The Secret to Researching, Writing, and Obtaining Grants

Researching, Writing and Obtaining Grants

Researching, Writingand Obtaining GrantsDaniel KimballProduct Specialist at Aplos Software

Daniel KimballDan Kimball is a seasoned fundraiser with twenty years of experience in strategic fund development and nonprofit management.

Hes currently developing Aplos Donor Management Platform to help nonprofits connect with (and cultivate!) their donor base.

Fundraising is a relationship business.

@fugativedmk#Aploswebinar

Webinar Will Cover Philanthropic $ (dollars) and where it comes from

Ideas on where and how to look for Grants

Research Tools

Writing and obtaining grants

Tips and tools


IntroductionNavigating the process of finding, writing and obtaining grants can be challenging and overwhelming but it can also be very rewarding.

Many nonprofit organizations do not pursue grants because they either are intimidated by the process or do not feel they have the proper tools to do so.


Opening remarks and setting the stageState and Federal Grants vs Foundation and Corporate Grants

Hiring a Grant Writer or using a Grant Writing service

Dont follow the money- Stay true to your mission

Dont rely to heavily on grants (some exceptions)


@fugativedmk#AploswebinarPhilanthropy goes way back in the past

Philanthrpia:from Greek: philosloving+anthrposman:=Love of Mankind

2014 Contributions: $358.38 billion by source of contributions(in billions of dollars all figures are rounded)


2014 Contributions: $358.38 billion by type of recipient organization(in billions of dollars all figures are rounded)


@fugativedmk#AploswebinarThere are approximately 1.8 million registered non-profit organizations in the US.In 2013 there were between 80,000 & 121,000 Private Foundations in the US

Private foundations with less than $50 million in assets account for 98% of the approximately 80,000 private foundations in the United StatesBoard SourceNonprofit Landscape in the US

Conclusion= There are more people asking for $money than there are Foundations giving away $money.Keeping in mind that Foundations are only required to give away 5% of their assets annually.

@fugativedmk#AploswebinarThe Myth of the 5% Ceiling.Even during the worst of the recession, privatefoundations consistently gave well in excess of the 5% annual distribution required by federal law. Disbursements for grants and charitable expenses averaged 11.6% of assets between 2008 and 2011, and the total value of grants increased 4.5% during the same period.Board Source

An Effective Grant Program Needs the Following:

@fugativedmk#AploswebinarSomeone to:Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward strategic relationships with corporations and foundations, and coordinate approaches within your Organization/community.

Write, edit, and submit proposals and correspondence.

Provide direct assistance and support by identifying foundation funding sources for priority programs and preparing proposals to such entities.

Coordinate corporate and foundation visits and events.

Maintain the integrity of data on corporations and foundations and your organizations relationships with these entities.

Promotes mutually beneficial relationships between foundations and your programs.

Provides administrative and technological infrastructure for prospect coordination, planning, and solicitation, as well as other services to enhance relationships with foundations.

Fundraising Basics

Development is a relationship business.

Its a processa long-term process.

Donors give to quality, to success, not simply to need.

People want to make a difference.


Types of foundations

There are typically three different types of foundations

Independent foundations- generally funded by an individual, a family or a group of individuals;

Corporate foundations- created and funded by companies as separate legal entities;

Community and other public foundations; publicly supported foundations operated by, and for the benefit of, a specific community or geographic region- Also Donor advised foundations, i.e. Regional Foundation.


Research ToolsThere are many tools you can use to research prospective funding foundations.Budget and convenience will determine which method you start out with, but inany case you should be as thorough as possible within your means. There is a wealth of information on the Internet, including a number of services you can pay to do your research for you!

There are a number of websites useful to foundation prospect research. Take some time toreally explore these sites if youre not already familiar with them:

http://fdncenter.org: The Foundation Center; one of the oldest and best resources on the web. The Foundation Center offers a number of paid subscription programs. The Foundation Directory online and GrantSPace is a great resource. Many University or public library will allow nonprofits to use their subscription.

www.www.grantstation.com-

Both of these allow you to search very detailed records of foundations by a variety of criteria, including past grants, focus areas, and giving interests. For example, an animal rescue shelter might identify a list of foundations dedicated to animal welfare or with a history of funding other shelters and animal rescue groups


Research Toolswww.guidestar.com: Note that you must register to use Guidestar but registration is free. Guidestar does offer paid subscriptions. There is no charge for viewing an organization's three most recent 990s.

http://www.cof.org: The Council on Foundations.

http://www.smallfoundations.org/: A relatively new organization devoted to60,000 smaller United States foundations.

http://grantchat.org/#grantchat

A to Z Grantwriting with Linda Vallejo- Seminars and workshops/Grants


Research ToolsHoovers- subscription based, good for corporate profiles-

Corporate Philanthropy Report- Paid Subscription/Foundation and Corporate Funding Advantage

AFP- Bookstore and Resources

Google-internet search/

Social Media- Twitter

Others?


