Foundation follow-up can lead to fortuitous visit.

I recently had an experience which can serve as a testimony to how fundamental, continuous and diligent follow-ups are an integral part of your fundraising efforts. A month ago I followed up with a large European foundation representative regarding a proposal which had been submitted by atid baidbar for a project relating to Jewish identity of Ethiopians that takes place in several communities in the negev. It turned out that the following week the principles of the foundation were visiting israel. I offered the foundation representative to squeeze in a visit to one of the sites of the program in beer sheva, even though that on that particular day and time the program had no scheduled activity. We quickly arranged for participants in the activity to be present along with staff members and a professional from an external organization who could testify as to the importance and effectiveness of the program. The visit was highly successful and the inside information is that indeed a grant will be awarded