Title: Successful Grant Seeking and Writing Tips
1Successful Grant Seeking and Writing Tips
Cyndi Desrosiers, CPS Grant Support Specialist,
Cheshire County Consultant
2About me
- I manage 4 million dollars worth of grants at
Cheshire County including federal, state,
foundation, and local grants - I have reviewed grants for the Federal Government
and local agencies - I write grants as a consultant for non-profits
- I also provide strategic planning, prevention
ethics training, board development and other
related services to non-profit agencies
3Grant Offices 10 Tips for Getting More Grants
- Learn as much as possible about each program
which you intend to apply. - Involve others in your project, but be judicious
have a purpose for their involvement. - Customize each proposal to the requirement of the
funder. - Include only support letters that demonstrate a
real commitment on the part of the sender. - Get reviewers comments for rejected proposals
and use their feedback in the future proposals. - Homeland Security Today Magazine, January
2011
4Grant Offices 10 Tips for Getting More
Grantscontinued
- Make grantseeking part of your agencys
strategy-dont put all your eggs in one basket
and look for funding from only a single program. - Be specific in your budgetmost funders have
generous allowances for budget length. - Dont include materials other than those
specifically requested by the funder. - Have an outsider edit your proposal before you
submit it. - Folllow the funding guidance meticulously.
-
- Homeland Security Today Magazine, January
2011
5THE FIVE Ws WHO, WHAT, WHY, WHEN, WHERE
- Who am I (the organization or institution I
represent)? - What is my project?
- Why do I need the money?
- When do I need the money?
- Where will the funds be directed?
Grant Training Center, GTC 2009 Resource,
Arlington, VA
6And, why not three more?
- What is my evaluation plan?
- Who will benefit?
- Who will implement the project?
Grant Training Center, GTC 2009 Resource,
Arlington, VA
7The Organizations Strategic Plan(Business Plan)
- What are your organizations goals and
objectives to fulfill its mission? State the
mission and overall goals for your organization.
Then consider the objectives required by your
organization to meet each of the goals. Remember,
the mission is usually only one sentence long.
The goals are usually limited to one to three
one-sentence goal statements. Each goal usually
has two to five objectives. Objectives should be
measurable. Your organizations objectives may be
still pretty general, but when you write your
proposal, you will have to make sure that your
objectives meet a number of criteria that we will
specify at a section which follows. Therefore, it
is good to start thinking about the differences
between goals and objectives.
Grant Training Center, GTC 2009 Resource,
Arlington, VA
8Know who you are
- Name of the organization
- Mission of the organization
- Goals of the organization
-
- Objectives of the organization
Grant Training Center, GTC 2009 Resource,
Arlington, VA
9Preliminary questions
- What resources will you need if you are funded?
- What capabilities do you or your organization
already have? - What kinds of organizational support do you have
for writing the proposal and implementing the
project? - What kind of organizational support do you still
need?
Grant Training Center, GTC 2009 Resource,
Arlington, VA
10Building support and getting buy-in
- In answering the following questions, briefly
describe your initial thoughts about the
following items in relation to your proposed idea
and your organization. Which of these questions
can you readily answer and which ones will you
need to research? - Identify two or three major organizational
challenges or problems that your organization is
currently facing. - How does your proposed idea or project relate to
or help resolve these problems or challenges? - Who else in your organization would be useful to
have on your proposal development team? - What could these people do to help you prepare
the proposal? - What role would they play if the project gets
funded?
Grant Training Center, GTC 2009 Resource,
Arlington, VA
11Resources available
- What are the resources that you already have?
Describe the resources that you already have that
could help you implement your idea and write the
proposal.
- People
- Special skills or knowledge
- Experience with similar projects
- Facilities
- Equipment
Grant Training Center, GTC 2009 Resource,
Arlington, VA
12Questions to ask and answer about your idea ???
