NCHN Annual Meeting San Diego, California Grant Writing Techniques and Strategies Eileen Holloran Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration Office of Rural Health Policy April 16, 2008

The Maze of Information

Time Line - Identify Need/Wish List Develop Project Goals and Objectives Research Funding Opportunities Complete the Prerequisites Strategies to Address Problem Complete Application Review and Revise Submit

State Problem Identify Need/Wish List –Define what you want to accomplish Look at issue from all aspects –What are the desired outcomes –How will you get there Collect Pertinent Data –Include local factual data, if available, and relate it to State and national data

Identify Goals Develop Project Goals and Objectives –Goals Ultimate outcome of project Concrete, implicit target One or two major goals Measurable –Objectives Steps follow logically

Where to Go for Assistance Research Funding Opportunities –Grants.gov –Foundations –State/local grants –Local charitable organizations/employers Don’t limit your possibilities Make sure you meet all the eligibility requirements Request a copy of a previously awarded project through this funding mechanism

Prerequisites Determine Eligibility –Can we apply Registration –Letters of intent Who Needs to be Involved –If necessary decide the type of organizations that should be involved –Identify possible organizational impact

Prerequisites Prerequisites (continued) Create a Team to Work on the Project –Name the lead person Someone that has the authority and respect to get things done –Determine the roles and level of participation of all partners, if needed Top level participation Ability to make decisions –Get formal commitment from partners

Prerequisites Prerequisites (continued) Read and Re-Read Program Requirements –Have at least one other staff member read all the program information (guidance, forms, etc.) You should agree on how to proceed –Make certain you understand exactly what, how, when, etc. is required for the application –Call the program contact person with any questions

Prerequisites Prerequisites (continued) Involve the Community to be Served –Town Meetings, focus groups, health fairs, health surveys –Include all that will be impacted through the project –Enlist participation of the town fathers Get Community Buy-In –Community must be included in the planning, development and implementation of the project

Paint the Right Picture

Write the Application Get Your Ducks in a Row Develop the work plan (activities) –Must be based on problem/need –Identify what steps need to be taken to accomplish your goals –Logical, do-able –Complete all the required information –If there is a section of the requested information that does not apply to your project just say so

Project Development Besides Goals and Work Plan Include Discussion of: –Impact –Partners and community –Evaluation Identify evaluator if possible Develop plan up front Qualitative and quantitative –Sustainability

Project Development Impact –Value to community and partners How will the project impact your stated needs What will the community receive if you reach your goals What will be better Will there be Return on Investment (ROI) –Financial –Increased service –Solution of problem

Project Development Inclusive Evaluation –Two Pronged Improvement to on-going project activities –Are the strategies working and are our objectives being met Overall outcome of project –Did we get where we wanted to and how –Identify evaluator if possible –Internal/External –Develop Evaluation Plan with the Project Include your evaluation plan in application

Project Development Sustainability –Are there activities that need to continue – If so is there cost involved Partner – financial commitment Reimbursement Community support and buy-in –Local government –Employers State support Additional grants

Project Development Before You Submit –Make sure what you want is clearly identified Have you made the case for your project Are your strategies to meet your objectives measurable and manageable Would you fund this project if you were the grantor –Re-check the Instructions

Project Development Before You Submit (continued) –Have someone proofread the document for content, grammar and spelling –Submit all the information/documentation that is requested –Make sure all the pieces are in the correct order –Did I say re-read it

Important Tips Submit on Time –Late applications are returned Read And Follow Instructions –Follow formatting instructions Fonts, page limits, margins –Assemble the application as instructed –Include all forms – properly completed

Important Tips Don’t Guess – –Get your questions answered Be Succinct –More words do not equal better narrative Don’t Be Repetitive Read and Re-Read –Then have someone else read it Don’t Leave Anything Out

Important Tips And Some More –Put your organization’s name on every sheet –Number every page – Make sure the grantor can find you Correct contact information –Include organizational subdivision –Identify an alternate –Include contact information for someone besides a grant writer if one is used Keep on Trying

Ya’ Just Gotta Love It!

All Federal Grant Opportunities Search by Announcement Number, CFDA or key word All applications include an Attachment which explains the process

Register – Just once Must have Duns and Bradstreet Number (D&N) and Central Contract Registry Number (CCR)

Download the application materials before you have the D&N and CCR numbers –Pure Edge Viewer/Adobe Grants Customer Support Center – Telephone: GRANTS ( ). Hours of operation are Monday to Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET (Eastern

Do all the work on your desktop –All sections should be completed on your desktop –Attachments should be in text format –WordPerfect, Excel – most are narrative, –Print out a complete copy of your submission to make sure everything is there before you submit –Verification Two s – – 1 st received –2 nd verification with tracking number

–Grants.gov program will notify you if a form is missing or if information on a form is incomplete –You will NOT be notified if you leave out an attachment or part of one –ALWAYS call the help desk with problems –Waivers - Other agencies, foundations?

Valuable Web Links Office of Rural Health Policy – Rural Assistance Center – Rural Recruitment and Retention Network – All Federal Funding Opportunities –

Contact Information Eileen Holloran Federal Office of Rural Health Policy 5600 Fishers Lane, 9A42 Rockville, MD