Successful Grant Seeking and Writing Tips

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Successful Grant Seeking and Writing Tips

• January 16, 2013

Cyndi Desrosiers, CPS Grant Support Specialist,
Cheshire County Consultant
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About 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

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Grant 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

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Grant 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

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THE FIVE Ws WHO, WHAT, WHY, WHEN, WHERE

1. Who am I (the organization or institution I
   represent)?
2. What is my project?
3. Why do I need the money?
4. When do I need the money?
5. Where will the funds be directed?

Grant Training Center, GTC 2009 Resource,
Arlington, VA
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And, 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
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The 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
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Know 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
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Preliminary 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
10
Building 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
11
Resources 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
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Questions 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
13
Building 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
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Logic 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
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Proposal Outline

• Summary
• Needs Statement
• Program Description
• Evaluation
• Staff Organizational Experience
• Budget
• Appendices/Supporting Documentation

Childrens Services Council, Palm Beach County
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Summary

• 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
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Needs 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
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The 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
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Program 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
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Program Description

1. 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.
2. 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
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EVALUATION 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

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EVALUATION

• 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?

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Chains 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
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Staff 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
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Budget

• The budget generally includes the following
  primary components
• Expenses
• Revenue
• Budget Narrative

Childrens Services Council, Palm Beach County
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Appendices/Supporting Documentation

• IRS 501(c)(3) Certificate
• Articles of Incorporation
• Resumes
• Letters of Support
• Most Recent Agency Audit

Childrens Services Council, Palm Beach County
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TRACK 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

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SOUNDS 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

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SOUNDS 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

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SOUNDS 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?

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Resources for grants

• http//www.grantproseinc.com/
• includes grant alerts by fixed deadlines and
  rolling deadlines
• www.Grantgopher.com
• www.GuideStar.com
• FundBook Grants database

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Resources 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

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Top 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

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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
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FARM 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

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OTHER 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

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Logic 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

•  

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Federal 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

•  

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Online 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

•  

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Online 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/

•  

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Online 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/

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Local 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/ [phone] UNH Cooperative
Extension Carl Majewski, UNH Cooperative
Extension http//extension.unh.edu/Agric/Agric.ht
m 352-4550


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THANK YOU
Cyndi Desrosiers, CPS, CASA/gal Grant Support
Specialist Cheshire County cdesrosiers_at_co.cheshir
e.nh.us 603-355-3023

•