1. Grants: Getting started, key terms, and SPED 613: Issues and Trends

2. Grant Monetary award given by a funder Proposal is usually a more free flowing grant request. You put your ideas on paper about your organization and the program you want to fund. A Request for Proposal (referred to as RFP) is an invitation for suppliers, through a bidding process, to bid on a specific product or service

3. Some Terms Capital support – money for equipment, buildings, and endowments. These are large scale projects and rarely funded. Consulting services – paying for an expertise to strengthen an aspect of your program Continuation grant – applying for continued monies for an already funded grant Endowments – a source of long-term, permanent investment income in insure the continuing presence and financial stability of your non-profit organization Program development – funding to pay for expenses related to organizational growth, a new program, or the expansion of an existing program Seed money – funding for a pilot project wishing to grow in the future

4. Possible outline Cover letter (one page) to introduce applicant, purpose of request, amount requested, and closing Cover sheet (one page form) organizational identification with key contacts, a glance at finances, mission statement and summary of request Narrative (5 page max) –Part 1 contains background, demographics, and possible benefits (global goals) –Part 2 contains descriptions, problem statements, funding, timelines, objectives and activities, and assessment Attachment – evaluation, organization structure, and supporting materials

5. Narrative outline 1.Introduction to or background of organization 2.History and major accomplishments of the group 3.Brief description of current programs and activities 4.Description / demographics of your constituency 5.Description of community 6.Description of work with local groups 7.Proposed initiative in 1-2 sentences “The purpose of this request is to…” 8.Problem statement / statement of need 9.Program design / plan of action 10.Goals in direct terms. Goals are not measurable, objectives are. For every goal, set a couple of objectives.

6. Goals and objectives examples (Browning, 2001) 1. Create a safe harbor in downtown Wickie-Up for the community’s homeless by offering them emergency shelter and food 1a: reduce the number of homeless persons sleeping in public places by 50% or more 1b: decrease public panhandling by the homeless in the central business district by 25% or more 2. Improve the downtown business owners’ understanding of homeless persons 2a: reduce incidences of business owners calling the local police department to arrest homeless persons for loitering by 25% or more 2b: Increase the number of businesses that accept the universal meal coupon for a free, boxed, take-out dinner by 30% or more.

7. Key ideas Use emotion and make your limited sentences memorable –Capture, facilitate, laborious, embrace, deep-seated, blatant, illusion, ineffective Match the funder’s mission statement with your project Table of contents help the reader stay organized within your work Consider a “catchy” term or acronym for your project Include photographs or any other way to help the readers connect with you and your idea

8. Your turn Take your idea and write a mission statement for the project Think of how you would introduce your project What is/are the goal(s) and the connecting objective(s)? Outline your narrative to the project.