Harvey B. Chess's years among nonprofits included those as professional staff, dispensing grants at a Federal Regional Office, successfully seeking grants at a local Community Action Agency, and once again recommending grant funding for a metropolitan Community Foundation; as a trainer, conducting resource development workshops of his own design following several years at the Grantsmanship Center in areas that ranged from the village of Westport, CA to Uppsala, Sweden; and, consultation for grant-making foundations that included Sierra Health and Lannan, along with the one and only Navy Race Relations School in Key West, FL.
Philosophy/Approach: I challenge people in nonprofits to examine and understand why the organizations they represent exist by examining — and often re-examining — their missions, along with asserting that the imperative of seeking resources to stay in business also represents an opportunity to strengthen their organizations internally.
Types of clients: Private foundations, community foundations, individual donors, small to mid-sized nonprofits, major nonprofits, universities
Specialization: Sharing an unconventional and potent approach to what is often — and ridiculously — referred to as grantwriting in the nonprofit arena.
Harvey Chess represents a distinctive voice apart from the burgeoning grants seeking industry. He's not selling magic formulas, nor does he see grant seeking as a game or contest. Instead, what you get is invaluable practical advice distilled from a distinguished career as a fundraiser, grant maker, and trusted advisor to nonprofits of all types and sizes.
—Respected colleague
Harvey Chess has transformed his truly remarkable workshops into a clear, concise informative book. Every nonprofit can advance through his insight, strategy and direction
—Former workshop participant