Grantsmanship

Why grants???? Stimulates change Commitment to planning and organizational responsibility Should you???? Is the organization ready for a grant? Is grant/project consistent with the organization’s mission?

Types of Funding Public Federal State County City Private Foundations Corporations Professional Organizations Private Industry

Private Corporate/Company Sponsored Separate independent foundation founded by Co. Federated Funds Raise funds to support nonprofit Family Foundation Independent, family donors, decisions Community Foundation/Trust Manages funds for community benefit Independent Foundation Primary function to make grants

Types of Applications Solicited Grant Announcements Call for Proposals – notice of an opportunity to submit a proposal on a specific topic. RFP/RFA Unsolicited LOI

Basics Neat, easy to read USA Today style Free of jargon Charts and graphs Anticipate questions “Grandmother Test”

Vetting Funding Sources How many grants will be awarded? How much funding is available? Who has been funded before? Calling the Program Officer Matching requirements?

Contact with Funders Briefly describe your general idea and the strengths you would bring to the project Does the agency support this type of project? Application kit

Contact with Funders Can/will the program officer review a draft or abstract? Can you review a copy of a funded proposal

Before the visit/call Review materials and legislative priorities Learn the kinds of projects usually funded Recently funded projects

During the visit/call What are the common strengths/weaknesses of proposals submitted? Major areas of emphasis in current funding cycle? Future interests? Can unfunded proposals be resubmitted?

Beginning to Develop Your Proposal “Buckets” Look for points that are emphasized by the funding source and begin to gather related data Begin to think about what research is needed to address these points well Gather your team

Summary/Abstract “Dust Jacket” Context at a glance May be published Gives first impression Often given to reviewers

Summary/Abstract Identifies grant applicant At least one sentence on credibility At least on sentence on problem At least one sentence on objectives At least one sentence on methods Total cost/amount requested (unless it’s a scientific abstract) Space or word limitation

Introduction Also called Credibility Qualifications Description of the Applicant Background Organizational Capability Organizational Capacity

Introduction Descriptive information Differentiating information Evaluative information When/why started What you do Quote from founder Characteristics of clients Qualifications of staff/board Recognition/awards “Highlights in our History”

Project Description/ Approach/ Methods/ Narrative Organizational Information Brief Summary of Organization’s history and mission. Description of current programs, activities, service statistics and strengths/accomplishments including what makes your organization unique.

Needs Statement Needs The situation—opportunity, problem, issue, need, and the community—that your proposal addresses, and how that need was determined.

Goals and Objectives Specific, measurable activities to accomplish these objectives. Goal Objective

Action Action Steps How to carry out the objectives. Timeline in which all of this will take place, with specific start/end dates. Describe the people involved in implementing the objectives

Measure Success How do you know that you have achieved the objective. Describe what will change in the lives of individuals, families or community as an outcome of your objective.

Impact of Activities How the proposed activities will impact the designated community or population.

Evaluation How you will measure the results, and how the results will be used, disseminated, or publicized. Sustainability How you plan to sustain the project after the funding period has expired.

Approach/Procedures/Methods Sometimes called “plan of action” Typically the longest part of the proposal Describe what you will do with the money P. 94 in Hall & Howlett

Approach/Methods Clearly describes program activities. States reasons for the selection of activities. Describes staffing of program/project. Presents a reasonable scope of activities that can be conducted within the time and resources of the program.

Management Plan In this section you must answer the question as to why you are the most appropriate organization/person to carry out this project Necessary expertise Resources

Management Plan Clear, logical plan that will executed by a project team of well-qualified people Discuss in detail the roles and responsibilities of key personnel Amount of time (percent of effort) they will work on project Time frame - months

Management Plan Visualize that you have been funded … Who would you need to hire? What qualifications would they need? What resources would you need? Job descriptions

Management Plan/Credentials What special skills are required to carry out the project? For example an education grant would require someone with curriculum development skills. Paragraph highlighting qualifications. Past experience Publications, presentations in the topic area

Management Plan/Institutional Qualifications Your institutions needs to have the resources to assist and support your carrying out the project Comprehensive Library Learning Resource Center Accessible Computers

Sample Qualifications What are the institutional qualification/capabilities of the following? NEPA Women’s Health Alliance Scranton Cultural Center Fricchione Child Care Center Meals on Wheels

Introduction “Wow stuff” Evaluation results Growth of services Success stories Strong community support Have done and can do Annual Report

Needs Assessment Assessing the need – before beginning proposal, thoroughly assess the need for the proposal’s idea. Consider: Organizational capacity Societal problems Local environment

Needs Statement Identifies an undesirable condition Consequences if not solved Who has the problem? What is the evidence Hard/soft data National to local

Needs Assessment Not need for the funds – need for work to be done. Nature of the need – “Is the project addressing the needs of the client or the needs of the applicant? Will the project truly benefit society? Does it address the problem

Needs Statement Will the project benefit enough people to justify the resources spent on it? Duplication of effort? How does the decision to work on one particular problem impact the organization as a whole?

Questions to help you analyze the need: How do you know there is a need for the proposed idea? Survey Focus groups Who or what is affected by the need and in what way? How urgent is the need in relation to others in the community? Is the need one of the top priorities in your institutions’ strategic plan?

Needs Assessment Who else agrees this is a problem worth addressing? Who else is working on the issue locally, regionally, or nationally? Have other ways of addressing the problem been tried? Why should these particular needs and this specific problem receive attention at this time?

