Grant Writing Workshop Highlights

The Grant Training Center Highlights Prepared by: Kathy Korman Frey Entrepreneur in Residence GWSB Dept of Management frey@gwu.edu

Today About 8 Takeaways 5 Examples Many Resources and Links

Dr. Matilda Harris Reviewer Dept of Education National Science Foundation Reviewing – Good way to stay current in grant world

95% success rate How? Target Follows steps from course Write the one grant and get it, versus shotgun.

About grants 436 billion given out in grants 14% Federal government 7% Foundations 3% Corporations 76% individual donors Grants.gov - 90% increase in traffic.

About grants Typical process: Inquiry (one page letter) Donor requests a concept paper, or a proposal, or both. Never send in a proposal cold. Develop a relationship

Today About 8 Takeaways 5 Examples Many Resources and Links

#1 Target Smart Smart networking Focus on attendance Events and networking: At what events are the donors sitting “right there?”

#2 Collaborate Three key words in grants Collaboration Partnership Interdisciplinary Example: AAUW “coalition partners”

#3 Prep 40% better chance - submit the week before. 50% better chance - second submission. Takeaway: You’re prepared. Fewer errors. They know you.

#4 Build relationship Know the officer Talk to them Follow through There should be no outstanding questions at the time of submission.

#5 Follow Instructions 50% of proposals to NIH ELIMINATED Not following instructions The best way to get a grant: Follow the instructions.”

#6 Good writing Abstract – first Statement of need - second Grab them there, or it’s over Know your audience. Write in short, concise sentences. No passive voice. Bullets, charts. Share it with a trusted colleague first.

#7 It’s a Human (with very little time) Proposal goes to a Human One hour (review) 8 minutes of discussion Take the reader by the hand. Never make the reviewer work for you. (Happens a lot).

#8 Tell a story Must have hard data. Must have lit review. But there must be a good story. Example: NIH researcher, single mom on foodstamps.

Today About 10 Takeaways Examples Resources and Links

Hot Mommas Examples IBM – No relationship, no follow up Shell – No relationship, poor research Xerox – Weak relationship, poor research AAUW – Poor process management Schwab Foundation – Good relationship, good research, good follow up and process management Schwab funded the Hot Mommas Project financial literacy category.

Partnership Development Alumni Relations Communications Donor Thank you Schwab and GW! News feature. Click here (Windows Media Required)

Resources General resources #1 See if university has subscription www.Foundationcenter.org (You can go to library of Foundation Directory on CD rom at Library – 17th at K for free) Subscrip-http://www.cos.com/ - you may be able to sign up as individual www.Grantsnet.com – for those who don’t have cos.com http://www.grants.com Subscrip-http://www.infoed.org/new_spin/spin.asp http://www.researchresearch.com/entry/entry.htm Taproot Foundation – will help build donor lists and provide technical assistance www.nsf.gov Funding sources www.decadeofbehavior.org www.acls.org – “Advancing the Humanities” www.cfda.gov – Great resources for writing, search by agencies, successful applications. www.archives.gov – Search awarded grants www.guidestar.com – View all charitable donations of a foundation and 990

Resources Continued Journal of Higher Ed – Will show who got funded, what grants are coming up. Chronicle of Philanthropy – What’s coming up in gifts and grants. Where foundations and gifts are going? WK Kellogg Foundation Evaluation Handbook Evaluations American Evaluation Association (AED) – you can hire evaluators. CDC Evaluation Working Group – TONS of tools Center for Research on Learning and Teaching School Grants Example: Western Michigan evaluation site- see “Student Outcomes”

Links GTC Facebook GTC Website GTC Newsletter GWSB.wordpress.com Get copy of PPT and post your own resources here