Hop Into Grant Writing 101 NAI Region IV Conference March 27,
2012 Mary Beth Hudson, CIG
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Grants 101 Some Basics Grants are typically provided for new
project ideas or for new ideas for existing projects/problems, land
acquisition or equipment purchases. Grants are project specific.
Some grants will require cost share expenses, others will not.
Remember grants are contractual agreements not just free sources of
money!
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Take that First Leap. -What is stopping you? FEAR!!!!! Reality:
Only one proposal in 5 usually gets turned down for poor ideas.
Reality: A rejected proposal is not a failure, but rather just
another lily pad to step on! Keep it and keep trying! Rome wasnt
built in a day and neither should your idea! Reality: Success rates
increase with each resubmission. Rates of acceptance for third
submission proposals is almost 1:1.
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The Process Determine your project or idea. Research your idea,
is it a brand new project or a different take on an existing
project? Determine your project budget. Contact the
sponsor/foundation. Remember to play by the rules! Get, read and
follow the guidelines!
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Hopping your Idea is a Good One! Does your project meet the
guidelines? Is there a conflict of interest? Does your idea think
outside of the box for the problem addressed? Is there a need for
the project, not a want? Is your agency capable of handling not
only the design and implementation of the project but future
maintenance of the project? Does your staff fulfill any
professional requirements for the grant?
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Plan plan plan Do not wait until the week before a major grant
is due and decide you want the funding. DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!! Get all
your frogs in a row. Gather your tools. Include any key players who
may not be part of your staff but whose presence will increase your
chances of getting funding. Research your budget. Are you
purchasing specialized equipment? Shop around and get the best
prices and keep this research, you will use it later. Community
support. Does your project fill a void or need for something in the
community. Contract services. Will there be building, purchasing of
land or other needs. Does it have significance beyond your local
area? Why has this not been done before? What will the impacts be
if you obtain the funding versus not getting the funding? Are you
able to fulfill the project in the time proposed? DO YOUR HOMEWORK
and DO NOT WAIT until the WEEK before a grant is due to peruse
it.
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What Not to Do Wait until the week before a grant is due and
decide to pursue the funding. Attempt to fit a square peg in a
round hole Not follow all guidelines and rules laid out by the
grantor Not have a concrete budget with proof Write in first person
Fail to proof read your grant application Turn your application in
early Fail to complete all parts of the application Give up! If at
first you do not succeed try try again!
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Tricks to get your grant noticed Do your homework and research
research research! Attention is in the detail. Gather as much
community support as possible. Follow the guidelines, rules and
application process down to the font used. Prove your budget and
show them they are getting their monies worth! Proof read, three
times or more by OUTSIDE people! Keep the verbiage simple. Make
sure you have all the pieces to the puzzle. Pictures speak a
thousand words. COST SHARE! The more you can contribute the better!
Keep your funding sources local, if possible. Prove you have the
capability to continue the project in the future. Have an
evaluation plan in place to measure success or failure. Contact the
grantor!!! Research as shown that 85% of applicants who contact the
grantor, even with a simple question, have had successful rates of
acceptance. They want to help you succeed. Use them!
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14 Reasons Why Proposals Fail Deadline was not met Guidelines
not followed Project was not intriguing Project did not meet
priorities Incomplete application Failed to be proofread Appeared
beyond the capacity of the requesting agency Methodology was weak
Unrealistic budget Cost greater than the benefit Highly partisan
Poorly written Mechanical defects
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So Many Frogs So Few Lilypads Or is there? Look for smaller
foundations that focus on your general area region. Look to big box
stores, the marts, gets, or home improvement stores Utility
companies Banks Pepsi or Maxwell House State grants Federal grants
Organizational grants Something about a Region IV Interpretive
project grant or something And remember you do not need to purchase
memberships to directory's. Many local libraries already have
memberships and will share the listings with organizations such as
your self! See where other people have obtained funding. Do not
reinvent the wheel! Google search google search google search
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Questions, Comments My grant writing experiences do date are
over $900,000. This includes federal, state, local and private
funding for various parks and not for profit agencies. I am a self
taught grant writer who has used her experiences both successful
and not in her approach to grant funding. My mantra, it doesnt hurt
to try! HOP TO IT!!! What are you waiting for?
