Do you want to do more for your community? Are you thinking about starting a non-profit or part of a non-profit and feel like you could be doing more? Do you have projects you would like to pursue, but are in need of funding? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, this workshop is for you.
There are organizations, businesses, and individuals waiting to help you with your current or future project, program, and/or organization. They are looking for causes like yours to donate their time, money, and resources to.
In this workshop you will learn how to take an idea and turn it into reality. Grants are one piece of the puzzle which often seem intimidating and confusing, and in this workshop participants will learn:
- How to find grant opportunities
- How to plan and develop winning grant proposals
- How to use grants in conjunction with other funding sources and resources to achieve your goalsInstructor Bio
Instructor Bio
John Taylor is a nonprofit leader, grant writer, and cultural organizer with extensive experience securing public and private funding for arts, education, and community development initiatives. He is the co-founder and executive director of Crossroads Cultural Connections and the founder of the Levitt AMP Galva Music Series, a nationally recognized outdoor concert series supported by the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation.
Since 2018, John has helped secure over $500,000 in grants from federal, state, local, foundation, and corporate funders. His work has contributed to long-term organizational sustainability, including the growth of an endowment fund.
John’s leadership and community impact have been recognized with numerous awards, including the KWQC Hometown Hero Award (2022), WQAD Pay It Forward Award (2024), and the Lloyd Schoeneman Arts Supporter Award (2019), along with the Galva Chamber of Commerce Friends of the Chamber Award (2019) and the Galva Masonic Lodge #243 Community Builder Award (2019).
In addition to his grant writing work, John is a frequent presenter, having spoken at the Central Illinois Volunteerism Conference, the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs’ Rural Community and Economic Development Conference, and the Folk Alliance International Conference. In this workshop, he draws on real-world experience to demystify grant writing and share practical strategies that work for small and rural organizations.