1. Presented by: Dr. Khalif Ramadan 716-812-1404 kramadan@aol.com Strategic Grant Proposal Writing Hosted by Masjid Al Qur’an Boston, MA Dhul Hijjah 9, 1432 November 5, 2011

2. Grantsmanship What is Grantsmanship? –Grantsmanship versus “grant writing” –More than proposal writing –Organizational readiness –Multiple roles of fundraisers –Organizational placement is key –Proposal writing is part of a process –Involving others

3. Grantsmanship & Faith-based Funding Background Changing landscape Implications Issues & challenges

4. Grantsmanship Avoid chasing money

5. Chasing $ can lead to… MISSION

6. History Matters State >>>>Federal Events – National Concerns – Politics Great Depression > New Deal Sputnik > Science, Education, Technology Domestic Poverty > Great Society New Federalism Block Grants Faith-Based Funding

7. Moving Upstream Event 1.Legislation Appropriations 2.Regulations 3.Programs 4.NOFA.RFP/RFA/ 5.Applications 6.Evaluation Results Sources 1.Congressional office, Advocacy Organizations, Testimony 2.Federal Register 3.Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance “CFDA” 4.Federal Register 5.Federal Agency 6.Federal Agency

8. Flow of Federal Resources Federal Government Dept. of Justice Federal Emergency Management Agency Dept. of Education Dept. of Labor Dept.of HUD Department of Agriculture Dept. of HHS

9. Flow of Federal Resources Case Study SAMHSA State/Local Gov. Formula Allocations Community Development Block Grant Continuum of Care Competitive Grants Stakeholders Faith-Based Org. Business Community Community Based Org. Elected Officials Community Partners Decision-Making Table

10. Flow of Money Grants State $ FUNDS $ Responsible Agency & OMB RFP Grants Congress Passes a Law Grant Application & Review Process (1) Statute; (2) Appropriation Interpret Statute & Establish Operating Rules Block Grant or Other Grant to State In-state Award or Application Process Held $ Open Competition

11. Types of Funding FederalGovernment Organizational credibility Personal relationships Areas of interest Application guidelines Pattern of giving More specific Knowing the players Know what they want Address specific questions Format is important Scoring Bidders conference

12. Types of Federal Funding Grants –Categorical –Block –Formula –Research (knowledge development) –Demonstration (knowledge application) –Service –Other –Pork –”Ear Mark” Cooperative Agreements Contracts

13. Foundation Characteristics Large /National Foundations –Fund programs of national significance –Cutting edge of change –Want to fund programs that can serve as models nationally / internationally –Well-staffed and active in their fields of interest –Most have broad interests –Some have special interests

14. Foundation Characteristics Mid-size Regional Foundations –Usually have broad interests –Interested in making grants that have an important impact within their geographic region Small Local/Family foundations –Interests of family members Corporate Foundations –Company controlled –Self-interest of the company –what’s in it for the corporation –Distinct from corporate giving

15. Foundation Characteristics Public Charities –Funds from many sources –Geographic or special interest –Community foundations are public charities –staffed

16. Largest Foundations (by Assets) Bill & Melinda Gate Foundation (WA)$21.15B Lilly Endowment Inc. (IN)$15.59B The Ford Foundation (NY)$14.66B J. Paul Getty Trust (CA)$10.93B The David and Lucile Packard Foundation (CA)$9.79B The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (NJ)$8.79B W.K. Kellogg Foundation (MI)$5.72B The Andrew W Mellon Foundation (NY)$4.88B The Pew Charitable Trusts (PA)$4.80B The Starr Foundation (NY)$4.48B

17. Searching for Foundations Generic Topic Searches Find Grantmakers for your Geographic Area Find Grant Range & Size Find Similar Organizations in Your Area Positive Contact with Grantmaker Apply- Letter of Inquiry Find Your Classification of Organization

18. Proposal Writing Pointers Support assumptions –Present supporting facts for stated assumptions Use clear, understandable language Avoid Jargon Be brief, concise, simple Be positive Use specifics, examples –Specifics increase impact

