ZIM will give an overview of grants lifecycle, from start to end, and provide tips for successfully writing and submitting grants. We will review our step-by-step process for ensuring high-quality proposals by walking through common proposal formats and questions. We will discuss identifying opportunities, how to get started, how to tackle difficult questions, and what attachments and financials you may need.
Matt Barker | Director of Grants & Organizational Learning
Matt has 10 years of experience working in nonprofit resource development, including grant management, individual giving and stewardship, and special events. An accomplished grant writer, Matt has successfully developed grants for small and large nonprofit organizations in Denver and Saint Louis, Missouri, writing for mental health, youth development, senior services, refugees, informal education, and STEM. He received his Bachelor of Science in English, Professional Writing, from Brigham Young University–Idaho. A Denver native, Matt recently returned to Denver to pursue a Master of Arts degree in International Development. from the University of Denver’s Josef Korbel School of International Studies.
Aaron Charney | Director of Grant Research
Aaron graduated from CU Boulder summa cum laude with a BA in Environmental Studies and minors in both Political Science and Business. He is now pursuing his Masters of Development Practice from Regis University. Aaron became fascinated with the non-profit sector and specifically community development after spending a summer of college working in Nairobi, Kenya. His passion for searching for sustainable solutions for underserved communities drove him to work abroad again after college when he spent a year living and working with some of Nepal’s most remote communities. In Nepal, he became passionate about participatory development methods and working towards context-specific community development solutions.
Born and raised in Denver, CO, Aaron loves spending his time in the mountains either snowboarding or backpacking. He also loves reading, live music, and talking about scuba diving whenever he can.