Value Does Not Always Equal Money

How does an agency gauge the value of an RFP or grant and then decide to apply for it? How is it decided that one grant has more value than another and what exactly is the programmatic definition of value? Having been in HIV/AIDS direct service for the last ten years, I can tell you the easy way that most agencies calculate this, how much money will this grant provide to the agency?; using this baseline definition, agencies decide which RFPs and grants they are going to go after.

For example, $1 million grant will provide viable opportunities for an agency; essentially it can provide a plethora of new jobs, new rental space, incentives for clients, and a host of services and activities that will certainly benefit the community and consumers alike. The honest truth though is that $1 million grants are few and far between and as agencies, we must look beyond the dollar value of what a grant can provide. Looking beyond a grant’s monetary value is no easy task; it takes a group of people who are innovative, creative, and willing to pull their programs outside of the box. While I cannot argue that looking at the numbers is certainly one of the ways to ascertain a grants’ value to an agency, let’s discuss value in nonmonetary terms.

I bring all this up because yesterday was my first experience at Cable Positive’s Positively Outstanding Programs (POP) Awards. Essentially, cable networks and agencies are recognized for the programming/public service campaigns that they produce throughout the year whose storylines include safer sex and HIV/AIDS messages. It was amazing to see so many different types of people come together for such a great event; there were high level executives from cable systems, programmers, television producers, AIDS Service Organizations, AIDS activists, and celebrities who support the cause of HIV/AIDS prevention. Now as I stood there for four hours, it occurred to me that THIS, THIS EVENT, should be considered an extremely valuable nonmonetary opportunity. The type of occasion to meet people who, while interested in helping promote HIV/AIDS prevention, are not employed providing HIV/AIDS direct services; people with whom innovate and creative projects could be discussed and more importantly, IMPLEMENTED.

The question is though, how does an ASO even learn about an event like the POP Awards? Now here comes the simple part, apply for the Tony Cox Community Fund!! Even if agencies are not awarded TCCF funds, they are placed into our database and sent newsletters and emails about all of Cable Positive’s events and fund raising activities. Cable Positive has events throughout the year and these networking events can provide valuable connections that can expand an agency’s mission and message through a variety of different media. Come hang out with us, I promise we don’t bite!!!!