19. Proposal Writing Pointers Balance is important –Data/facts and human interest –Words and graphics –Logic and Emotion Use hard & soft data –Statistics Percents +absolute numbers Don’t overuse statistics Clear, relevant –Quotes, examples Put faces, voices on the work

20. Proposal Format Components I. Introduction (to the applicant organization)Abstract or Summary or Organizational Capacity Statement II. Problem Statement/Needs/Assessment III. Goals and Objectives IV. Methods –Approach Design V. Evaluation/Outcomes VI. Sustainability VII. Budget Appendix

21. Organizational Capacity Name Do you have an Image? –What is it (to Funder)? Reinforce Positive Defuse Negative

22. Organizational Capacity Sets the stage –Who are you? –What do you do as an agency? –So What? –Impact!! Marketing Tool Credibility Statement –(numbers,quotes,examples) Layers

23. Proposal Introduction Checklist Offers statements and/or endorsements to support credibility Supports credibility in program area in which funds are sought Leads logically to problem statement Is interesting Is free of jargon Is brief

24. Proposal Format Problem Statement/ Needs Assessment Narrative description of current situation or conditions affecting people in a specific geographic area

25. Introduction Components DescriptiveWow History Program Clients/ Constituency Services/ Activities Locale Population/demographics Total budget Mission Staff Philosophy/vision Growth # Demand/ Waiting List Success Stories/ Quotes Accomplishments/Evaluation Affiliations Awards/Recognition Expertise Board 100% Support Outcomes Grants, donations Media Evidence of Community support – e.g. volunteers

26. Problem Statement What is the current problem(s) What are the causes of the problem(s) –Clearly related to the purpose of your organization –Describes current conditions that require action –Includes a discussion of the causes of the problem –Reasonable dimensions –Supported by evidence –Specific to a geographic area or population

27. Problem Statement/ Needs Assessment What IS going on “Layers” / funnel Supported with hard and soft data –Facts –Stat’s –Quotes –Examples People – centered Answers SO WHAT?

28. Proposal Problem Statement Checklist Relates to purpose and goals of organization Reasonable dimensions Supported by statistical evidence Supported by statements from authorities Stated in terms of clients or beneficiaries

29. Problem Pitfalls Need for … –Staff –Equipment –Building, etc. Agency – centered

30. Vague, general Elephant of a problem with mouse of a solution Problem Pitfalls

31. Proposal Format Components Program Objectives - what activities and services will be provided Program Outcomes –How will the problem change –Stated in terms of the beneficiaries Methods Approach - Design –How will you accomplish the change you desire –Why do you think your approach will work? Evaluation –How will you be able to tell whether or not your approach worked

32. Proposal Format Components Future Funding and Other Necessary Funding –How will this effort be continued at the end of the grant funding? Budget –Specifically, what will this effort cost?

33. Objectives WHO Is going to do WHAT WHEN How MUCH (As MEASURED By)

34. Objectives “SMART” objectives Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic Time-referenced

35. Outcomes How will the problem change. Stated in terms of the beneficiaries. –Who will change? –What behavior will change? –In what direction will that change be? –By what time will this change take place?

36. Objectives or Outcomes? If so, good or not? 1.To provide a total of 20 hours of in-service training on conflict management to 35 middle school teachers during the 2001-2002 academic year. 2.Students will achieve at least a 10% improvement in standardized test scores by the end of 2 semesters. 3.To distribute educational materials to 1200 community residents concerning the Neighborhood Watch safety program. 4.By the end of 2002, 250 out of 300 people from Washington County that attend six HIV prevention workshops will have increased knowledge of HIV, its co-infection with Hepatitis C and the risks of transmission in substance abuse.

