Grant Researcher and Application Writer

The goal of this posting is to find a Grant Writer. A person who researches grant opportunities and figures out how they fit with Family Shed. Someone who understands we have five basic Needs (Belonging, Survival, Purpose, Fun, and Freedom) and agrees with the contrarian view that we have no need of psychiatrists, their drugs, or their excuses to fulfill those Needs.

You are welcome to read more about Family Shed, and the founder, at:

https://FamilyShed.org (in progress)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/conradhallauthor/

By all means share your resume. (volunteer at familyshed dot org) What is even more important is contact information for a couple people with whom you have worked. Definitely tell them they’ll be getting a call or email. What you need to do is make sure I have enough information to find you, and them, online.

The ideal volunteer is an older person; maybe even retired. So maybe you have a very small online presence. That’s okay. We can meet in person and chat. Family Shed is about meeting, shaking hands, and building healthy relationships.

To be forthright, the ideal volunteer is someone retired, fairly secure financially, whose main motivations are keeping their hand in the game and sharing what they know. You want to be part of a movement to build a world connect by healthy relationships that are motivated by personal responsibility and supported by community accountability.

When is the last time you fixed a problem by staying focussed on that problem?

Think about that for a second. Is it even possible to solve a problem by focussing on it or do you solve a problem by putting your focus on the solution? In fact, the problem changes as you work toward the solution, right? The original problem becomes less, or more resolved, and it often reveals other things to be solved.

Suicide rates rose by 30% from 1999 to 2020. Loneliness is at epidemic levels. And where are people and programs fixated? Ending loneliness. Preventing suicide. The focus is on the problem.

Family Shed is focused on the solution. Neighbours who are connected by healthy relationships, motivated by personal responsibility, supported by community accountability.

The goal is reducing the suicide rate – across every age and population group – to less than 1 in 100,000. Right now, today, the lowest rate is 6.5.

Family Shed has answers. Answers so simple you’re going to say it’s impossible for them to be the right answers. Simple things like choosing to listen rather than complain. Knowing Belonging is our most important Need. And choosing honesty over lying.

The Family Shed approach also makes us ready to solve the other problems that will arise as we make progress toward the goal. Which raises a question.

How do you fit in?

Well, you need to be good at building a story. Every grant provider has things they want to accomplish, yes? One wants to focus on seniors. Another is focused on youth. There can be a focus on building community. The task is taking what Family Shed does and building a story to fit the grant provider’s purpose. After all, there’s no point telling a grant provider about the work being done with youth when their focus is ending social isolation for seniors.

This is the most important part: You need to know what you are doing. There are lots of people who step up saying they are ready to learn. Okay. Except that means time has to be made to teach while also running Family Shed. Very counterproductive.

What’s needed is – and in this order

• a couple people who know what they are doing
• they land a few grants
• then they have time to share what they know
• Family Shed ends up with a team of grant writers
• The new grant writers make some coin and have job skills

Idyllic, yes? Also completely achievable.

Family Shed is prepared to invest in the Longevity Economy.

Did you that, until WW2, the phrase “to retire” meant going to bed? The concept of retirement was introduced after the war because we had a surplus of people in the workforce. The age of 65 was chosen because those few who live long enough to retire were unlikely to live much longer.

Oh, the times they are a’changin’.

People today are living active, healthy lives into their 80s. Family Shed wants to work with these people. To keep them engaged so everyone benefits from their knowledge and experience.

Think you’re a good fit? Send a note to volunteer at familyshed dot org. You can also click the application link on this page.

There are funds to cover transit and meals after meetings. You will have access to a Shared Drive for files and grant applications. Family Shed also does annual recognition of volunteers.