Grants for Libraries

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Grants for Libraries

• Stephanie Gerding
• Public Library Association March 26, 2008
• http//librarygrants.blogspot.com
• librarygrants_at_earthlink.net

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Welcome and Introductions

• I am __ from __. (name, library, location)
• Something fun or unique about myself is
• One thing I want to get out of todays session
  is

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Agenda

• Overview of Grant Work The Grant Process Cycle
• Planning the Grant Process
• Success Stories
• Developing the Grant Project
• Researching Funders and Finding Appropriate Grant
  Opportunities
• Writing the Grant Proposal
• Tips to Follow Always and Never

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Learning Goals

• Participants will learn how to
• apply the basic process of grant work
• develop grant projects based on communitys needs
  and library planning
• identify the types of grants and where to easily
  locate grant opportunities and
• be excited motivated and begin development of a
  grant proposal.

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Overview of Grant Work The Grant Process Cycle
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Planning the Grant ProcessWishing, Dreaming,
HopingAND Planning

• What if the library funding genie gave us three
  wishes? Would we know what to ask for?
• We cant predict the future, but we can influence
  it.
• We must envision a better future to consciously
  make the choices that will get us there.

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Success Stories
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Planning the Grant Process

• What do you want to accomplish?
• Who will be changed and how?
• Incorporate existing strategic
• plans based on community needs
• Build sustainability
• Create strong partnerships
• Organize a grant team

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Developing the Grant Project

• Defining and Planning the Project what
  compelling issues exist in the community
• Creative Brainstorming examine opportunities
• Activities from Library Strategic Plan and Needs
  Assessments
• Goals and Outcomes
• Timeline
• Budget
• Evaluation Plan

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Outcome Based Evaluation

• OBE is a change in a persons behavior,
  knowledge, skill, attitude, status or life
  condition.
• How will you know what youve accomplished if you
  dont know where you started?
• Find out if you are spending staff time,
  resources and energies on projects and programs
  that are making a difference.

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Exercise Now its Your Turn

• A goal is a dream with a deadline.
• --Napoleon Hill, one the earliest American
  authors of personal success
• Use the Wish List or Project Planning Worksheet
  to start planning your grant project
• 15 minutes

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Researching Funders

• Categories of Grants
• Government Federal, State and Local
• Private
• Foundations
• Professional Organizations
• Corporate

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Finding Appropriate Grant Opportunities

• Sources for Finding Library Grant Opportunities
• Library Grants Blog
• Resources Handout
• http//librarygrants.blogspot.com

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Writing the Grant Proposal

• Overview of the Grant Proposal
• Common Grant Components
• Cover Letter
• Title Sheet Table of Contents
• Proposal Abstract/Summary
• Organizational Overview
• Statement of Needs
• Project Description
• Approach/Methodology
• Budget Request
• Evaluation Process
• Appendix
• Telling the Story

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Exercise You are a grant reviewer!

• Teams of funders
• Real-life library grant proposals
• Establish your criteria for evaluation
• Discuss the grant proposals
• Decide how to distribute your funding
• who gets the grants?

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Tips to Follow Always and Never
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If you dont ask, you wont get!

• I have tried raising money by asking for it, and
  by not asking for it. I always got more by asking
  for it.
• --Millard Fuller, founder, Habitat for Humanity.