Needs Assessment What is likely to happen if this project is not implemented now? Why are you (your organization) best suited to do this work? Do you have the capacity to initiate this effort at this time? Is the problem solvable?

Needs Assessment Will it make a lasting difference? What constraints or difficulties should be anticipated in meeting the need?

Needs Assessment Check list Proof your project is unique Why you are best suited to do it A compelling statement the project will address A clear description of the population to be served A list of factors that indicate why the idea should receive priority for funding

Needs Assessment an understanding of the previous literature, research, work done How has the “landscape” changed – economic e.g. downturn, upturn List of allies willing to support the proposal, idea with political resources, funding, shared resources

Literature Review & Documenting Need Professional Journals Census Reports Newspapers Surveys Surgeon General, Healthy People 2010, Strategic Plans of federal and state agencies

Problem or Needs Statement Identifies the problem and its causes Connections of the problem, causes and the solution establishes the rationale for the proposed project

Problem or Needs Statement Thorough understanding of the problem the project intends to explore, address and resolve. The importance of the problem to the participants and society as a whole Critical analysis of the literature and how the project will fill a gap

Problem or Needs Statement Innovative nature of the project – at least locally! The potential of replication by others. Why you (your organization cares about the problem) and capabilities of the organization (briefly – more later) How the need you intend to resolve addresses funder’s goals.

Needs Statement Checklist Is stated in terms of the clients’ needs and problems not the applicant? Is developed with input from beneficiaries (e.g. students, patients)? Makes no unsupported assumptions? Is free of jargon/technical language? Overall, the needs statement makes a compelling case?

Application Narrative Program Design Action Plan Work Plan Links the program’s goals with the funder’s money Explains how the money will accomplish your goals.

Purpose Purpose Statement should be a one- sentence, direct, concise explanation of what the funds are sought for. Sample The purpose of this request is to seek grant funding to plan four new exhibits at the Home Town Zoo and to acquire the exotic animals needed to complete the zoo’s expansion.

Goals The goal statement is a broad description of the intended consequences of the project Does not address specifics Should coincide with authorizing legislation if appropriate.

Goal Senior referral services will meet the need of Lackawanna County’s elderly population by linking them with individuals who have experience and or training in home health care, housekeeping, and companion services.

Goals Is it one sentence? Is the sentence clear and concise? Does the reader know who the target population is? Did I intentionally NOT include measurements and timelines?

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Goal Childhood Obesity Reversing the childhood obesity epidemic by 2015 by improving access to affordable healthy foods and increasing opportunities for physical activity in schools and communities across the nation. Your project goals and objectives should help the funder meet their goals.

Goal: The after school program will help children become better readers. Objective: The after school remedial evaluation program will assist 50 children in improving their reading scores by one grade level as demonstrated on standard reading tests administered after participating in the program for six months.

Format Goal Objective Goal Objective Goal Objective

Objectives (benchmarks) Objectives should be SMART Specific Measurable Action-oriented Reasonable Time-bound

Objectives Process objectives (to provide, to develop to establish) To establish an advisory committee …. Outcome objectives (to increase, to decrease) Expand the 2007 course offerings and available classes by 50% …

Outcome Describes what will change in the lives of individuals, families, organizations as a result of the project. Example The reading skills of all children in the program will increase at least one grade level and their parents will be using new skills in coaching, monitoring and encouraging their children’s education.

Goal: The after school program will help children become better readers. Objective: The after school remedial evaluation program will assist 50 children in improving their reading scores by grade level as demonstrated on standard reading tests administered after participating in the program for six months. Outcome: 50 children will have improved their reading scores by 10 points.

Methods (action steps, strategies) Sometimes called “action steps” or “strategies” The methods section describes the specific activities that will take place to achieve the objectives Detailed description of what will occur from the time the project begins until it is completed. Should match the objectives.

Methods How will you recruit participants? How will skills be measured? Management plan – who will do what? Staff/administration plan – flow chart Time line

Methods Fifty students will be recruited into the program through referrals from USA School District elementary teachers. Fifty students will be given a pre- and post-test to evaluate reading level. Ten volunteers will be recruited, screened, and trained to provide instruction.

Budget 1. Identify the total costs of the project (personnel, consultants, supplies) 2. Arrange items by category 3. Transfer data into the format required requested by the funder

Direct/Indirect Direct Costs are expenditures specifically attributable to the project or program. Indirect Costs relate to the infrastructure necessary to support the project – facilities, support personnel – but are difficult to cost out separately.

Matching In Kind Space % of effort Volunteers (assigned a standard $ value) Cash Supplies New Staff

Personnel Grant funds should not augment pay Comparable to salary/wages regularly used by organization % of time for agency director, project staff How much time will it take – ½ day, 10 hours week? Annual cost of living increase

Faculty Salary $40,000 9 month contract To annualize divide by.818 Annual salary = $48,900 Summer Salary $48,900 - $40,000 = $8,900

Travel Conferences Local for staff participants Required meeting Lodging.485/mile

Equipment Office chairs, desks, computer hardware (needed for new staff) Federal government defines as $5000 and above May differ by organization and with private funders

Supplies Paper, postage, duplicating and reproduction, software Items under $5,000 Miscellaneous

Contracted Costs Subcontract to another organization – their entire budget amount is listed here and attached Consultants Equipment installation Evaluation

Other What does not fit in any other category Tuition Publication costs for researchers Space rental

Indirect Costs % of direct costs Negotiated Federal Rate with “cognizant” agency Defined be funder

Direct costs$125,000 8% (indirect) F&A$ 10,000 Total Costs$135,000