Grant Writing 101: It's More Than Just Writing (2014)

GrantGrant Writing 101:Writing 101:GrantGrant Writing 101:Writing 101:It’s more than just writingIt’s more than just writingj gj gOctober 3, 2014October 3, 2014

Laura Rhodes, CGWLaura Rhodes, CGWlaura@thirdsectorconsulting.comlaura@thirdsectorconsulting.com406.551.6200406.551.6200

Total = $335.17 billion

Individuals$240.60

(72%)

F d ti

Corporations$17.88 (5%)

Foundations$48.96(15%)Bequests

$27.73(8%)

S Gi i USASource: Giving USA

7 77 8

6 67 7 8 10 12 15

4 4 6 5 6 5 5 5

7 89 9 8

8

83 83 80 80 77 76

Corporations

Foundations

Bequests80 80 77 76 75 72Bequests

Individuals

S Gi i USA1974-1978 1979-1983 1984-1988 1989-1993 1994-1998 1999-2003 2004-2008 2009-2013

Source: Giving USA

How does my nonprofit get How does my nonprofit get hi i fhi i fthis piece of this piece of

the pie?the pie?Individuals Corporations

the pie?the pie?

BequestsBequests

Image credit: Steve McAllister/Getty Imageshttp://business.time.com/

“Grant writing” is “Grant writing” is moremore than just writing.than just writing.

SUCCESSFUL GRANTS

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First Leg: ResearchFirst Leg: Research

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71% of foundations d t h b itdo not have a website.

S Gi i USASource: Giving USA

402 private foundations in Montana

506 foundations that fund Montana programs

246 foundations that accept applications

$57 illi d d t$57 million+ awarded to MT programs in 2011

Source: www.foundationcenter.org/findfunders/statistics

5% 291,707

Does the funder accept applications?

Are you a 501(c)3?

What other funding do you already receive?g y y

What geographic area you serve?

What is the funder’s field of interest?

What type of support you are seeking? What type of support you are seeking?

How much funding you are seeking?

10 reasons10 reasons you might you might not apply for a grantnot apply for a grant

Readiness Competition

not apply for a grant not apply for a grant

Eligibility Timeframe

Mission Fit Proposal Requirements

Funding Type Matching Requirements

Funding Adequacy Reporting Requirements

Second Leg: WritingSecond Leg: Writing

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WRI

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Letter of Inquiry

Letter Proposal Letter Proposal

Grant Proposal

Cover Letter / Executive Summary

Problem Statement Problem Statement

Program / Project Description

Organizational Information

Budget

C l i Conclusion

Attachments

The worse, the better

Use and cite a variety of sourcesMedianMedian

Household Income

Children in Poverty

United States $52,762 13%

Montana $45,324 19%

Roosevelt County $37,807 38%

US Census County Health Rankings

Cover Letter / Executive Summary

Problem Statement Problem Statement

Program / Project Description

Organizational Information

Budget

C l i Conclusion

Attachments

GOALS are broad and visionary

OBJECTIVESare ‘SMART’

TASKS ( ACTIVITIES)

are SMART

TASKS (or ACTIVITIES)are the actions takenare the actions taken

to achieve the objectives

OBJECTIVESh t tare what you want

OUTCOMESOU CO Sare what you’ll get

GOAL:To promote a healthy, active lifestyle p y, yto schoolchildren.

OBJECTIVE: During the 2014-2015 school year, X childrenDuring the 2014 2015 school year, X children will participate in active play/games for Y minutes every day.

OUTCOME: h h h h h d b d fBoth the height-weight and body fat

percentages will improve for Z% of the children.