- To persuade not only funders but members of your
organization to work with you on this proposal or
to release some of your time and that of others
to develop the proposal you should be able to
answer the following questions. - Is my idea unique? Explain why.
- Is my idea timely? Explain why.
- Is my idea urgent? Explain why.
- Is my idea compelling? Explain why.
- If my idea is funded and the project implemented,
will this project capitalize on my organizations
strengths? How? - If my idea is funded and the project implemented,
will this project help overcome some of my
organizations weaknesses? How?
Grant Training Center, GTC 2009 Resource,
Arlington, VA
13Building External Support
- NetworkingWith whom can you network?
- Personal contactsWhat contacts have you made or
should you make? - Meetings and conferencesAre there any upcoming
meetings or conferences you should attend to meet
people and talk about your project? - If your organization does not have the expertise
or contacts or resources to implement your
project, with whom could you collaborate? - Whom should you contact in potential
collaborating organizations? - Who from your organization should make the
initial contact? - What would be the advantage to these outside
organizations of working with your organization
on this project?
Grant Training Center, GTC 2009 Resource,
Arlington, VA
14Logic Model Terminology
- Goals Long-term outcomes
- Inputs Resources, program investments
- Activities Strategies, action steps
- Outputs Deliverables, products, units of
service - Outcomes Results, impact, objectives
Karen Horsch, Evaluation Consultant, Endowment
for Health
15Proposal Outline
- Summary
- Needs Statement
- Program Description
- Evaluation
- Staff Organizational Experience
- Budget
- Appendices/Supporting Documentation
Childrens Services Council, Palm Beach County
16Summary
- Usually limited to one page, this component of
your proposal should briefly describe - The problem you are addressing.
- Your overall program goal, expected outcomes and
program plan to address the problem. - Briefly highlight your organizational and staff
qualifications for the program. - Your financial request from the funder
Childrens Services Council, Palm Beach County
17Needs Statement
- This section of your proposal should
- explain the following
- Why the proposed program/project is necessary.
- Who (e.g., individuals, children, families) will
benefit from the program. - Where (geographically) the need is.
Childrens Services Council, Palm Beach County
18The following represents five basic needs
assessment approaches
- Key Informant testimony from people who know
the problem - Community Forum
- Case Studies example of clients in the
population in need - Social Indicators data which establishes the
need - Survey Random
Childrens Services Council, Palm Beach County
19Program Description
- Description of the services to be provided.
- What services will be provided?
- Who will receive the services?
- Who will provide the services?
- When will the services be provided?
- Why you are providing these particular services?
- Where services will be provided?
Childrens Services Council, Palm Beach County
20Program Description
- Your plan of action to achieve the program
outcomes. This is often referred to as the
program plan or the service delivery plan. Your
plan of action should be designed so that it is
clear that the expected outcomes for the program
can be achieved through the implementation of
your program plan. - The timetable for the program. This should
reflect a thoughtful approach including time
needed to realistically phase-in the program
until it becomes fully operational.
Childrens Services Council, Palm Beach County
21EVALUATION How the project will be measured and
the results given to the donor
- QUANTITATIVE hard data
- QUALITATIVE Soft data e.g., opinions,
individual stories, surveys - PROCESS assesses project implementation
- OUTCOMES assesses the extent to which outcomes
are being achieved
22EVALUATION
- Please state
- What results will be evaluated in your project?
- How will you evaluate the results?
- Who will evaluate the results?
- When will the evaluation take place?
- What hard data will you utilize?
- What soft data will you utilize?
23Chains of Outcomes
Short-term Outcome Changes in Learning
Intermediate Outcome Changes in Action
Long-term Outcome/Goal Changes in Condition
- New Knowledge
- Increased Skills
- Changed attitudes or opinions
- Changed motivation or aspiration
- Modified Behavior
- Changed practices
- Changed decisions
- Improved access
- Improved health
- Improved quality of life
Karen Horsch, Evaluation Consultant, Endowment
for Health
24Staff Organizational Experience
- In this section you must describe both the
qualifications of the key staff who will be
assigned to direct and operate the program as
well as the qualifications of the agency to
administer the type of program you are proposing.
