Grants Central

Station Fall 2009

Volume 3, Issue 3

Message from the President

By Amy Shankland
As I write this, the memories from
the 2009 AAGP National
Conference in Austin, TX are still
fresh in my mind and the ideas
from the event are in front of me
ready to be put into action! As
members had told me before, the
conference is truly the best way to
network, share, and learn with peers
from all across the country.
Central Indiana was thrilled to see
our State Representative, Cynthia
Renea Oda, receive the highest
award from AAGP on Friday,
November 6th- The President’s
Award. More details about this
award and its deserving 2009
recipient follow in this newsletter.
We also cheered on Arvetta
Jideonwo, our founding president,
as she ran for a position on the
national board. Like a non-formula
grant proposal, the competition was
fierce. While Arvetta was not
elected to the board- this time- we
applaud her hard work and
dedication.
Our chapter didn’t rest once the Board of Directors:
conference was over. We had an
exhibit booth at the Indiana
Grantmakers Fall Conference President – Amy Shankland
November 12th and will have a booth at City of Noblesville
the Indiana Youth Institute’s Kids
Vice President – Judith Duncan
Count in Indiana Conference December Franklin Township Education
1st and 2nd. Foundation
As we draw 2009 to a close, we look Secretary – Cindi Zenkert-Strange
forward to a new year filled with St. Vincent Community Health
numerous education and Meet the
Funder Sessions. We will continue to Treasurer- Arvetta Jideonwo
work to grow our membership, thanks Ivy Tech Community College
to the national office’s Member Get a
Corresponding Secretary –
Member Program. Jenny Morris
Marian University
And I can’t forget to mention the
upcoming GPC exam in the spring. As Corresponding Secretary –
of this writing, the local GPC Kristi Rees
committee is working on setting up Suburban Health Organization
study sessions for the exam, to be held
Saturday, March 20th or 27th, 2010. For Mary Crevey
Riley Children’s Foundation
more details, please contact Arvetta
Jideonwo, our fearless GPC leader, at
gpcindianapolis@yahoo.com or 317-
289-1074.
Happy Holidays to all my grant
professional friends!

(Front Row) Central Indiana AAGP members

Cindi-Zenkert Strange, Jennifer Harris, Amy
Shankland and Scott Flood (Second Row) and
Caroline Sobolak from the Chicago chapter
enjoy a luncheon during the national conference.

1
 AAGP State Representative wins National Award
Cynthia Renea Oda receives the President’s
Award from Dr Bernard Turner at the national
conference
The American Association of held by the association. Oda Oda has over 25 years of
Grant Professionals (AAGP) was one of the 10-year experience providing grant
presented Cynthia Renea Oda, members also recognized at development services to not for
President and CEO of ODA the national conference. profit organizations. Oda has
Enterprises, LLC in Indianapolis, written over $10,000,000 in
the President’s Award at its grants, which includes
national conference in Austin, “Her attention to the issue of community-based organizations,
TX on Friday, November 6, diversity and inclusion in our $5,000,000 for school
2009. association, her work as a corporations and another
successful minority woman $15,000,000 for public
Current National Board President entrepreneur, her assistance to organizations and continues to
Dr. Bernard Turner gave the help develop an annual empower agencies.
award, the highest honor AAGP budget, and her voice of
can give a member, to Oda for wisdom when the board had to ODA Enterprises also provides
her outstanding contributions to make important decisions all services for youth in the form of
the association. made it obvious to me that after school services
Oda deserved this award,” (Afternoons R.O.C.K in
“I selected Cynthia Oda because continued Dr. Turner Indiana). To date the
she is a trailblazer in our field,” organization has served over
said Dr. Turner. As a previous Ms. Oda is founder and
President /CEO of ODA 800 youth in Marion County. It
Board Member of AAGP, Oda has provided Alcohol, Tobacco,
has given eleven continuous Enterprises, LLC a company
formed in 1997 as an and other Drugs (ATOD)
years of service to the prevention services in Decatur
association. She worked to Minority/Women Business
Enterprises that specializes in Township, Lawrence Township
develop a code of ethics for and for Indianapolis Public
AAGP, headed up the grant development, training,
community development, Schools
financial audit committee of the
evaluation, strategic planning
board in its early years, and
supported all eleven conferences and project management and
youth after school services.

