Seek grants when trying to solve a problem
that will improve the
lives of peoples.
|
Write a prep statement. A
prep statement should answer the following (one sentence each):
- What condition, problem, and need will the proposal address?
- What improvements will be made?
- What will your organization do to make the improvements?
- How will success of the project be determined?
- How will it be continued if it is successful?
- How much is it likely to cost?
Grant
provider is a partner in your project/program. Keep them informed!
Especially if delays occur!
Tips
on Fundraising
Grants
and Foundations
The following is taken from Grant Writing workbook available from our Resource Center,
# 320.1800. This resource includes worksheets to help you compose and
evaluations forms to help you asses the strength of your grant proposal.
Contact the office to borrow this resource.
- Always review the RFP/grant
applications, then follow the instructions.
- Organize background materials
- Mission Statement
- Organization Description
- Organization History
- Organization Chart
- Articles of Incorporation
- 501(c)(3) certification
- Board of Directors membership list
- Statement of organizational capability
- Biographical sketches of key personnel
- Position descriptions of key personnel
- Map of target service area
- Demographics of target population
- Copy of most recent audit
- Organize Grant Writing Team
- Expert - program person
- Project manager
- Writer
- Researcher
- Go-to person (admin)
The Need Statement always focuses on the problems and needs of
the people you intend to serve.
- Review the RFP
- Describe the conditions underlying the problem
- Describe the problems generated by the conditions
- Describe the needs created by the problems (e.g. what
will it take to change the conditions and solve the problem)
- Describe the key concepts underlying your proposal (concepts for
success - empowerment, inclusion, etc)
The Goals and Objectives always refer to the results you
intend to achieve for the people you intend to serve.
- Review the RFP
- Review your Need Statement
- Determine what your Goals are and draft Goal statements. Goals
are "end statements"; e.g. broad statements about the conditions
will be at the end of the project (should not start with "To
provide")
- Determine your objectives to accomplish the Goals. Objectives
describe:
- what you are trying to change
- who will be directly affected by the change
- direction of change (increase or decrease)
- how much change you plan to achieve
- when will the change occur (e.g. within 18 months)
- Double check you Goal and Objective statements against your Need
Statement
Methodologies that connect affected organizations and people
are more likely to produce the results you want to achieve.
- Review the RFP.
- Briefly describe the target population.
- Describe your partners.
- Describe "the technology". In this case, not computer technology
but a set of skills, body of knowledge and/or areas of your
expertise.
- Delineate tasks for each Objective. How you will achieve the
goals?
- Determine the sequence of the tasks.
- Determine the timing of tasks.
- Determine personnel needs
- Determine other resource needs (equipment, facility, manual,
licenses, etc)
- Map out your plan for managing the tasks
- Describe involvement of the target population
- Explain what is innovative about your project (even if it is
just a new program from another area, it may just be new to your
community)
- Sustainability - how likely will your program be converted to a
"regular program" or reproduced in other areas
- Develop a timetable
- Formulate a plan for managing the project
- Check against Goals and Objectives
Evaluate both the process and the outcome
- Review the RFP
- Analyze the Proposal
- Are needs and/or problems clearly and completely defined?
- Do the Goals and Objectives adequately address the need of
problems?
- Are the Objectives clear? Do they meet the standards?
- Does the Methodology include all tasks associated with the
Objectives?
- Are the tasks realistic? Doable?
- Is your timetable realistic?
- Clarify who will be using the results of the evaluations
(your organization, project staff, participants, funding source,
partners)
- Develop a series of questions that you and other interested
parties want answered.
- Identify what information is needed to answer the questions
(e.g. evaluation indicators/measures)
- Decide on basic evaluation design (e.g. quantitative and/or
qualitative)
- Devise data collection strategy (surveys, interviews, counts,
records, etc)
- Describe analytical methods
- Describe reporting and use
- Determine responsibilities
- Ask expert to review your plan
The Budget Plan must reflect your best estimate of what is required
to finance the project - nothing more and nothing less.
- Review the RFP
- Estimate the direct expenses of the project
- Obtain you organization's indirect rate, if any, and show it in
the budget
- Develop your budget narrative
- Plan future funding
- Determine what costs will be donated by your organization or you
partners
- Determine and document sources of expected revenues, including
the grant for which you are applying
- Review you Budget Plan in light of the Methodology and other
factors
- Ask a budget expert to review your work and suggest improvements
Plan for project continuation as carefully as you do for project
initiation.
- Review the RFP
- Describe you plans for continuing the project
- Identify commitments to continue the project
- Describe your organization's record and experience in converting
past projects into ongoing programs
Introduction is usually 1-3 pages. Developing it requires six steps:
- Review the RFP
- Describe your organization's mission, goals, etc.
- Describe your organization's history (accomplishments)
- Describe your target population, programs and service capacity
- Describe your qualifications
- Identify your partners and their qualifications
The summary is 1 page or less. This is your chance to brag.
Remember to use positive active voice in the language (This project
will ...) Developing it requires six steps:
- Briefly describe your organization
- Describe the need or problem
- Describe how the proposal addresses the problems and needs
- Indicate what results are anticipated
- State the budget for the project
- Briefly describe how the project will be continued after the
grant expires
| Build in extra time to deal with unexpected events. |
- Review the RFP to make sure all elements are covered and
instructions for submission.
- Consolidate the draft components into a single document
- Spell check the entire proposal
- Paginate the proposal -
- Font: Times New Roman, 12pt
- Spacing 1.5 - double spacing
- Margins: 1" top, bottom, left & right
- Number all pages (page x of y) - even if it is handwritten
- Left-justified
- Assemble and label the appendices
- Mission Statement
- Organization Description
- Organization History
- Organization Chart
- Articles of Incorporation
- 501(c)(3) certification
- Board of Directors membership list
- Statement of organizational capability
- Biographical sketches of key personnel
- Position descriptions of key personnel
- Map of target service area
- Demographics of target population
- Copy of most recent audit
- Prepare a Table of Contents
- Forward your proposal to the technical review(s) you identified
in your work plan
- Make necessary changes and distribute the draft to your project
partners for their review
- Make necessary changes and prepare the grant signature documents
- Run a clean copy, single sided, and forward it to those
responsible for obtaining signatures
- Compile a final, compete proposal and make the required number
of photocopies.
- Prepare the copies for submittal
- Review the RFP one last time to make sure you understood the
submittal instructions, then submit your proposal
- Distribute copies of the proposal to your partners and others
involved in its development
- Prepare for question and answer session with the funding source.
| Tips for completing grant applications: |
Cahlan Kathleen, Projects That Matter
A PROJECT responds
CONDITIONS by gathering
RESOURCES that support
ACTIVITIES that produce
RESULTS that have an
IMPACT on people and a
RATIONAL says why.
Carlson, M. Winning Grants Step by Step
Hal, M. Getting Funded: A Complete Guide to Proposal Writing
Kiritz, N. J. Program Planning & Proposal Writing
Burke, Smith N. and Works, E. G. The Complete Book of Grant
Writing
|
Intentional
Mission