Sometimes it is required that you provide the
resumes of key staff. In the absence of
identified staff to direct and operate the
program, provide specific information regarding
the qualifications you will be requiring of the
staff to be hired.
Childrens Services Council, Palm Beach County
25Budget
- The budget generally includes the following
primary components - Expenses
- Revenue
- Budget Narrative
Childrens Services Council, Palm Beach County
26Appendices/Supporting Documentation
- IRS 501(c)(3) Certificate
- Articles of Incorporation
- Resumes
- Letters of Support
- Most Recent Agency Audit
Childrens Services Council, Palm Beach County
27TRACK IN-KIND
- Name ________________________________Organization
/Affiliation _____________________________ -
- Address _________________________________________
___________________________________ -
- Phone ______________________
Email_____________________________________ -
- In Kind Hours Donated ______ Hourly
rate_________ Total In Kind Donation
________________ -
- Volunteer time? Yes___ No___
-
- Date Work Done In-Kind
- (It may include meetings, phone calls, technical
work, travel for the project, etc.) - Guidelines for Hourly Rate
- (Please choose one as you see appropriate)
- Number of Hours Total Contribution
- Community Meeting/Activity Planning 40.00/hr
or more - Community Forum/Program Workshop Facilitation
35.00/hr or more - Community mobilization/engagement 30.00/hr or
more - General Outreach 20.00/hr or more
28SOUNDS SIMPLEbut
- READ THE PROPOSAL- OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND AGAIN
- FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS
- RELATIONSHIPS DO MATTER
- IF THEY ASK FOR AN MOU, GIVE THEM AN MOU, NOT AN
MOA - IF THEY DIDNT ASK FOR A LOGIC MODEL AND INSTEAD
WANT A WORKPLAN, THEN
29SOUNDS SIMPLEbut
- GET TO KNOW YOUR FUNDER
- RELATIONSHIPS DO MATTER
- DO WHAT YOU SAID YOU WOULD DO IN THE PROPOSAL OR
FORGET ABOUT EVER BEING FUNDED AGAIN - KEEP LANGUAGE CONSISTENT
- AVOID TANGENTS
- BE SPECIFIC AND CONCISE
30SOUNDS SIMPLEbut
- DO NOT ASSUME THAT FUNDERS KNOW WHO YOU ARE OR
WHAT YOU DO - FOLLOW THEIR FORMAT, NOT YOURS
- INCLUDE CITATIONS AND WORK CITED
- USE HEADINGS, ETC. SO READIBILITY IS EASY
- WHEN IN DOUBT, ASK
- BE SPECIFIC
- DID I SAY RELATIONSHIPS MATTER?
31Resources for grants
- http//www.grantproseinc.com/
- includes grant alerts by fixed deadlines and
rolling deadlines - www.Grantgopher.com
- www.GuideStar.com
- FundBook Grants database
32Resources for grants
- Grants.gov provides information on more than
1,000 grant opportunities for 26 federal
grantmaking agencies. FindYouthInfo.gov has
developed a customized search of Grants.gov to
help you find open grant announcements for
programs that serve youth and their families. - To use the tool, go to www.findyouthinfo.gov/Grant
sSearch.aspx
33Top Ten Twitter Accounts for Grant Information
- Top Five Twitter Searches for Grants
- rfp
- grant
- fundchat
- fundraising
- philanthropy
- pndblog
- _at_fdncenter
- _at_grantspace
- _at_nihforfunding
- _at_HHSGov
- _at_NSF
- _at_usedgov
- _at_thompsongrants
- _at_gordanjayfrost
- _at_dgreismann
-
SourceGrantPose, Inc
34 www.findyouthinfo.gov/GrantsSearch.aspx Search
Filters
- Topics Select All Deselect All
Afterschool Bullying Community Development
Disabilities Education, Training and Employment
Health and Nutrition Homelessness and housing
Mental Health Mentoring Parenting Positive
Youth Development Substance Abuse
Transition-Age Youth Violence and Victimization
Agencies Select All Deselect All Dept.
