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
Cover Letter / Executive Summary
Problem Statement
Program / Project Description
Organizational Information
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.
Cover Letter / Executive Summary
Problem Statement
Program / Project Description
Organizational Information
Budget
Conclusion
Attachments
Cover Letter / Executive Summary
Problem Statement
Program / Project Description
Organizational Information
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
Cover Letter / Executive Summary
Problem Statement
Program / Project Description
Organizational Information
Budget
Conclusion
Attachments
Cover Letter / Executive Summary
Problem Statement
Program / Project Description
Organizational Information
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
Cover Letter / Executive Summary
Problem Statement
Program / Project Description
Organizational Information
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
406.551.6200 www.thirdsectorconsulting.com
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