What You Really What You Really Need to Know to Need to Know to

Get GrantsGet GrantsHeidi YapleHeidi Yaple

Grant Writer and Grants Compliance Grant Writer and Grants Compliance ManagerManager

Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa IndiansIndians

First Annual Conference for Michigan’s Clean Water Corps Program

October 29, 2005, Ralph MacMullan Conference Center, Higgins Lake MI

GRANTS are ideas that when GRANTS are ideas that when turned into action will help a turned into action will help a target population and a target population and a community. Grants often result community. Grants often result in new knowledge about how to in new knowledge about how to reduce a problem or prevent a reduce a problem or prevent a problem.problem.

Grants vs. FundraisingGrants vs. Fundraising

Grants fund specific ideas or projects that Grants fund specific ideas or projects that most often attack problems through most often attack problems through innovative programs and services. With innovative programs and services. With grants you “sell” an idea.grants you “sell” an idea.

Fundraising is the solicitation of money Fundraising is the solicitation of money from individuals and corporate donors – from individuals and corporate donors – usually on a one-time basis and usually usually on a one-time basis and usually based upon an aggressive and based upon an aggressive and individualized short-term marketing individualized short-term marketing program. Fundraising promotes the idea of program. Fundraising promotes the idea of “just send money”.“just send money”.

What’s the difference?

Both grants and fundraising Both grants and fundraising are are veryvery competitive. It is competitive. It is extremely important there is extremely important there is certainty about your certainty about your organization (purpose, organization (purpose, organizational structure, organizational structure, finances, etc.) and what you finances, etc.) and what you want to accomplish.want to accomplish.

Sources of FundingSources of Funding

$ Federal Government (Federal Register, Federal Government (Federal Register, www.fedgrants.govwww.fedgrants.gov ) )

$ State Government (Telephone State Government (Telephone Directory, online search)Directory, online search)

$ Local Government (Chamber of Local Government (Chamber of Commerce, City and County Planning Commerce, City and County Planning Departments)Departments)

$ Foundations (National, State, Local, Foundations (National, State, Local, Private)Private)

$ Corporations (National, State and Corporations (National, State and Local)Local)

A Few ReasonsA Few ReasonsWhy Grants Are Not Why Grants Are Not

FundedFunded A negative attitudeA negative attitude Failure to do your “homework”Failure to do your “homework” Ignore foundation/funding agency Ignore foundation/funding agency

guidelinesguidelines Failure to complete reports or failure Failure to complete reports or failure

to inquire about follow-up to inquire about follow-up requirementsrequirements

Excessive use of acronyms or jargonExcessive use of acronyms or jargon Missing the due date!Missing the due date! Failing to thank the foundation when Failing to thank the foundation when

a grant is givena grant is given Unaware of grant opportunitiesUnaware of grant opportunities

““Homework”Homework”– or –– or –

Know Your OrganizationKnow Your Organization

What is the What is the VISIONVISION?? Do you have a Do you have a MISSIONMISSION?? What are your What are your GOALSGOALS or focus? or focus?

What do you want to accomplish?What do you want to accomplish? What is the What is the NEEDNEED for your for your

organization? Is the need organization? Is the need documented through valid data documented through valid data and statistics?and statistics?

A few things you should A few things you should know about your know about your

organization before you organization before you beginbegin

The legal name of your organizationThe legal name of your organization Address, City, StateAddress, City, State DemographicsDemographics Date organization was foundedDate organization was founded History of organization beginningsHistory of organization beginnings Statistics related to organization Statistics related to organization

purposepurpose MissionMission Population served – type and sizePopulation served – type and size Unique qualities or your Unique qualities or your

organizations’ niche or area of organizations’ niche or area of expertiseexpertise

Once you are familiar with Once you are familiar with your organization you can your organization you can identify specific needs and identify specific needs and goals for particular projects. goals for particular projects. Documentation to support an Documentation to support an identified need is critical. identified need is critical. Careful planning can lead to Careful planning can lead to an easier job when writing a an easier job when writing a proposal.proposal.

Homework – Know the Homework – Know the Funder!Funder!

Eligibility requirementsEligibility requirements Types of supportTypes of support Funding limitationsFunding limitations Geographic areaGeographic area Application information – Application information –

guidelinesguidelines Fields of interestFields of interest Financial informationFinancial information

Researching these areas is just Researching these areas is just as important if you really want as important if you really want to be funded:to be funded:

Government funding availability Government funding availability is often referred to as an RFP is often referred to as an RFP (Request For Proposals). An RFP (Request For Proposals). An RFP has a specific purpose and focus has a specific purpose and focus and has clearly defined eligibility, and has clearly defined eligibility, funding parameters and funding parameters and application guidelines.application guidelines.

Some foundations use a Common Some foundations use a Common Grant Application. This Grant Application. This application outline is available application outline is available on-line through the Council of on-line through the Council of Michigan Foundations.Michigan Foundations.

Organization – Organization – Another Key to Another Key to

SuccessSuccessDefine the Problem

Develop a Strategy

Locate Different Funding Sources

Assess the Need

Create a Program-Driven Budget

Program Funded!

Components of a Components of a ProposalProposal

1.1. Cover Letter and Title PageCover Letter and Title Page2.2. Abstract (Summary or Executive Summary)Abstract (Summary or Executive Summary)3.3. IntroductionIntroduction4.4. Problem/Need StatementProblem/Need Statement5.5. ObjectivesObjectives6.6. Plan of Operation – activities, strategy, Plan of Operation – activities, strategy,

timelinetimeline7.7. EvaluationEvaluation8.8. Future FundingFuture Funding9.9. Dissemination PlanDissemination Plan10.10. BudgetBudget11.11. Bibliography/endnotes (when applicable)Bibliography/endnotes (when applicable)12.12. Appendix – support letters, documentation, Appendix – support letters, documentation,

IRS determination letter, etc...IRS determination letter, etc...

Writing Style and Writing Style and Presentation TipsPresentation Tips

Restrictions or limitationsRestrictions or limitations Sections to includeSections to include Required informationRequired information Information OrganizationInformation Organization Font size and typeFont size and type Stapled, binder clip, Stapled, binder clip,

bound?bound? Margin sizeMargin size Page numbering?Page numbering? Sentence or word lengthSentence or word length Cover sheet informationCover sheet information Format specificationsFormat specifications

The #1 Tip –

Follow the RFP (or

application)

guidelines!

Look for:

Finding all the Finding all the detailed detailed instructions can instructions can be one of the most be one of the most important tasks important tasks you will do as part you will do as part of preparing your of preparing your proposal. Always proposal. Always follow the follow the instructions instructions carefully and to carefully and to the letter”!the letter”!

A Few More HintsA Few More Hints Most common font: size – 12 point, type – Most common font: size – 12 point, type –

New Times RomanNew Times Roman Avoid using a font that is hard to readAvoid using a font that is hard to read

Watch the amount of white space – dangling Watch the amount of white space – dangling words that extend a paragraph or another words that extend a paragraph or another line or only a few words on a pageline or only a few words on a page

Justified margins look the best! Right and Justified margins look the best! Right and left margins should be the same (unless left margins should be the same (unless otherwise instructed)otherwise instructed)

Use decimal tabs for number alignment in Use decimal tabs for number alignment in budget presentationbudget presentation

Avoid using pronouns – especially “I”Avoid using pronouns – especially “I” Don’t say you “want to” to do something – Don’t say you “want to” to do something –

say you “will”!say you “will”!