March 26, 2009 | Read Time: 1 minute
NEW BOOKS
Storytelling for Grantseekers, Second Edition
by Cheryl A. Clarke
Cheryl A. Clarke, a fund-raising consultant, proposes a technique to aid people who are intimidated by the process of writing a grant proposal.
The first edition of her book, published in 2002, encouraged charity officials to write a proposal the same way they would tell a story, including a compelling and persuasive narrative that would prompt a reaction from grant makers. Five chapters described the development of a proposal narrative, complete with instructions for crafting characters, settings, a plot, a climactic moment, and a resolution.
The second edition is expanded to 12 chapters, with new examples of how storytelling can be woven into a proposal or letter of inquiry. Ms. Clarke has also added suggestions for quick writing exercises that incorporate the storytelling approach, such as describing the location and physical surroundings of a nonprofit group’s work.
She has also added suggestions for planning and holding site visits, an example of a full narrative proposal, and information about how storytelling applies to other fund-raising communications such as appeal letters and case statements.
Publisher: Jossey-Bass, 10475 Crosspoint Boulevard, Indianapolis, Ind. 46256; (800) 762-2974; http://www.josseybass.com; 224 pages; $29.95; ISBN 978-0-470-38122-9.
