Learning from our grant writing mistakes
-
Upload
diane-leonard -
Category
Government & Nonprofit
-
view
133 -
download
2
description
Transcript of Learning from our grant writing mistakes
Learning From Our Mistakes
Presented by
Linda Butler, MSW, ACSW, LISW-SDiane H. Leonard, GPC
Introduction• Diane H. Leonard, GPC, Owner,
DH Leonard Consulting & Grant Writing Services, LLC
• More than twelve years of professional experience in grant seeking and grant making
• Success percentage of 65% of proposals being funded - have raised millions of dollars for clients
Introduction• Linda Butler, MWS, ACSW, LISW-
S, Owner, Butler Consulting• 40 years of fundraising, clinical
and administrative experience• Helps organizations target
fundraising, grant seeking, training, managing and capacity building
• Served on the GPA Board from 2008 to 2013
• 2014 Social Worker of Year for Ohio’s Region 7
Check-in Question
• Let us know where you are from
• Click the box next to your answer for the poll on your screen
Agenda
• Webinar Objectives• Summary of 2013 Conference Panel• Discussion of Mistakes• Best Practices Identified• Tools to Prevent Mistakes• Next Steps• Questions
2013 GPA Conference Panelists
• Rena Beyer, MS• Margit Brazda Poirier• Linda Butler, MSW, ACSW, LISW-S• Jana Jane Hexter, GPC• Diane H. Leonard, GPC• Jo Miller, GPC• Heather Stombaugh, GPC
Webinar Objectives
By the end of this webinar, participants will have:• Increased their understanding of how communication among partners can be framed to avoid errors;• Increased their awareness of systems that can be put in place to ensure that proposal construction meets funders’ expectations; and• Increased their understanding of how honesty in working on proposals as outlined in GPA professional ethics can assist in remedying human errors.
Alignment with GPCI Validated Competencies & Skills
• Knowledge of how to craft, construct and submit an effective grant application
• Knowledge of strategies for effective program and project design and development
• Knowledge of how to research, identify and match funding resources to meet specific needs
Alignment with GPCI Validated Competencies & Skills
• Knowledge of organizational development as it pertains to grant seeking
• Knowledge of nationally recognized standards of ethical practice by grant developers
• Knowledge of methods and strategies that cultivate and maintain relationships between fund-seeking and recipient organizations and funders
Poll
What do you hope to learn today?
Panel Question #1
What was the worst avoidable error which cost your organization/client a grant?
Panel Question #1
Responses:• Butler Consulting worked with a client who rarely submitted federal grants….
Panel Question #1
Double & triple check budget formulas
Panel Question #2
What was the worst avoidable error which your organization/client received funding in spite of?
Panel Question #2
Responses:• Butler Consulting worked with a client providing ex-offender programs who was not “grant-ready” and who did not have the infrastructure to implement a state grant…
Panel Question #2
Panel Question #3
What personal grant writing practices and procedures have you changed as a result of mistakes?
Panel Question #3
• Butler Consulting has learned with our first client to raise the question of how a project can impact daily operations…
Panel Question #3
Establishing checks and balances
Panel Question #4
What are some foolish concepts you have seen with grant seekers/programs/clients in regards to their approach to grants?
Panel Question #4
• Butler Consulting has seen many foolish concepts such as: a) requests to work for a percentage or contingency; & b) lack of understanding re: project development, grants management, financial accountability
Panel Question #4
Overlooking power of funder relationships
Panel Question #5
Do you have any “anti-error” tools that you like to use? Paper/online/collaborative tools (aka Secret Weapons)?
Panel Question #5
• Butler Consulting’s “secret weapons” include: “CHECKLIST FOR SUCCESS!”; “Project Development Worksheet”; and organization development interview to screen for “grant-readiness”.
Panel Question #5
Best Practices Identified
Grant Funder Research & Relationship Building
• Confirm funder contact names and mailing information are consistent on all documents
• Confirm funder information matches most recently published guidelines
Grant Funder Research & Relationship Building
• Establishing relationships with potential funders is a critical first steps
• Relationships will vary based on funder• Be flexible and adapt to their preferred
communication capacity/preference
Time Management
Time Management
• Set appropriate timelines and provide yourself buffer space when possible for late items.
• Follow-up on late items, particularly early in the process, to show grant team members that you will hold everyone accountable to the timeline.
Time Management
• Submit at least 24 hours prior to a deadline whenever possible, if not sooner.
• For federal proposals understand if allowed to submit multiple packets with last reviewed or if only allowed one upload.
Time Management
• When still allowed to submit via hard copy, take human error or delay into account.
• Submit as far in advance of deadline as possible and require submission via a delivery receipt service (USPS, UPS, or Fed Ex).
Time Management
• Utilize a project management tool or communication system to most effectively handle grant application process, especially collaborative applications.
Time Management
• Utilize a document sharing tool (e.g., DROPBOX) to most effectively manage documents in collaborative applications.
• Determine how team wants to edit (WORD tracking, different colors or highlights for changes)
Grant Team Facilitation
Grant Team Facilitation
• Avoid designing the program for your organization or client since ownership is critical.
• It may help secure the award, but cause problems during implementation and management.
Grant Team Facilitation
• Ensure all key players are engaged in the process early on in the application design phase (e.g., Compression Planning or Storyboarding)
• When working with a collaborative proposal, be sure to confirm that the leadership of all collaborative partners are aware and on board with the application.
Editing
• Have a clear editing process in place • Incredibly important when using a grant
team approach internally or in a collaborative writing situation
• Use contractual editor on your team
Editing
• Make it clear early in the process who has the final say for any edits on a grant proposal or related document
• Clarify internal roles of review/feedback versus approval
Editing
• Have external editors (to team or even organization) read through grant proposals when possible
• Helps catch jargon or slang
Use Available Tools
Collaborative Tools
Source: http://www.damarque.com/blog/gianluigi-cuccureddu/online-collaboration-tools-increase-productivity-and-efficient-servicing
Communication Tools
• Standards (email, phone)• Text• Skype/Facetime• Google Hangout• Messaging
Writing/Document Sharing Tools
• Dropbox• The Box• Google Drive• NAS/Cloud-based Servers• Word tracking/comments
Time Tracking/Project Management
• Harvest Time Tracking (http://www.getharvest.com/)
• Base Camp (https://basecamp.com/)• Tom’s Planner (http://tomsplanner.com/)• Google Calendar (
www.google.com/calendar)
Apps
• VoX Mobile VoIP• Evernote
Custom Tools“Checklist for Success” and “Project Development Worksheet” from Butler Consulting (http://butlerconsulting.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/checklistforsuccess5-11rev.pdf)
“Grant Readiness Matrix” from Just Write Solutions (http://justwrite-solutions.com/wp-content/uploads/JWS-Targeted-Proposal-Decision-Making-Matrix-20121.pdf)
Next Steps
Source: http://miriadna.com/preview/autumn-steps
What Will Be Different?
What will YOU do differently during your next collaborative grant effort?
What/how will you share with members of your team?
Questions
Any additional questions?
Linda Butler, MSW, ACSW, [email protected]
Diane H. Leonard, [email protected]