Media Releases
Gifts in Kind International Offers International Insider to Members
March 5 , 2010 – Gifts in Kind International (GIKI) has been delivering the weekly e-newsletter, the GrantStation Insider, to their constituents since July 2005. Several months ago, GIKI began delivering the GrantStation International Insider as part of their member benefits. The International Insider is full of upcoming grant deadlines for nonprofits based in other countries, as well as nonprofits based in the U.S. doing work throughout the world.
Cynthia M. Adams, CEO of GrantStation, talked with Melissa Trumpower, Executive Vice President of Nonprofit Relations at GIKI, to better understand their decision to deliver international grants information to their network of charities.
Adams: Can you tell us why you decided to begin delivering international grants information to the nonprofits with whom you work?
Trumpower: The majority of our members are nonprofit organizations that serve communities within the United States. However, we do work with several groups that work outside of the United States and a few that are based in other countries. For that reason, we felt that offering the GrantStation International Insider would be a terrific complement to the many benefits and offerings we currently provide to our charitable network.
Adams: How many international groups do you work with and what kinds of organizations are they?
Trumpower: Gifts In Kind International has about 65 nonprofit members in Canada. In addition to those member organizations, we work with about 19 nonprofit organizations that either do work overseas or are based in other countries.
Adams: Have you, or any of your groups, been involved in the relief efforts in Haiti?
Trumpower: We are working with our charitable partners that have an on-the-ground presence in Haiti at this time to determine the product needs in Haiti. Since Gifts In Kind International typically offers assistance during the second stage of a disaster, we are working to determine which of the products needed during the rebuilding and recovery process we can provide through our donors. Our membership includes large nonprofits that have staff in Haiti, as well as smaller charities that work with specific Haitian communities.
Adams: I know that GIKI is changing their overall approach. Can you tell our readers a little more about the "new" GIKI, and how they might take advantage of what you offer the nonprofit sector?
Trumpower: Last year was a tough time for charities, and we find that many of our nonprofits continue to struggle. We believe that product donations have allowed many nonprofits to stretch their budgets further in order to serve the rising number of people who continue to need help during the recession. GIKI looked inward in 2009 to reassess the programs and services we provide to our charities and our donors. The result is significant changes to our membership models, our public brand, and the services we provide. Just one example is the online product donation catalog that we unveiled for our member charities in February.
Note: If you’re a member of GIKI, don’t miss the GIKI/GrantStation Special Offer for a GrantStation Membership on March 18, 2010. If you haven’t joined GIKI yet, check out the excellent benefits and services available to members. Visit the GIKI home page today for more information.
GrantStation would like to welcome Gifts in Kind International to our cadre of partners who deliver the GrantStation International Insider to their readers each month. If you are interested in delivering this monthly e-newsletter to your member organizations please contact our VP of Sales, Angel Knapp, at aknapp@grantstation.com. This is a no-cost program that can offer many benefits to the organizations you serve.
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GrantStation.com, an interactive online grants database website, is the essential tool for efficiently and effectively connecting grantseekers with accurate, comprehensive information about grantmakers that are actively accepting inquiries and proposals. The website offers information on federal grant programs; links to state funding agencies; and a growing database of U.S. and international charitable grantmakers.
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Jeremy Smith
Communications & Technology Director
(877) 784-7268 – jeremy@grantstation.com