Who Wants a Grant? Getting Started

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Who Wants a Grant? Getting Started

• Dr. Cynthia Irvin
• cirvin_at_ideasandresources.org

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Who Wants a Grant? Getting Started

• Begin with a great idea for a projectbut check
  to see how many others, if any, have had a
  similar idea
• Refine your idea/project based on your research
  on similar topics
• Compile a list of funders of related projects

• Research, research, research possible funders
• Check to see if funder issues RFPseven past
  ones will give you detailed information on the
  types of projects the funder prefers

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Types of Funding

• Grants
• Foundations
• Corporate
• Government
• Contracts
• www.grants.gov

• Sponsorships
• Corporate
• Individual

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Funders have needs too!

• Before you start to prepare a grant proposal,
  carefully read the funders mission statement,
  guidelines, lists of recent grants and the
  program descriptions.
• Review annual reports for inside tips!

• Express your knowledge of a funders interests
  and tie it in to your proposal
• Your Guiding Star can be www.guidestar.org
• 990 forms can be your best friendso whats a
  990?
• The IRSat your service?

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Corporate Sponsorship Proposals Key Components

• 1 page cover letter which summarizes first the
  benefits to the corporation, secondly your
  project, and a price range for sponsorshipnever
  an exact price
• 1 page summary of benefits to the corporation and
  audience/constituent demographics
• 1 page summary of the sponsorship opportunity
  such as dates, location, attendance.everything
  you would include on an invitation and a press
  fact sheet
• When possible, samples of press and reports about
  past events, especially those showing sponsor
  credits

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Key Items in any Grant Proposal

• Purpose of the program..what will it accomplish
• Why are you doing this projectwhy is the program
  needed?
• How will you make it happenwhat resources are
  needed to carry out the project and what steps
  will be taken to successfully execute the
  project? A clear, well presented strategy is
  Essential!

• Who will do what? Who will direct the project?
  What staff will be involved? How much time will
  each person devote to the project?
• Who will benefit? Why is it important to serve
  this population?
• How will you know you have been successful?
• Summary /Executive Summary

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Know Thy Goals from Objectives

• Goals
• The desired outcome
• Its about the Final product

• Objectives
• Measureable steps to reach our goals
• Its about the Process to reach our goal

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Nitty, Gritty Details Know Thy RFP or Your
Project May RIP Without Funding

• Review each RFP thoroughly
• Note the points awarded to each section
• RFPs often include checklists for applicants, if
  so, make sure you use it!
• http//www.omhrc.gov/assets/pdf/checked/How20to2
  0Write20A20Winning20Proposal--Knowing20what20
  funders20want20and20how20to20deliver20it.pdf
  

• Make sure your proposal explicitly addresses
  each RFP if it doesnt look for another
  funding opportunity
• Dont squander potential future good will by
  sending in a tangentially related proposal

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Some Finer Points of Grant Speak

• Customize every proposal for every funder
• Organize proposals using the outcomes method
  whenever possible to stress the effects the
  project will have
• Avoid buzz words unless you clearly address
  them
• Never quote verbatim from a funders mission
  statement or program guide. You wont be taken
  seriously unless you can express in your own
  words what your project will do and how it
  directly relates to their interests

• Organize proposals using the process methods when
  the outcomes might be small in comparison with
  the process needed to achieve them
• Proposals for operating support should use a list
  of recent accomplishments as a starting point for
  present and future project descriptions
• Use acronyms wiselywhile they may give those in
  the know a feeling of inclusion, they also give
  those not (yet) in the know a feeling of exclusion

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Work Plans Proposal and Project

• Proposal Work Plan
• Weeks 1-3 Conduct research to find the best
  funder matches for the project and obtain
  guidelines for the application
• Weeks 4-8 (as needed) to write proposal and share
  with internal reviewers, colleagues, etc
• Week 9 Make final revisions and submit whenever
  possible in advance of the funders deadline.

• Project Work Plan
• Clearly identity project timeline highlighting
  accomplishment of key tasks
• Clearly identify project staff with key
  responsibility for specific tasks
• Keep in touch with project officer

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Identifying Donors

• Beyond the 990
• http//foundationcenter.org/findfunders/
• http//foundationcenter.org/pnd/
• http//www.grantstation.com/tour/intro/intro.asp

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Evaluation Criteria A Funders Insurance Policy

• Use concrete methods of evaluating a project you
  know you will be able to include in your report
  to the funder
• Your proposal should make it clear to the funder
  that you will be able to analyze if you have done
  your job well and demonstrate that the benefits
  of the program have justified the expense and
  (hopefully) demonstrate need for future funding.
• Some typical evaluation instruments include
  surveys completed by participants, reports on key
  results provided to donors, (milestones
  achieved)and reviews by an external evaluator(s)

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Budgeting for Success Key Items

• Personnel
• Project director (25) 18,000
• Project Manager (15) 10,000
• Program assistants (2_at_50) 40,000
• Subtotal 68,000
• Fringe (_at_20) 13,600
• Total personnel 81,600

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Budgeting for Success Key Items

• Other Direct Costs
• Telephone
• Advertising
• Photocopying
• Postage Mail preparation
• Website development
• Travel (confirm if federal per diem rates apply-
  they usually do)
• Some grants allow for indirect costs (rent,
  utilities, insurance, etc) formula is total
  indirect expenses/base expenses Indirect rate

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Budgeting for Success Putting it All Together

• Labor (personnel costs, including fringe)
• Other Direct Costs
• Indirect Costs/Fee
• In Kind Contributions
• Some funders request budget narratives which
  entails a brief discussion of how each expenses
  relates to the project, especially of the major
  budget expenses

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Lets Go Get That Grant!

• Follow each funders instructions to the letter.
• Research each funders interest very thoroughly
  and confirm interest with the funder (when
  possible).
• Tie your proposal to the funders interests using
  your own words.
• Always be positive, for example, use will
  rather than would to describe what your project
  will accomplish!
• Submit proposals prior to actual deadline.
• Keep the funder informed of the progress of your
  project they will be glad to review your next
  request for funding

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Questions?

• Please feel free to contact me with any
  additional questions!
• Dr. Cynthia Irvin
• clirvin_at_ncsu.edu or
• cirvin_at_ideasandresources.org