she says, but as a member of the Association for Fundraising Professionals, this would be highly unethical. Burns says Vonnahme’s work has been one of the best returns he has ever seen.

The local donations, taxpayer support and outside grant money is a strong triple-play blend for Carroll. Burns adds that in addition to the hiring of Vonnahme, there was a strategic plan to identify sources for available grants.

He points out that people who are for the library expansion should be thrilled because that will help them get to their $2.5 million goal more quickly. If opposed, you should be equally thrilled because this is less money drawn from the local pool, either in the form of tax-payer supported programming or construction or local donations. Burns adds that once the foundation surpasses the original goal with local donations and grants, they will be able to put it to use in an endowment for the continued support of the library.

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