POCATELLO - For a grant writer, a percent win rate is similar to a baseball player's batting average. It factors in an applicant's success rate at getting grants approved, as well as the percentage of the request that was funded.
With that metaphor in mind, Lynette Sampson is akin to Babe Ruth.
Like a good slugger, Sampson, community development coordinator with the Southeastern Idaho Community Action Agency, can recite her own statistics on a moment's notice. Her percent win rate with SEICAA is 83, and she's brought in $2.4 million.
Her job also includes public speaking, marketing and public relations. She learned about the job from a friend, Shalynn Peirsol. Peirsol was the former SEICAA grant writer and moved into a new position, encouraging Sampson to apply for her old job. Sampson did.
Eventually, Sampson, who was born and raised in Pocatello, hopes to pursue her doctorate in political science with an emphasis on criminal justice.
The next big event for SEICAA that she's promoting is Stone Soup. The annual fundraiser, started in 1988, will be hosted starting at 5 p.m. Monday in the Idaho State University Pond Student Union Ballroom. Tickets are $6 in advance and $7 at the door.
This year, SEICAA will honor two businesses for their contributions, Teleperformance USA and Monsanto. Sampson said Teleperformance was chosen as the Friend of SEICAA for sponsoring Feed the Children for three years. Teleperformance provided funding to Feed the Children International for food boxes that were distributed Sept. 19 to low-income households in the area.
Monsanto is the SEICAA Business of the Year. Monsanto hosted a golf tournament for SEICAA's Project Warmth that raised about $23,000. Whenever Monsanto employees donate time or money to SEICAA, Monsanto matches their donations, including with the golf tournament.
In conjunction with the Stone Soup fundraiser, SEICAA sponsors a coloring contest, in which local third-graders submit their interpretations of the Stone Soup story through drawings. The finalists participate in the Stone Soup play on the night of the event. This year's winning Stone Soup child is Marissa Hege of Chubbuck Elementary School.
Q: You've had great success at obtaining grants to help SEICAA in its mission to help people in need within the community. What's your advice to anyone writing a grant?
Sampson: Pay attention to small details. If they tell you that you need to use size 12 font, you'd better be using size 12 font.
Q: How has SEICAA used that grant funding?
Sampson: We started the Homebuyer's Essential Financial Literacy Program. We started getting (funding) from banks, which we didn't get before.
Q: What do you hear from program recipients?
Sampson: With our home ownership program, I don't work directly with the people, but because of the grants I write, they are able to get into houses.
Q: Stone Soup is coming up on Monday. How does the event work?
Sampson: Local restaurants donate all of the soup and their time, and they compete with each other. The people who show up get to vote for their favorite. (The winners) do get an appreciation plaque at the end.
Q: Whose soup do you like the best?
Sampson: I really like Butterburrs. Last year I think they served a cheddar, bacon and potato.
Q: Are the proceeds from Stone Soup earmarked for any specific purpose?
Sampson: They stay in Bannock County and it's to help families that live in Bannock county that have emergency situations arise that we can't use grant funds for. If they need help with a prescription or diapers or gas, we can help them with that.
Q: Now that the weather is getting colder, I understand SEICAA has some funding available for energy assistance. What should potential applicants know?
Sampson: We have our energy assistance program, which is really essential to the community for low-income households. We start making appointments for that on Nov. 1. They have to come in and bring proof of their income and utility bills. (The available funding) is substantially bigger than it was last year (because of stimulus funds).
Q: What are your personal interests?
Sampson: I like to read and hang out with my family. I have two kids, an 8-year-old, James, and a 5-year-old, Gyllian, and my husband, Rich.
Q: Any family plans or projects?
Sampson: I'm fixing up my house. We're adding a bedroom in the basement and putting new doors on and painting.