Today we’d like to introduce you to Murray Covens.
Murray, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve been involved with nonprofit organizations since I was a teenager. When I was 18 years old I helped start a nonprofit organization in Houston that operated a 24-hour crisis line, and I ran the organization for a year. After moving to Dallas, I started a nonprofit organization that raised funds to support domestic violence organizations. I was involved with the Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas for twenty years, including serving thirteen years on the board of directors and two years as board president, working shifts as a volunteer telephone crisis counselor, and training other volunteers. When I finally moved on from there they gave me an award as “Man of the Century!” More recently I was a partner for six years and on the board for three years with Social Venture Partners Dallas, part of a global network of individuals realizing greater impact with their giving, strengthening nonprofits, and investing in collaborative solutions. I’ve served on nonprofit boards for Turtle Creek Manor, Family Compass, Bea’s Kids, and Recovery Inn, and currently serve on the boards of Simply Grace, PediPlace, and Trinity River Mission.
Fourteen years ago, when I was working from home performing accounting services for a couple of nonprofit organizations and had flexibility with my time, I decided to look in to the possibility of offering fundraising services to my clients. I put out the word about my background and skills, got some clients, and within a year or two I was totally out of accounting and into fundraising – more specifically, grant writing.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I’ve had some blips along the way.
A few years ago, with my grant writing business still going well, I opened an art gallery. My wife, Kathleen, and I collect colorful abstract art, and we know several artists from Santa Fe, New Mexico, from whom we had purchased pieces. I stocked the gallery with art from those artists. The gallery was a miserable failure, and I closed it within six months. I made the gallery available to nonprofit organizations at no charge for events, and we hosted many events and got a lot of people into the gallery. People loved being there – the gallery was beautiful – but the art just didn’t sell. It was a financial disaster. Dallas is not an art destination like Santa Fe.
I’m not one to dwell on past failures and difficulties, or to have regrets. I’m fortunate to be where I am in life and look forward to many more experiences and accomplishments. I tell everyone I’m planning to retire when I’m 90.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the North Texas Nonprofit Resources story. Tell us more about the business.
My business, North Texas Nonprofit Resources, does grant writing for nonprofit organizations. The business consists of myself and five professional grant writing associates. We perform research to identify corporations and private foundations, and sometimes government entities, that would consider making grants to our clients. We develop a grant proposal for each prospective grantor. When I started the business, I worked independently for the first four years before starting to hire associates. All of us work from our homes, so I tell clients we have six locations all over the North Texas area.
When I first got started I had no idea if I would ever be successful in getting even one grant for a client. What I’m most proud of is that fourteen years later we’ve had over five thousand grants funded for fifty-seven million dollars for our clients. We’ve had over four hundred clients, and we’ve had many happy clients. Most clients have received at least some grants, though every client wishes they received more than they did. Among our clients have been nonprofit organizations that help abused children, assist domestic violence survivors, provide healthcare for low-income families, and offer food and clothing for the homeless – and many other types of missions.
What sets us apart from other similar businesses is that we have longevity and an excellent track record. We have been “Grant Central Station for North Texas Since 2003.” Other people and groups come and go in this business, but our clients know we’re in it for the long haul. We receive a lot of referrals from current clients. We remain excited about what we do. Every time I or one of my associates is notified that a client has received a grant, we celebrate by “ringing the bell” – meaning we notify each other by email about the grant.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I’m very organized and have a very positive outlook. I’ve always been a big producer in whatever job I was doing, and I’m still a big producer today. For as long as I can remember, first thing every morning I think about what I want to accomplish that day. I keep lists and a calendar and plan my work and activities carefully. I take my work seriously, but I don’t take myself too seriously. I’m known for making quips that make people laugh. I’m also known for always being on time wherever I go, and always meeting deadlines in business. The future looks good.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.northtexasnonprofitresources.org
- Phone: 972-620-2780
- Email: murraycovens@northtexasnonprofitresources.org
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/North-Texas-Nonprofit-Resources-171641706219797/
- Other: www.linkedin.com/in/murray-covens-b7a13410/
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