Cover Letter / Executive Summary

Problem Statement Problem Statement

Program / Project Description

Organizational Information

Budget

Conclusion Conclusion

Attachments

Cover Letter / Executive Summary

Problem Statement Problem Statement

Program / Project Description

Organizational Information

Budget

Conclusion Conclusion

Attachments

Income and Expense

Personnel and Non-Personnel Expenses

Indirect and Direct Expenses

Organizational Budget and Project Budget

Line Item Budget and Budget Narrative

Year 1 Year 2SALARIES 72,000 72,000

CONTRACT WAGES 37,026 37,026

MILEAGE 6,120 6,120

EQUIPMENT 1,587 0

SUPPLIES 1,200 1,200SUPPLIES , 00-----------

, 00----------

TOTAL 107,933 106,346

Year 1 Year 2CONTRACT WAGES(includes nurses’ hourly wage, plus 21% taxes/fringe)

Custer Co. ($25/hr, 12 hrs/wk, 36 wks/yr, +21%)Includes outreach to Miles City, Kinsey & Kircher

13,068 13,068

Dawson Co. ($25/hr, 10 hrs/wk, 36 wks/yr, +21%)Includes outreach to Glendive and Richey

10,890 10,890

Richland Co. ($25/hr, 12 hrs/wk, 36 wks/yr, +21%) 13,068 13,068Includes outreach to Sidney, Fairview & Lambert

37,026 37,026

EQUIPMENTEQUIPMENT3 iPads, 16GB with wi-fi and 3G @ $529 each

For school nurses, acting as field enrollment specialists1587 0

Salaries = $72,000

Greta Robertson, Ph.D. will be the Principal Investigator responsible for overseeing and monitoring the project She willresponsible for overseeing and monitoring the project. She will approve the final workplan for execution of the project. She will be responsible for forwarding program and financial reports and the required evaluations to the foundation. As PI, her percentagethe required evaluations to the foundation. As PI, her percentage participation is 15% of $80,000, or $12,000.

In addition, 2 FTE Navigators will be hired at the salary of g$30,000 each. The navigators will be responsible for working directly with individuals to determine their eligibility for subsidies, assisting with Marketplace log-in and completing the application f llfor enrollment.

Mileage = $6,120

Navigators will be required to travel to rural areas across three counties. (500 miles/mo x 12 mo x 2 FTE x $0.51/mile = $6,120)

Cover Letter / Executive Summary

Problem Statement Problem Statement

Program / Project Description

Organizational Information

Budget

Conclusion Conclusion

Attachments

Cover Letter / Executive Summary

Problem Statement Problem Statement

Program / Project Description

Organizational Information

Budget

Conclusion Conclusion

Attachments

501(c)3 letter Audited or Reviewed Financial Statement/990 Audited or Reviewed Financial Statement/990 Annual Organizational Budget Board Member Listing Board Member Listing Resumes or Job Descriptions of Key Personnel Annual Reportp Organizational Brochure Newsletters or Newspaper Clippings Letters of Support Letters of Commitment

Advance Ruling Period Begins:June 17, 2002,

Advance Ruling Period Ends:June 30, 2007,

Cover Letter / Executive Summary

Problem Statement Problem Statement

Program / Project Description

Organizational Information

Budget

Conclusion Conclusion

Attachments

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Describe your funding requirements

Describe your organization and its expertise

State the problem State the problem

State your solutiony

Short conclusion

Third Leg: ReviewThird Leg: Review

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Proofread carefully to see yif you any words out.

- Author Unknown

Typographical errors

Grammar mistakes

Punctuation problems

Mathematical formulas

Formatting adherence

20202020Q i k & E !WAYS TOWAYS TO

Quick & Easy!WAYS TOWAYS TO

IMPROVE YOURIMPROVE YOUR

GRANT WRITINGGRANT WRITING

The project will start in January 2015.The project will start in January 2015.

Not this

We anticipate that the project will begin in January 2015

Not this…

January 2015.

A d hi

Without your support, we will be unable l h h j i J 2015

And never this…

to launch the project in January 2015.

VERB ADJECTIVE NOUNadopt best-in-class action plansanalyze client-focused best practicesy pbenchmark data-driven core valuescommunicate family-friendly dialoguescommunicate family friendly dialoguesdocument high-impact deliverablesembrace mutual exit strategiesembrace mutual exit strategiesidentify pioneering frameworkshighlight synergistic governancehighlight synergistic governance

From Philanthropy Jargon Generator http://mysite.verizon.net/grantspeak/

Technical languageg g

Acronyms Acronyms

Euphemisms Euphemisms

Clichés Clichés

Short paragraphs

Short sentences

Short words

In a number of cases Often

In light of the fact of

h f

Because

ll In the majority of instances

In close proximity to

Usually

Near

In the event that

On a fe occasions

If

Sometimes On a few occasions

On the other hand

Sometimes

Otherwise

Last, but not least Finally

The road to hell is paved with adverbs.

