Grant Writing 101: It's More Than Just Writing

Grant Writing 101: It’s more than just writing

October 4, 2013 Laura Rhodes, CGW [email protected] 406.551.6200

Image credit: Dr. Seuss

With grants,

Grants are the best way to get funding

for my nonprofit.

Individuals $228.93 (72.39%)

Corporations $18.15 (5.74%)

Foundations $45.74 (14.46%)

Bequests $23.41 (7.40%)

Total = $316.23 billion

Source: Giving USA

Source: Giving USA

81.9 83.1 81.7 79.7 77.1 75.8 76.0 72.3

7.3 6.6 6.4 7.5 8.9 8.6 7.6

8.2

6.6 5.5 6.1 7.3 8.4 10.8 11.7 14.4

4.2 4.8 5.8 5.5 5.6 4.8 4.7 5.1

1973-1977 1978-1982 1983-1987 1988-1992 1993-1997 1998-2002 2003-2007 2008-2012

Corporations

Foundations

Bequests

Individuals

Source: Giving USA

81.9 83.1 81.7 79.7 77.1 75.8 76.0 72.3

7.3 6.6 6.4 7.5 8.9 8.6 7.6

8.2

6.6 5.5 6.1 7.3 8.4 10.8 11.7 14.4

4.2 4.8 5.8 5.5 5.6 4.8 4.7 5.1

1973-1977 1978-1982 1983-1987 1988-1992 1993-1997 1998-2002 2003-2007 2008-2012

Corporations

Foundations

Bequests

Individuals

How does my nonprofit get this piece of

the pie?

Image credit: Steve McAllister/Getty Images http://business.time.com/

“Grant writing” is more than just writing.

WRI

TIN

G

SUCCESSFUL GRANTS

Writ

ing

First Leg: Research

Writ

ing

375 private foundations in Montana

483 foundations that fund Montana programs 295 foundations that accept applications

$57,117,919 awarded to MT programs in 2011 Source: www.foundationcenter.org/findfunders/statistics

Only 29% of foundations report having a website.

Source: Giving USA

5% 291,707

Does the funder accept applications?

Are you a 501(c)3?

What other funding do you already receive?

What geographic area you serve?

What is the funder’s field of interest?

What type of support you are seeking?

How much funding you are seeking?

Readiness

Eligibility

Mission Fit

Funding Type

Funding Adequacy

Competition

Timeframe

Proposal Requirements

Matching Requirements

Reporting Requirements

10 reasons you might not apply for a grant

WRI

TIN

G

Second Leg: Writing

Letter of Inquiry

Letter Proposal

Grant Proposal

Cover Letter / Executive Summary

Problem Statement

Program / Project Description

Organizational Information

Budget

Conclusion

Attachments

The worse, the better

Use and cite a variety of sources

Median Household

Income

Children

in Poverty

United States

$52,762

13%

Montana

$45,324

19%

Roosevelt County

$37,807

38%

US Census County Health Rankings


Problem Statement



Budget

Conclusion

Attachments

GOALS are broad and visionary

OBJECTIVES are ‘SMART’

TASKS (or ACTIVITIES) are the actions taken

to achieve the objectives

OBJECTIVES are what you want

OUTCOMES are what you’ll get

GOAL: To promote a healthy, active lifestyle to schoolchildren. OBJECTIVE: During the 2013-2014 school year, X children will participate in active play/games for Y minutes every day.

OUTCOME: Both the height-weight and body fat percentages will improve for Z% of the children.


Problem Statement



Budget

Conclusion

Attachments


Problem Statement



Budget

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 2

CONTRACT WAGES (includes hourly wage, plus 21% taxes and fringe)

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

13068 13068

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

10890 10890

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

13068 13068

EQUIPMENT

3 iPads, 16GB with wi-fi and 3G @ $529 each For school nurses, acting as field enrollment specialists

1587 0


Problem Statement



Budget

Conclusion

Attachments


Problem Statement



Budget

Conclusion

Attachments

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


Problem Statement



Budget

Conclusion

Attachments

Describe your funding requirements

Describe your organization and its expertise

State the problem

State your solution

Short conclusion

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Writ

ing

Third Leg: Review

Proofread carefully to see if you any words out. - Author Unknown

Typographical errors

Grammar mistakes

Punctuation problems

Mathematical formulas

Formatting adherence

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.

TIP: It’s okay to contact the foundation to confirm receipt

Technical review

Program Officer may qualify your proposal

Proposal review

Recommendation for full funding, partial funding or no funding

TIP: It’s okay to contact the foundation if you haven’t heard 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 and ask for feedback.

Stay in touch – without making an ask.

Call the program officer immediately to thank them.

Send a written thank you promptly.

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? I can help.

"It is so time consuming to research grants, and having Laura put together a full report on each prospect was extremely valuable to our organization."

"As a small nonprofit, it would have taken us months to put a grant prospect 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 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."

What people say about Laura & Third Sector’s Research 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 on grant proposals that we have

submitted."

"Laura's done great work for our organization and I'd hire her for additional work in a second."

"Her attention to detail is second to none!"

What people say about Laura & Third Sector’s Review Services

Recommended Reading

guaranteed!)

And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed!

(98 and ¾ percent

In the words of Dr. Seuss…

Laura Rhodes, CGW

[email protected]

406.551.6200 www.thirdsectorconsulting.com

www.facebook.com/thirdsector

www.twitter.com/thirdsector

www.linkedin.com/in/thirdsectorconsulting

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Education

Grant Writing 101: It's More Than Just Writing