of Agriculture Dept. of Defense Dept. of
Education Dept. of Health and Human Services
Dept. of Homeland Security Dept. of Housing and
Urban Dev. Dept. of Justice Dept. of Labor
Dept. of the Interior Dept. of Transportation
Social Security Administration All other
agencies
35FARM GRANTS LOANS
- GRANTS/USDA
- Rural Energy for America Program
- Rural Business-Value-Added Producer Grants
- Rural Business Enterprise Grant
- Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
(SARE) Farmer Grants - Farm Labor Housing- direct loan and grant
- Conservation Innovation Grants through NRCS
- LOANS
- USDA Intermediary Relending Program
- NH Community Loan Fund
- PROGRAMS
- The Fair Food Fund-Northeast
- Environmental Quality Incentives Program through
NRCS
36OTHER FARM GRANTS
- Conservation Innovation Grants through NRCS
- State Conservation Committee Conservation Grant
Program (Moose plate)
OTHER POSSIBLE RESOURCES
- Monadnock Conservancy
- UNH Cooperative Extension
- NOFA-NH
- Cheshire County Conservation District
37Logic Models
University of Wisconsin Cooperative
Extension http//www.uwex.edu/ces/pdande/evaluatio
n/evallogicmodelworksheets.html University of
Wisconsin Grants Information Collection http//gra
nts.library.wisc.edu/ http//researchguides.libra
ry.wisc.edu/content.php?pid16143sid108666
38Federal Grants
Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance (Listing
of all federal programs, projects,
services) https//www.cfda.gov/?smainmodelistt
ablist DUNS number request (Dun Bradstreets
Data Universal Numbering System) Free for all
businesses required to register with the US
Federal government for contracts or
grants http//fedgov.dnb.com/webform Federal
Forms www.fedforms.gov/organization.cfm
39Online Data Sources
Education Resources Information
Center http//www.eric.ed.gov/ County Health
Rankings http//www.countyhealthrankings.org/
State Health Rankings http//www.americashealthr
ankings.org/ US Statistical Abstract, State
Rankings http//www.census.gov/compendia/statab/ra
nkings.html Census Quickfacts
http//swrpc.org/data - regional
2010 http//quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/index.html
40Online Data Sources
Monitoring the Future http//www.monitoringthefu
ture.org/ US Census http//www.census.gov/ http
//www.census.gov/geo/www/tractez.html US
Government Publications http//www.gpo.gov/ Child
Stats http//www.childstats.gov/ Federal http//
www.fedstats.gov/
41Online Data Sources
US Health Statistics http//www.cdc.gov/nchs/ US
Education http//nces.ed.gov/surveys/sdds/index.a
spx US/comparative (health, education,
population, labor force, economy,
etc.) http//www.prb.org/DataFinder.aspx Kids
Count http//datacenter.kidscount.org/
42Local Resources for Farms
Cheshire County Conservation District Amanda
Costello Littleton, District Manager http//cheshi
reconservation.org/ 756-2988 x 116 NOFA NH Ray
Conner, Beginner Farmer Program
Coordinator http//nofanh.org/ (603)
224-5022 Monadnock Conservancy Ryan Owen,
Executive Director http//www.monadnockconservancy
.org/ (603) 357-0600 UNH Cooperative
Extension Carl Majewski, UNH Cooperative
Extension http//extension.unh.edu/Agric/Agric.ht
m 352-4550
43THANK YOU
Cyndi Desrosiers, CPS, CASA/gal Grant Support
Specialist Cheshire County cdesrosiers_at_co.cheshir
e.nh.us 603-355-3023