Money Doesn't Grow on Trees: The ABC’s of Grant Writing

2011 /2012 Grant Workshop Training

Our training today will provide you with basic skills for grant writing, executing and providing the correct components needed to successfully submit a Letter of Inquiry and a Full Proposal grant application.

A streamlined approach for guiding your organization through the dos and don’ts of the grant application process.

Branding Manager – The Gap

KEY ELEMENTS: • Identify the Need

• Pinpoint your Project or Program

• Develop Clearly Stated Objectives

• Establish the Methods you will Need

• Lay the Groundwork for an Evaluation Plan

• Identify Sources for Future Fundraising

• Develop a Budget for your Project or Program

• Successful Cover Letter –The Introduction of Your Organization

• Title Page –(Sample of application and grant schedule)

Letter of Inquiry - preparing an application for funding consideration

• Full Proposal Application - (Sample of Full Proposal Application, Cover Sheet, Directions)

• Grant Agreement Document

• Grantee Self Evaluation

Why Are You Here? Grant writing provides a vehicle for

your organization to educate funders about key community needs. A grant application can inform funders of how your organization meets those needs. Funders and nonprofits that deliver community programs have a symbiotic relationship; both entities can benefit from that relationship.

Grantmakers receive requests that far exceed the amount of funds they have available to distribute making the grant process competitive.

So Where Do You Start?

IDENTIFY A NEED

The first step is to identify apotentially fundable projector program that will contributeviable resources to your organization and the community you support. By researching your areas of need you have now determined these likely projects or programs that both will support your organization’s mission, and in turn will also contribute valuable resources and services needed by your clients?

• Does the program align with your organizations mission?

• How does this program complement the organization’s existing programs?

• Can your organization actually carry out the proposed program?

• Does the program further the mission of your organization?

• Why is your organization perfectly poised to address the identified need or service?

PINPOINTING YOURPROJECT OR PROGRAM

By identifying the needs and your project ideas you have now established and determined how to solve and support your challenges. You also can begin to think about how you will support your claim that the needs are real. When talking about needs, talk about them from the community’s rather than from the organization’s perspective. You are not asking for money for the organization you are asking to fill a need in the community, that’s why your project or program is important.

• What is the benefit to the community?• What is the benefit to the client?• What is the benefit to the funder? • Why will the proposed project make a

difference?• Is the program realistic?• Can it be achieved within the time frame

stated and with the resources available?• What is the back-up plan if you don’t

receive funding or if you don’t receive as much as requested?

DEVELOP CLEARLYSTATED OBJECTIVES

You have now clearly established the need or problem your organization wants to support through a grant, now you need to explain why the program was or ought to be created. While exploring the objectives, which explain (1) what the program will accomplish and (2) what impact that accomplishment will have on the community served. A good objective should be time sensitive and measurable.

• How will your progress be measured?• How many can be served in this time frame?• Does the plan include both quantitative and

qualitative measures?• Is it realistic – achievable?• What makes your organization qualified to

undertake this program?• Why should your organization address this

issue?• Why now?• Who else is doing similar work?• Is it possible to partner

with another organization? • How will the program be sustained once the

grant is over?

ESTABLISH THE METHODSYOU NEED TO USE

Now that, you have determined the objectives for your organization’s possible projects or programs, write down how your organization will meet these objectives. In other words, what action will your organization take to solve the problems that they have identified and the need within your client population that could be filled by your organization?

Remember to not confuse the objective with the method. The method should clearly state what the program will do in solving the problem, and how your organization will go about implementing the project or program.

LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR AN EVALUATION PLAN

Communicating your organization’s story of what you plan for your project or program with your potential funder is how you will measure the success of that project or program.

IDENTIFY SOURCES FOR FUTURE FUNDRAISING

Foundations understand thatinitially organization’s needassistance in starting newprograms. But they also find projects and programs that can have the ability to later sustain themselves through other resources and funding opportunities for the future is an important factor when considering grant requests. Organization’s that look for addition partners and funding resources on projects and programs have a better advantage in maintaining that project or program if they seek out additional funding sources themselves after the initial grant.

• List your organization’s fundraising programs

• Find revenue producing events that could help benefit your organization

• Discussing the pros & cons of each fundraising idea with your staff, board, & donors can be beneficial; great brainstorming

• Plan creative new ways to support future funding of programs after a grant has been received

• Keep connected to the changing needs in your community when planning fundraising events

Continue to tell your organization’s story at every event, change the way in which you deliver the message to keep attendees engaged!

DEVELOP A BUDGET FORYOUR PROJECT OR PROGRAM

Developing an accurate outline and budget for your organization’s proposed project or program is vital. It is the first step in preparing a project proposal budget that shows how your organization will combine its resources and a funding agency’s resources to form a cost-effective partnership.

• Establish an outline of the associated costs to implement the project or program

• Typical expenses for creating a budget are: salaries, staff, benefits, program staff, supplies, equipment, training, travel expenses, rent or space needed, and printing of any materials or equipment related to project or program

• List out what expenses your organization can cover and then it will be easier to determine what amount you will need to apply for grant funding. Work with your finance manager to help determine some of these areas of support your organization can support

• Your proposed budget should cover a specific time frame, the length of the project or program

Organize Your Thoughts….• Will your grant application

stand out from the crowd

• Reviewers read through hundreds of applications, make yours easy to follow

• Keep it short and to the point; cut out anything that is not relevant

• FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS

Harnessing The Power of Email – MCCF is

going “green”!

SEND YOUR EMAIL APPLICATIONS TO:

Jo@MCCFdn.org

Your applications

can be emailed this

year, you will

receive a email

confirmation.

Creativity is Necessary!

"Do not do what you are doing now”

Think out of the box!

Work with a collaborative partner!

Do You Have Any…

JOIN US!

theMcHenry County Community Foundation

and remember to continue to visit our website www.MCCFdn.org for what

your Community Foundation

is up to!