How to Join AAGP Membership is open to As a member of AAGP,

AAGP has a growing
international and affiliate
chapter membership
close to 2,000 individuals.
AAGP members represent
education, government,
private enterprise and
the non-profit sector.
They include grant
developers, managers,
funders, administrators,
planners and evaluators.
any individual with an
interest in, and
commitment to the
grants profession. AAGP
offers a full range of
membership benefits,
including a subscription
to “Take It For Granted”,
the AAGP Journal,
participation in the AAGP
forum, reduced
conference fees and
other benefits.
you will be a part of the
country’s largest and
fastest-growing
organization representing
the interests of those
committed to
grantsmanship as a
profession.
To join, long on to:
www.go-aagp.org and
click on Membership.

AAGP Charity University

Need some training to
hone your grant skills but
don’t have the time or
money? Take advantage
of AAGP Charity
University!
These online classes were
recorded so that you can
take them any time that’s
convenient.
Once you register, you
will be on the classroom
page for the class where
you can download class
materials and listen to
the recording. You may
log in as many times as
you wish for 90 days.
With an AAGP
membership discount and
pay only $63.90 per
session. Log on to :
www.go-aagp.org and
click on Charity University
to learn more.

2
GPCI Exam to be given in Indianapolis
The Central Indiana AAGP competent in the
grants, education and
Chapter is working to fundamentals of
community service.
host the GPCI Exam in grantsmanship. The
Indianapolis in early “generalist” designation By hosting an exam in
2010. represents the minimum Indianapolis, individuals
standards required to from the Midwest will
The GPCI exam is a successfully develop, have a chance to take the
psychometrically sound prepare and manage grant test in a closer location.
certification program that activity. The exam consists
A survey was conducted
measures an individual’s of a writing section and a
by the chapter to
ability to provide quality multiple choice section. determine interest.
grant-related services
within an ethical In order to sit for the exam, For more information
framework. The GPCI candidates need to show at regarding the exam, visit
exam is designed as a least three years the GPCI site at:
“generalist” test. A professional experience in www.grantcredential.org
“generalist” is defined in the grants field, plus
broad terms as a person meeting the requirements
who is experienced and for numbers of funded

Member Spotlight:
Mary Crevey
Riley Children’s Hospital
Mary is the Foundation &
Corporate Foundations
Officer at Riley Children’s
Foundation, a position
that she has held for the
past one year and a half.
Her role at the Foundation
is to secure charitable
gifts from foundations and
corporate foundations in
support of Riley Hospital
for Children and its
research programs.
Before coming to Riley
MSW from the University of
Children’s Foundation, Mary
Michigan School of Social
was a Major Gifts Manager at
Work, Mary worked as a
the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
medical social worker in both
Prior to the IMA, she worked for
Ann Arbor and Los Angeles.
Christel House International
and Ambassadors for Children.
Writing proposals for Riley
Children’s Foundation is
Mary first discovered proposal
especially rewarding for Mary,
writing several years ago as a
who is reminded daily that
volunteer board member and
there are many ways to
program facilitator with
practice social work and
Brooke’s Place for Grieving
advocate for the needs of sick
Young People. As is sometimes
and injured children.
the case, pursing a volunteer
passion soon led to a rewarding
Mary has two grown children,
career!
Rob and Claire. She also has
a one-year old (still growing!)
Working and volunteering for
Golden Retriever, Bella.
not-for-profits has been a part
of Mary’s life since she was 14
years old and first volunteered
at a children’s hospital in
Michigan. After receiving an

Calendar of Events
December 10, 2009 Education Session – 9:00 a.m.
Holiday Lunch at downtown English Foundation Building
restaurant
April TBD –
January 19, 2010 Luncheon & Half day session
Education Session – 9:00
a.m. English Foundation Building May 18, 2010
February 16, 2010
Meet the Funders – 9:00 Education Session – 9:00 a.m. American Association of Grant
a.m. English Foundation Building English Foundation Building Professionals
www.grantprofessionals.org
March 16, 2010 www.info@grantprofessionals.org
Ph: (913) 788-3000
Fx: (913) 788-3398
3 1333 Meadowlark Lane, Suite #206
Kansas City, KS 66102