Ten Ways to Find a Grant Donor Who Will Give to Your Organization/CBO 10. Do your homework Know and understand what your organization needs grant money for (e.g. new program, ten new wheelchairs, a capital campaign (new building), etc.) be sure to have planned out: the timeline, staff, action items, expected results, research the target audience, understand what the real need in the community is that your new item/program is addressing, etc.

@fugativedmk#Aploswebinar9. Research foundations, corporations, etc. who give grants. Do not print a list of foundations who operate near your town and decide the organizations on the list are who you're nonprofit is applying to for grants. LOOK FOR THE MATCHCreate a list of foundations who:donate to organizations that operate in your region (or who give to organizations that serve in your region)donate to the cause or issue that your organization is addressingdemonstrate a history of giving, in the amounts that you're needing to raise, to organizations that are similar to yoursUnderstand and develop Letters of Inquiry (LOI's)

Ten Ways to Find a Grant Donor Who Will Give to Your Organization/CBO8. Write an honest, thorough, succinct, easy to read grant proposal and tailor according to each foundation's guidelines' directions. All foundations are different from one another. One foundation will want you to include the list of your organization's Board of Directors, and another won't. They all require different things - read each foundation's giving guidelines

@fugativedmk#Aploswebinar7. Get organized. Plan out when each application that your organization has been invited to submit is due, or when you want to have it 100% completed by (to get it into the mail (email), to arrive on time).6. Prepare and educate any executive director and board members who may meet with foundation (or grant donor) representatives. Sometimes grant donors want to see a site location or interview organization leaders to get a feel for the organization's culture, management style, openness, etc.


CREATIVITY & COLLABORATION GOES A LONG WAYS

Ten Ways to Find a Grant Donor Who Will Give to Your Organization/CBO5. Be grateful for the foundations who decline your application. They remain a potential grant donor to your organization now, just as they were when you applied.

@fugativedmk#Aploswebinar4. Manage any grant that your group receives. It's a donation from a potential future donor to your organization. Do not spend the grant on anything other than what you stated it would be spent on, in the proposal.3. Communicate with grant donors. Good and Bad news/updates2. Do not send grant donors (Foundations) things like newsletters, annual appeal letters, etc. after they've given to your organization. (unless they ask)1. Give your organization enough time to be successful. Grant writing is not a quick fix fundraising method. Be sure to plan ahead- Use experts who can help.

Good StorytellingIt is important to implement and integrate good storytelling in your grant submissions and proposals. Having vision and mission is important, communicating that vision is more important.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXPlzdTcA-I

Engaging Grant FundersEngaging donors also applies to grant writing. Although the style of grant writing is business writing rather than marketing, you still need to tell a good story. After all, if youre bored writing the proposal, think about how the foundation officer will feel when they have a bunch of other proposals to get through on their desk.

Include success stories with your grant proposals, Dont repeat the same stories to the same funder. Along those lines, I

Always review the previous years proposal to the funder before you work on a new one.

Try and make it clear that you are speaking with the funder rather than at the funder.



A young girl walks home after collecting water in rural Rwanda. $20 can give one person access to clean drinking water for 20 years. Help today: charitywater.org/donate

Other Tips and ToolsCreate a grant toolbox: Statistics, templates and information for grants.

Find out which foundations have given grants in your region-Talk to those who got funded and ask for advice and ideally copies of their successful grants.

Collect sample successful grants to use as boilerplate models. Many foundations will send you, on request, proposals from past funded projects, or at least will give you the addresses of past grant recipients, so you can ask them directly for copies of successful proposals.

Make the budget a priority.

Read the guidelines and include the right parts.

Form partnerships and collaborations.


Conclusion/ Q&A

@fugativedmk#AploswebinarObtaining a grant can be an effective and powerful way to support or expand the mission of your nonprofit.

About AplosWere the #1 solution in online donor management software for nonprofits.

Fundraising is important, but you probably wish you didn't have to spend so much of your valuable time raising money. Aplos' all-in-one solution helps you raise money, track giving, and ensure your donors have a positive experience with your organization.

Visit aplos.com for more information.

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Government & Nonprofit

The Secret to Researching, Writing, and Obtaining Grants