- Steven King

As to the adjective, when in doubt, leave it out.when in doubt, leave it out.

-Mark Twain

Photo credit: http://www.primaryconcepts.com/

your and you’re its and it’s there, their, they’re Grammar Girl can affect and effect then and than

f d l

help you with these words and and much more!

fewer and less that and who who and whom who and whom principal and principle historic and historical historic and historical

http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl

International licensure involves making application to the foreign country to become an adoption partner with that country in placing children with adoptive families. The application process will vary from one country to another, but will typically req ire the s bmission of information abo t the organi ationrequire the submission of information about the organization and its functions as well as its experience with adoption work. The country may require that a person from the central adoption authority of the country travel to the United States to visit the organization. It will, undoubtedly, also require someone from g y qthe organization travelling to the foreign country to present the application.

Image credit: Tribune Media Services via AP

Now that we are nearing completion of the X

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building, we need to fill it with the kinds X

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of programs we have long been without X

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and which will help further solidify our Xp y

community as a top destination in the state.

X

Photo credit: FlickRiver.com

Don’t wait until the last minute to submit!

Organize your writing sections and attachments EXACTLY as specified by the funder.

Paperclips only, unless otherwise instructed.

Make sure you are sending your proposal to the correct address AND the correct person.

It’s okay to contact the foundation to confirm receipt…or when somethingp g

“significant” happens.

Technical review

Program Officer may qualify your proposal

Proposal review

Recommendation for full funding Recommendation for full funding, partial funding or no funding

It’s okay to contact the foundation if you haven’theard anything…and you think you should have.

Don’t take it personally.

Send a thank you anyway.

It’s okay to contact the program officer andask for feedback.

Stay in touch – without making an ask.

Call the program officer immediately to thank themthank them.

Send a written thank you promptly.y p p y

Complete and return all required documents.

Share the news with your supporters and local constituents.

Do what you said you would in the proposal.

Feeling overwhelmed?Feeling overwhelmed?Laura can helpLaura can helpLaura can help.Laura can help.

What people say about Laura’s What people say about Laura’s Training ServicesTraining Services

“Funny, fast-paced “Excellent training!

Training ServicesTraining Services

and highly relevant.Very clear and consistent.”

gExactly what I was hoping for. ”

“Laura’s workshop was veryLaura s workshop was very insightful and spoke to me on my level, which I really valued ”

“Laura’s basic grant writing class was well thought out and presented. ”

“Course material was reinforced by thought-provoking

really valued. out and presented.

y g p gwriting exercises. I was impressed with Laura's depth of understanding, critical thinking and ability to convey technical information.”

What people say about Laura’s What people say about Laura’s Research ServicesResearch Services

“ As a small nonprofit, it would

Research ServicesResearch Services

“ It is so time consuming to research grants, and having Laura put together a full

have taken us months to put a grant prospect report together Laura got

report on each prospect was extremely valuable to our organization. ”

report together. Laura got this to us within two weeks with more information than we asked for or expected. ”

“ Laura's work to help us identify foundations that may fund our work filled an important gap for usmay fund our work filled an important gap for us.She is professional, and her work is thorough and well researched. I have already recommended her to several other nonprofits, which speaks to my high opinion of her work and of her. ”speaks to my high opinion of her work and of her.

What people say about Laura’s What people say about Laura’s Review ServicesReview Services

“ We recently received a grant award for $18 000 Thanks again

Review ServicesReview Services

We recently received a grant award for $18,000. Thanks again for your help in reviewing our proposal and making suggestions.You are part of the reason for our success! ”

“ We appreciate Laura's expert advice and suggestions

“ Laura's done great work for our organization and I'd hire advice and suggestions

on grant proposals that we havesubmitted. ”

gher for additional work in a second. ”

“ Her attention to detail is second to none! ”

L Rh d CGWLaura Rhodes, CGWlaura@thirdsectorconsulting.com406.551.6200www thirdsectorconsulting comwww.thirdsectorconsulting.com

www.facebook.com/thirdsectorwww twitter com/third sectorwww.twitter.com/third_sectorwww.linkedin.com/in/thirdsectorconsulting

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