37. Objectives or Outcomes? If so, good or not? 5.Teens participating in the “Teen Parenting Education Program” will: –Follow proper health and nutrition guidelines –Deliver healthy babies 6.To increase by 550 the number of youth, ages 12 to 15, receiving sexuality education. 7.At the conclusion of the six-week ‘Smoking Cessation Program, “ 72% of participants will stop smoking. 8.30 Injection drug users will increase their harm reduction skills in needle cleaning and correct barrier usage to reduce their risk of exposure to HIV and Hepatitis C.

38. Objectives or Outcomes? If so, good or not? 9.Students’ academic performance improves 10.To develop educational materials on “Making Healthy Choices” to distribute to community residents. 11.To increase by 50% the number of hours parents spend reading with their children. 12.To increase the number of women entering the fields of science and engineering.

39. Proposal Format Components Summary I. Introduction (to the applicant organization) II. Problem Statement/Needs/Assessment III. Program Objectives IV Program Outcomes V. Methods V. Evaluation VI. Future Funding VII. Budget Appendix

40. Methods How will you accomplish the change you desire? Why do you think your approach will work? Components of section: –Summary of major Components –Collaboration –Staffing –Facilities and Equipment –Work plan/Timeline –Rationale

41. Proposal Methods Checklist Flows naturally from problems and objectives Clearly describes program activities States reasons for selection of activities Describes sequences of activities Describes staffing of program Describe clients and client selection Presents a reasonable scope of activities that can be accomplished within the time allotted for program and within the resources of the applicant.

42. Evaluation How will you be able to tell whether or not your approach worked? –Involve outside evaluator early in the planning process –Evaluation as a tool for marketing

43. Summary of Program Evaluation Plan –What data you will collect –How you will collect it –When you will collect it –How you will use it Problem/Need Conditions Objectives Ends Outcomes Methods How & Why

44. Evaluation Problem Objectives Methods ImpactOutcomeProcess Evaluation Design Data Collection Methods When

45. Data Collection Tools Pre-post Test Questionnaires Instruments Interviews Trained Observers Focus Groups Physical Measurements Logs in Client Files Reports Control/Comparison Groups

46. Information Gathering ProblemObjectivesMethods Info. To collect How collect When

47. Proposal Evaluation Checklist Covers outcomes and process Tells who will be performing evaluation and how evaluators will be selected Defines evaluation criteria Describes data gathering methods

48. Proposal Evaluation Checklist Explain any test instruments or questionnaires to be used Describes the process of data analysis Shows how evaluation will be used for program improvements Describes evaluation reports to be produced

49. Proposal Introduction Checklist Clearly establishes who is applying for funds Describes applicant agency purpose and goals Describes agency programs Describes clients or constituents Provides evidence of accomplishment Offers statistics to support credibility

50. Proposal Format Components Summary I. Introduction (to the applicant organization) II. Problem Statement/Needs/Assessment III. Objectives IV. Methods V. Evaluation Future Funding Budget Appendix

51. Budget Estimate No surprises Support assumptions Requested Donated Other sources

52. Proposal Budget Checklist Define how you calculated expenses Expenses should be reasonable Sources of matching funds and in-kind resources should be identified Multiple years must be presented if requested Figures should be correct Have a reviewer

53. Future Funding Plan for continued support after grant (If needed) Earned Income – fees for services /products Third Party Payment Absorb into Budget Development Plan –Special events –Annual Fund –Membership –Phone/mail solicitation –Major gifts –Planned giving –Endowment –Capital campaign Business ventures

54. Proposal Future Funding Checklist Presents a plan to provide future funding if program is to be continued Discusses both maintenance and future program funding if program is for construction Accounts for other needed expenditures If program includes purchase of equipment

55. Future & Other Necessary Funding Future and other necessary funding –Other funding is needed when you are requesting a specific item but you need to be able to provide the other resources

56. Proposal Format & Delivery Font Margins Spacing Headings/subheading Use of pictures & graphic elements Reader friendliness Length Packaging Delivery methods

57. Letter of Inquiry Think Proposal Signed by the chair of the Board Follow foundation guidelines Use Proposal Planning & Proposal Writing Format if no guidelines are given Don’t be overly formal Generally 2-4 pages