1. Funding Fundamentals Cooperative Conservation Leadership Conference November 29, 2006 Lindy Turner, RC&D Coordinator

2. Assess Your Situation Articulate Your Needs What do you need/want…and why? What do you need/want…and why? –Project? –Operations? –Expansion?

3. Assess Your Situation Get Your House in Order Look at Your Organization Look at Your Organization –Eligibility –Experience –Capacity –Desire

4. What do people see when they see you coming?

5. Focus on the “Sweet” Spot Match your program needs with the donors interests. Match your program needs with the donors interests. Remember that people give to people, and that your organization is a “person”. Remember that people give to people, and that your organization is a “person”.

6. Consider Funding Options Partnerships Partnerships Shared resources Shared resources Fundraising Options Fundraising Options –Earned Income –Donation Based –Grants –Others

7. Gimme a Grant! What is a Grant? What is a Grant? Are you eligible? Are you eligible? Who has the money? Who has the money?

8. Who Has the Money? Eight Sources of Funding Eight Sources of Funding 1. Federal Government 1. Federal Government 2. State Government 2. State Government 3. Local Government 3. Local Government 4. Business and Industry 4. Business and Industry 5. Local Fund Raising Programs and Activities 5. Local Fund Raising Programs and Activities 6. Service Organizations/ Community Groups 6. Service Organizations/ Community Groups 7. Private Donations 7. Private Donations 8. Philanthropic Organizations/ Foundations 8. Philanthropic Organizations/ Foundations

9. Non-Government Giving

10. 2004 Foundation Giving - $15.5 Billion

11. Foundation Funding 1. Harder than you think. 1. Harder than you think. 2. Odds are best within a 300 mile target 2. Odds are best within a 300 mile target 3. Do your homework 3. Do your homework 4. Don’t waste their time (and yours!) 4. Don’t waste their time (and yours!) 5. Where to get info…. 5. Where to get info….

12. www.tgci.org www.tgci.org www.tgci.org www.foundationcenter.org www.foundationcenter.org www.foundationcenter.org www.guidestar.org www.guidestar.org www.guidestar.org Grants library Grants library www.rcdnet.org www.rcdnet.org www.rcdnet.org Annual Reports Annual Reports Websites Websites

13. Funding Philosophy Traditional Method (Chasing After the Money) Traditional Method (Chasing After the Money) Alternative Funding Philosophy (Finding the Right Funder) Alternative Funding Philosophy (Finding the Right Funder)

14. The First Things Funders Look For Is it all there? Is it all there? Does it adhere to guidelines? Does it adhere to guidelines? Does the budget add up? Does the budget add up? Is the budget justifiable? Is the budget justifiable? Will it make a difference? Will it make a difference? Can it be evaluated? Can it be evaluated?

15. Government Funds 1. Generally an RFP process 1. Generally an RFP process 2. Rules, rules, rules! 2. Rules, rules, rules! 3. The closer to home, the greater the politics. 3. The closer to home, the greater the politics.

16. http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html to register for daily Federal Register Table of Contents to register for daily Federal Register Table of Contents

17. What is a Grant Proposal? Program Presentation Program Presentation Request Request Persuasion Persuasion Promise Promise Plan Plan Pre-Contract Pre-Contract

18. Preparing to Write the Grant 1. Know your audience. 1. Know your audience. 2. Think like it is your personal money. 2. Think like it is your personal money. 3. Be clear about what you want. 3. Be clear about what you want. 4. Clearly introduce your organization. 4. Clearly introduce your organization.

19. Preparing to Write the Grant 5. What is your problem? 5. What is your problem? 6. How will you fix the problem? 6. How will you fix the problem? 7. Evaluation plans. 7. Evaluation plans. 8. What will it cost? 8. What will it cost?

20. Write every grant as if it WILL be funded

21. Write the Abstract First…and Last 150 words or less. 150 words or less. Make it COMPELLING…may be the ONLY thing read Make it COMPELLING…may be the ONLY thing read

22. Abstract Need/problem Need/problem Where it occurs Where it occurs When it occurs When it occurs What will happen if nothing is done What will happen if nothing is done What will you do to fix the problem What will you do to fix the problem What is your timeline What is your timeline How you will know it worked How you will know it worked What are the results you expect What are the results you expect Why your organization is the best Why your organization is the best How much will it cost and how much you are asking for How much will it cost and how much you are asking for Who else is involved Who else is involved WHY THEY ARE THE PERFECT FIT FOR FUNDING WHY THEY ARE THE PERFECT FIT FOR FUNDING

23. Final Thoughts Don’t get discouraged. Don’t get discouraged. Get “Grant Ready”. Get “Grant Ready”. Think like a business. Think like a business. Remember that grants are only one of many funding tools. Remember that grants are only one of many funding tools. Take care of the details. Take care of the details.

24. Questions? Lindy Turner Clinch-Powell Resource Conservation & Development Office P.O. Box 379 Rutledge TN 37861 865-828-5927 lindy@clinchpowell.org www.clinchpowell.net