Mr. Kannensohn grew up in both Michigan and Florida, lived in Atlanta and New York for a short time, and finally settled down in the state of Kentucky.  An avid lover of sports, Mr. Kannensohn can be found rooting for the Detroit Tigers, Florida Gators (football) and the University of 

Kentucky Wildcats (basketball).  Never willing to miss a game, Mr. Kannensohn enjoys sharing his enthusiasm with his one-year old granddaughter, Abigail.  “I even taught her to do the ‘Gator’ chomp’” remarks Kannensohn with a proud smile.

Mr. Kannensohn holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Political Science, specializing in public policy and intergovernmental relations.  With 15 years of experience prior to the creation of SFG, Mr. Kannensohn has over 35 years of grant development experience in both non-profit and governmental sectors.  Before starting SFG, Mr. Kannensohn worked in various non-profit and governmental positions, including the Council of State Governments (Criminal Justice Policy Research and Interstate Consulting Clearinghouse Director), Kentucky Corrections Cabinet (Director of Planning) and Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (Senior Aide to Mayor).  During this time, Mr. Kannensohn spent more and more time moonlighting as a grant writer/financial strategist to non-profit organizations.  After four years of essentially working two jobs, Mr. Kannensohn’s success as a consultant had grown into a full-time job.  “From there, it was an easy decision to go out on my own. I come from a family of entrepreneurs and had always wanted to start by own business.  It is a tradition that will carry on with my daughter.”

Mr. Kannensohn has always loved politics, but had no patience for being in politics; the creation of SFG gave him the best of both worlds.  ”The synergy of my academic background and experiences absolutely prepared me for this type of business, and I didn’t even know it.  I just got to the right place at the right time, proving that timing really is everything.”  

As expected, starting a business was not without its challenges, but Mr. Kannensohn was well-suited to tackle them head on.  ”I loved the challenges that came with running a small business; to build a successful business from the ground up is an incredible feeling.  Plus, in this field, I have the opportunity to encounter something new and different every day.  It never gets boring.”

When asked what Mr. Kannensohn loves most about the work he does, he said “I get a great deal of satisfaction in helping non-profit organizations that work hard and are doing good works.”  SFG has been very selective in choosing its clients, resulting in very successful partnerships.  Mr. Kannensohn remarks that he is “proud of people for doing everything they can to make their lives and communities better.”  Mr. Kannensohn’s role in writing five successful federal and two successful foundation grants to launch the first family treatment program for chemically dependent women and their children in the State of Kentucky, among the first projects undertaken by the firm, remains his most satisfying project. Twenty years later, the project serves more than 300 women and children a year and is considered a national prototype by the federal government.

Mr. Kannensohn admits to being very competitive – an essential character trait for this type of business.  ”I don’t like to lose,” he says, “so that makes me work even harder.”  He especially enjoys going after grants that are known for being a next to impossible challenge; “it lights my competitive fire simply because I know it is hard to win.”  Plus, mastering new subject matters is a sense of pride for Mr. Kannensohn.  The strategic part of what SFG does is what Mr. Kannensohn refers to as his “second love” in this business.  ”It really sets SFG apart from other similar agencies.  Our clients are strategic about their endeavors, they don’t just rush ahead blindly with no thought to the relationships and steps required to be strategic in a political game.”

When asked what Mr. Kannensohn enjoys the least about this business, he said, not surprisingly, losing.  “I have learned how to accept it and choose to turn my losses into an opportunity to understand how to win the next time.  An important aspect to realize about the grant world is that the word ‘no’ is never forever, it is simply an opportunity to fine tune things.  Patience is the key.”  Mr. Kannensohn has followed his own advice, despite challenges, over the last 22 years.  He has never given up on a client or a funding source and, as a result, SFG and its clients have flourished under his leadership. 

When asked what advice Mr. Kannensohn would give to a non-profit agency facing discontinuation and/or limiting of services because of cash flow problems, he had this to say: “The problem is, most non-profits often inadvertently put themselves in this situation by assuming everything will stay the same, but the funding world, and our world in general, is ever changing.  The first tendency of anyone facing a shortage of funds is to retrench and be risk-adverse, but that is the wrong move.  Non-profits have to be every bit as entrepreneurial as for profits.  Non-profit executives must be willing to come in every day and look at their assumptions and be willing to reinvent them if necessary.  Non-profits must divest themselves of programs that are not carrying their own weight, no matter how beneficial they are for the community.  Be prepared to move and re-position as needed.  If funding for one venture is drying up, chose another that complements what the organization has already been doing with a slight redirection (i.e. offering your services to a different population or new services for the same clientele.)  The most successful non-profits are run by visionaries who anticipate and see where the market is going in conjunction with where the need is.  Unfortunately, this is not a common practice for non-profits and most don’t even realize a change is necessary until it hits them in the face.”

Do you have any words of wisdom for your daughter, Leah, as you pass leadership of SFG into her more than capable hands?  What do you wish you had known when you became President of SFG that you know now?  “Just about everything,” Mr. Kannensohn says with a chuckle.  “Trust your intuition; it will not lead you astray.  Especially about people, potential clients and the environment you are in.  Fortunately, Leah already does that a lot better than I did at that point in my life.  The world is an ever-changing thing.  Stay ahead on technology especially; I never would have dreamed things would advance as far and as fast as they have.

Mr. Kannensohn remarks that although he is passing the leadership reigns to his daughter, he intends to stay involved in a strategic and business development capacity.  In his pseudo-retirement, Mr. Kannensohn plans to spend time with his family, travel, play tennis, and read all those civil war books he has been meaning to read.  In fact, Mr. Kannensohn already has two upcoming trips planned: first, to Florida to take in the Spring Training games with his ‘amigo buddies;’ and second, to Cuba with his wife, Margaret, to experience the jazz-inspired culture of Havana.  I suspect a myriad of adventures will always be had by Mr. Kannensohn, no matter what path he chooses to take in the future.

In February, Volunteers of America Michigan is competing for a $25,000 Home Depot Foundation award that will be used to build a community garden, next to the Veterans Memorial Park (a past Home Depot project), in Southfield, Michigan for veterans and neighbors to enjoy. The community garden will provide therapy as well as fresh food for the veterans in the area.  How can you help?  Click the link below and vote for Volunteers of America Michigan.  With your help, we can ensure that this worthy Veteran/community project comes to fruition. Thank you for voting!

 

http://www.facebook.com/homedepotfoundation