Charles Burke Makes an Offer to Brothers

April 21, 2017 

Brothers,

I have asked Paul to send out this message, and it is hoped that by being sent out to the ∑BT members both alumni as well as those still at Kean University, they all can gain from my lifetime of experience in fundraising.

It captures the essence of my work and how it can benefit those who are involved with fundraising.

The full version of my background story is a case study in being adaptive to a dynamic environment allowing for success in a wide range of areas well beyond teaching. To give you some idea as to the scope of the work in the area of workshops, here is a small sampling of where the programs have been conducted:

New Jersey Education Association, the New Jersey Business Teachers Association, the New Jersey Science Teachers and Supervisors Convention, New Jersey Language Teachers Groups, New Jersey Designer Craftsmen, Princeton University, the New Jersey League of Municipalities, the New Jersey Society of Woman Engineers, the Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission, the Algonquin Arts Center, Somerset Cultural and Heritage Commission, the Monmouth County Library, the Monmouth County Master Gardeners, the New Jersey Aviation Education Council, Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore, SCAN (Social Community Activities Network), Reform Church Tinton Falls and the New Jersey Television Educators Consortium.

There is no doubt that the proposed recent budget cuts in Washington will result in dwindling support, as manifested in grants and subsidies, to community organizations, the arts, and even education. There is nothing new here, and I was faced with a similar situation a number of times after graduating from Newark State College in 1967 and going into teaching.

To overcome this impediment, I began developing alternate sources of funding and learned how to effectively write grants. This resulted in the acquisition of support that boggles the imagination by ranging from a few thousand per year to a $125,000.00 grant. Just last year, I was able to acquire $30,000.00 to rebuild a television studio for a senior citizen’s center simply by asking for it!

Believing that success breeds success, I began helping others to acquire the same skills.  This led to a second career as a trainer in the area of funding for small to medium size nonprofits as well as the educational sector. Over the years, workshops have been successfully conducted at major state organization conventions, down to one-on-one sessions….. and this practice continues on to the present.

In the last ∑BT Alumni meeting minutes, it was noted that a call went out asking Brothers to share their success stories and this is mine. But I want to go one step further and make these workshops available to those who are involved with nonprofit organizations and need help in fundraising. If you look over my very concise website at www.chasburke.com, you will get a handle on my background and the programs offered.

Below is a more detailed description of two key programs, Glommering,( the art of getting people to simply give you money and things) and grant writing for beginners.

Glommering (Non-traditional Funding) #1.6

Title: Glommering: The art of obtaining, money, supplies, equipment and services for free.

Objective: To provide nonprofit organizations, classroom teachers, PTA/PTO and individuals with strategies for obtaining equipment, supplies, tools, and even money by going beyond the regular budgetary process. This seminar is based upon decades of success during which thousands of dollars per year were obtained.

Specific Topics:

• How to prepare a written or oral request to maximize your chances of success.

• How to locate and identify businesses that can be approached for support.

• How to generate support for your efforts from the administration, if you are working for an organization or school.

• How to properly recognize donors for their support.

• The importance of accountability and record keeping.

• Creating a network of Glommers within your organization, school, district , community or even the region.

• The importance of the intangible rewards that Glommering provides to you, your organization and your members/students.

• Why a Glommering project can open the door to grant funding.

Grant Writing (Basic) #2.4

Title: Fundamentals of Grant Writing. Note: No previous experience is required

Objective: Provide the participants with an overview of the grant funding process and information on where to find funding

Specific Topics:

• What is a grant?

• Grants sizes starting with one (1) page!

• Obstacles to success and how to deal with them.

• Why people and foundations give money away.

• Two very different approaches to developing a grant.

• What are the components of a generic funding request?

• How to connect it all together.

• Where to find people, organizations and foundations that may give you financial support.

• How to obtain a grant from a business or agency that does not have a grant program.?

• My personal secret to grant writing success.

• Generating grant ideas, how to meld your needs with that of the funder.

• What to do if you are awarded a grant.

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General Information

How can these seminars make money for your organization?:

If you wish to use a seminar as a funding event, you are free to invite others to participate and charge them a fee on top of my service cost. This additional fee is yours to keep.

Are special organization rates available?:

Yes, special rates are available for municipal, county and state organizations.

Presentation parameters: ?

Session runs 2 + hours.

Equipment needs: Table for papers and a working power outlet. If a video projector and screen are available, this would be very helpful.

No risk policy: If you are not fully satisfied with the seminar, the event is free.

See Asbury Park Article at: http://goo.gl/Qq87TY

Needless to say, ∑BT Brothers will be offered a substantial discount off of my regular fee.

Please feel free to contact me via email at tvcable@verizon.net or call 856-512-0979.

In brotherhood,

Charles Burke, Class of 1967, ∑BT Eta Pledge Class

“Live like you may die tomorrow, learn, like you will live forever.”

Mahatma Gandhi