SHOW ME THE SHOW ME THE MONEY!MONEY!

Writing a winning grant Writing a winning grant proposalproposal

Joy Rockenbach, Act 1220 CoordinatorJoy Rockenbach, Act 1220 CoordinatorArkansas Department of EducationArkansas Department of Education

Arkansas Department of HealthArkansas Department of HealthJune 11, 2010June 11, 2010

Learning OutcomesLearning Outcomes

Basic grant writing tipsBasic grant writing tips Reasons why proposal failReasons why proposal fail Expectations of grantors Expectations of grantors Tips for successTips for success

Basic Tips:Basic Tips:

Read the entire application!Read the entire application! Do you qualifyDo you qualify Check dates and time lineCheck dates and time line

Who will writeWho will write Is it worth it?Is it worth it?

Reasons Why Reasons Why Proposals Fail…Proposals Fail… CarelessnessCarelessness

– Sloppiness-pay attention to Sloppiness-pay attention to grammar, editing details, and grammar, editing details, and specificsspecifics

– Answer the questions!Answer the questions!– Responses don’t connect to Responses don’t connect to

information requestedinformation requested– Procrastination!Procrastination!

Forcing failure!Forcing failure!

Missing deadlinesMissing deadlines DisorganizedDisorganized Missing sectionsMissing sections Budget doesn’t compute or match Budget doesn’t compute or match

work planwork plan Format is not followedFormat is not followed

To ensure failure…To ensure failure…

Rely on spell Rely on spell checkcheck

Go over the page Go over the page limitlimit

Fail to sign Fail to sign appropriate formsappropriate forms

Miss the deadline, Miss the deadline, ask for an ask for an extension extension

Example of relying on Example of relying on spell check…spell check…

Dear Spat,Dear Spat,

I had a really food crime at the picnic in the I had a really food crime at the picnic in the bark. It was nice to gel together with old bark. It was nice to gel together with old fiends and enjoy so much slaughter! We fiends and enjoy so much slaughter! We should so that more often. The flied chicken should so that more often. The flied chicken was malicious. Thank you for flinging it.was malicious. Thank you for flinging it.

Your Fiend,Your Fiend,

BrainBrain

Writing bloopers!Writing bloopers!

A bean supper will be held on Tuesday A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.evening in the church hall. Music will follow.

Attend and you will hear an excellent Attend and you will hear an excellent speaker and heave a healthy lunch.speaker and heave a healthy lunch.

The ladies of the Church have cast off The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.the basement on Friday afternoon.

Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the FirstFirstPresbyterian Church. Please use large double Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance door at the side entrance

To ensure failure…To ensure failure…

Rely on spell Rely on spell checkcheck

Go over the page Go over the page limitlimit

Fail to sign Fail to sign appropriate formsappropriate forms

Miss the deadline, Miss the deadline, ask for an ask for an extension extension

Expectations of Expectations of GrantmakersGrantmakers Write a compelling storyWrite a compelling story Grab reader’s attentionGrab reader’s attention Educate the reader about YOUR Educate the reader about YOUR

problemproblem Use YOUR words and bring the Use YOUR words and bring the

story to lifestory to life

THINK…THINK…

GloomGloom

DoomDoom

DramaDrama

TraumaTrauma

WORK PLANWORK PLAN

Goals—pie in the sky, where you Goals—pie in the sky, where you want to want to BEBE when the grant money when the grant money is goneis gone

Objectives—Objectives—SMARTSMART****

Action steps or process steps or Action steps or process steps or strategies—how you will get the strategies—how you will get the objectives doneobjectives done

SMART ObjectivesSMART Objectives

SSpecificpecific

MMeasurableeasurable

AAttainablettainable

RRealisticealistic

TTime boundime bound

TIPS FOR GRANT TIPS FOR GRANT WRITING SUCCESSWRITING SUCCESS

To maximize success…To maximize success…

Make sure you Make sure you are eligibleare eligible

Follow all Follow all instructionsinstructions

Develop a check Develop a check listlist

Use forms if they Use forms if they are providedare provided

Ask a third party Ask a third party to editto edit

Success…Success…

Get it in on timeGet it in on time Have the right amount of postageHave the right amount of postage Make sure you have enclosed all Make sure you have enclosed all

required forms and required required forms and required number of copiesnumber of copies