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Getting Started in Library Grant Writing
An Infopeople Workshop
Instructor:Holly Hinman
[email protected] 2005
Workshop Overview
The world of grantsmanship Planning to write Anatomy of a grant proposal
– Need– Goals, objectives/outcomes– Evaluation– Budget
Finding a funder
Quick Grant QuizTrue or false
You can get grants to make up for budget cuts.
You can pay for personnel from grants.
Grants are “free money” – no strings attached.
Grants must be for something totally new.
It’s important to establish a personal relationship with the funding source.
After you take this workshop you will be 100% successful in your quests for grant funding.
Grant Seeking vs. Fundraising
Written application Standard format Formal Relatively high level of effort
If you need only a small amount of money, fundraising may be a better
way to go!
What Makes a Good Proposal?
Matches funder’s interests and priorities
Demonstrates strong need
Offers something new or creative
Offers a model that can be replicated
Has tangible outcomes or products
Has a reasonable, defensible budgets
Can be accomplished in finite timeframe
Follows directions and is well written!
Getting Ready to Write
Grant resource file– library fact sheet, org chart– latest guidelines/info from funding source– sample successful proposals
Internal planning/writing team Advisory group including end users Needs assessment involving end users Personal contact with funding source
General Advice for Grant Writers
Develop a personal relationship with your funding source
Read and follow directions! Write so “grandma” can understand Be kind to the grant reviewers
– Use 12-point, clear font– Number pages
Find out how your proposal will be evaluated
Group Questions
Now that we’ve discussed some criteria for successful grant proposals, do you think the idea that you came with would be successful or not?
What could you change to make your grant concept stronger?
Anatomy of a Grant Proposal
Summary Introduction Needs assessment Goals and objectives Plan of action Evaluation Budget
Project Summary
Appears first Written last Important because:
– it’s used for screening– may be only section read
Do not exceed space limit Can cut-and-paste from other sections
Introduction
Basic info about applicant May be separate section Often part of narrative (needs or plan of
action) Boilerplate OK here Not needed for state LSTA
A Good Needs Assessment Provides the foundation for the rest of the
proposal
Is written from the users’ perspective
Involves the users in identification of need
Is supported by evidence
– hard data
– soft data
If the Need Is for a “Thing”…..
Reevaluate!!!
Weak: The Large County Library needs a bookmobile.
Stronger: Residents of rural areas in Large County need access to library materials ….
The 5 W’s of Needs Assessment
Who are the people with the need?
Where are they located?
What is their problem or need?
When does the problem or need occur?
Why does the problem or need occur?
More Needs Assessment Questions
How does the need relate to:
– Funder’s mission and current priorities
– Library’s mission, programs, and priorities?
Who else is interested?
What will be the community impact?
Rewrite These Needs Statements:
We need more computers. The school library needs more books. Anytown PL needs a community
meeting room Poor County Library needs a literacy
program. Main Library needs a book security
system.
Anatomy of a Grant Proposal
SummaryIntroductionNeeds assessment Goals and objectives Plan of action Evaluation Budget
Goals
Broad, long-range, generalNot measurableRelated to missionMay not be attained
Example: The goal of this project is to provide free and convenient access to library resources to all people in Large County.
Objectives
Measurable Time-specific Reflect change in target group Relate to needs
– Should show improvement
Can be evaluated and should be attained
When agencies fund your project, they are actually buying your objectives. When evaluators evaluate your project, they are measuring whether you accomplished what you said you were going to do in your program objectives.-- Stanley Levenson, How to Get Grants and Gifts for the Public Schools, 2002.
Developing Good Objectives
Start from needs assessment Select measurement indicators Set performance standards Determine time frame Write the objective Evaluate the objective
Objectives Answer Questions
Who is going to be impacted or changed?
What is going to happen?
When will it happen?
How much change will take place?
How will change be measured?
Standard Objective Format
To <action verb and statement of results and measurement indicator>
by <degree of change>
by <deadline>
Example: To increase by at least one grade level the reading skills of 75% of the children who complete the Reading Enrichment Program.
Verbs Used in Objectives
increase
decrease
improve
reduce
expand
eliminate
enhance
diminish
augment
add
lessen
maximize
minimize
access
Fix the Objective
To implement a public computer training program.
To train library staff in MS Word.
To digitize 10,000 photographs from the local history collection.
Common Problems
Confuse methods with objective Write in terms of the institution instead
of the user
Fail to quantify
Set unrealistic degree of change
Anatomy of a Grant Proposal
SummaryIntroductionNeeds assessmentGoals and objectives Plan of action Evaluation Budget
Key Questions Who will be involved in the project?
– target group – project staff– consultants
What activities will take place?– connect to objective– provide detail
When will each step take place?– include timeline
Why is this approach being used?– describe alternatives
Anatomy of a Grant Proposal
SummaryIntroductionNeeds assessmentGoals and objectivesPlan of action Evaluation Budget
Evaluation
Will your project make a difference? Program evaluation serves 2 purposes:
1. To determine if the project has met objectives.
2. To gather information to improve the project.
Outcomes Measurement
Outcome = Impact on end user
Impact = changes in: • Behavior• Attitude• Skills• Knowledge• Condition/state
-- Rhea Rubin, So What? Using Outcomes Measurement to Assess the Impact of Library Programs, 2005
Evaluation Plan
Results you expect Data you will collect Data collection techniques What records will be kept Who is responsible When evaluation will take place
Anatomy of a Grant Proposal
SummaryIntroductionNeeds assessmentGoals and objectivesPlan of actionEvaluation Budget
The Bottom Line: Your Budget
Budgeting is simply the process of translating the project plan into fiscal terms.
---Mary Hall, Getting Funded: A Complete Guide to Proposal Writing
Budget Basics: Steps to Take
Review funder’s guidelines and requirements
Follow your organization’s budget practices
Identify every cost element in plan of action
Create a budget worksheet Put calculations into required format
Basic Budget Terms
Direct costs Indirect costs Matching funds In-kind contributions Personnel Non-personnel
Anatomy of a Grant Proposal
SummaryIntroductionNeeds assessmentGoals and objectivesPlan of actionEvaluationBudget
Finding a Funder
If your project: Focuses on local needs Can be a model for
other libraries in the state
Can be a model for programs in other states
Affects a multistate area
Start with: Local foundations and
corporations State programs and state
foundations Federal programs and
national foundations Federal or state
programs & national foundations
Resources for Government Grants
Federal– Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)
(available online)– Federal Register (available online)– Agency mailing lists
State– State agency websites– State agency mailing lists
Local– Personal contacts
Resources for Private Grants – Foundations and
Corporations
What the CFDA is to researching federal grants, the Foundation Center and its publications are to researching foundation grants.
www.fdncenter.org
Foundation Center
Libraries– San Francisco– 22 Cooperating Collections in CA
Key publications– Foundation Directory
• also available online
– Foundation Grants Index
Tips for Finding Foundation Funding
Location, location, location Check eligibility
– 501(c)3 status
Types of support Purpose/areas of interest Contact before submitting
Getting Corporate Funding
Start with corporations in your community or area– Corporations “give where they live”
Make a personal connection Find out how the corporation handles
giving Show how company or employees will
benefit
Library-Friendly Funding Sources
State LSTA programs Other library-specific state programs IMLS (Institute of Museum and Library
Services) NEH (National Endowment for the
Humanities) ALA Community Foundations Local corporations (Target, Walmart)
Post-Submission
Don’t call or email the funder If you are funded:
Celebrate ! Then:
– Notify appropriate officials/staff– Send out a press release– Begin preliminary activities– Thank the funder