1. GRANT WRITING 101 YMCA CAMPFIRE CONFERENCE January 11, 2016

2. OBJECTIVES 2| GRANT WRITING 101 | YMCA Campfire Conference 2016 1.GRANT BASICS 2.HOW TO FIND FUNDING 3.KEYS TO SUCCESS

3. GRANT BASICS 3| GRANT WRITING 101 | YMCA Campfire Conference 2016

4. WHAT IS A GRANT? A grant is a sum of money given to an organization for a particular purpose. Generally, a grant : Has a formal application process Has required objectives and outcomes Has reporting and stewardship requirements Contains either time or purpose restrictions Can be submitted through an online portal or by mailing in completed documents A grant may be sought from a foundation, corporation, or from federal, state, or local government sources. 4| GRANT WRITING 101 | YMCA Campfire Conference 2016

5. TYPES OF SUPPORT Grant funding is available for: Program/Project Support Scholarships Capital Equipment Evaluation General Operating Support Staff Professional Development 5| GRANT WRITING 101 | YMCA Campfire Conference 2016

6. COMPONENTS OF A GRANT 1.Executive Summary 2.Organization Information 3.Statement of Need 4.Project Description 5.Outcomes & Evaluation 6.Budget 6| GRANT WRITING 101 | YMCA Campfire Conference 2016

7. COMPONENTS OF A GRANT: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Executive Summary provides a funder with an overview of the entire grant application, highlighting: Funding requirements Organization and it’s expertise The need for this project/program Project description TIP: Write it last and make it compelling! 7| GRANT WRITING 101 | YMCA Campfire Conference 2016

8. COMPONENTS OF A GRANT: ORGANIZATION INFORMATION Most grant applications will ask for various information about the organization as a whole, including: Date of founding Mission statement List of board members and key staff Major programs and audience served Tax ID number 501 c 3 letter Audited financial statements Organization budget 8| GRANT WRITING 101 | YMCA Campfire Conference 2016

9. COMPONENTS OF A GRANT: STATEMENT OF NEED The Statement of Need section provides an opportunity to describe the need or situation that your program addresses. Try to answer the questions: Why is this issue important? What evidence can you provide to support it? What is the underlying cause? Be sure to use relevant and current information/data; you can talk broadly about an issue, but also use more local data. 9| GRANT WRITING 101 | YMCA Campfire Conference 2016

10. COMPONENTS OF A GRANT: PROJECT DESCRIPTION The Project Description is where you talk about the details: Describe the solution to the problem you addressed in the need section. Who will your project serve? What are the major components? Staffing - who will carry out the project? Any key partnerships? What are your expected outcomes and how will you achieve them? 10| GRANT WRITING 101 | YMCA Campfire Conference 2016

11. COMPONENTS OF A GRANT: OUTCOMES & EVALUATION This section is where you share how you measure success. Outcomes Goals: broad description of what you will achieve Objectives: measurable outcomes that determine if you met your goals. Should be SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. Evaluation What tools will you use to track outcomes? Surveys for campers, parents, staff; Net Promoter Score 11| GRANT WRITING 101 | YMCA Campfire Conference 2016

12. COMPONENTS OF A GRANT: BUDGET Program Budget Expense Information Personnel Non-personnel Overhead Income Information Other committed or potential funders Projected program revenue Budget narrative 12| GRANT WRITING 101 | YMCA Campfire Conference 2016

13. HOW TO FIND GRANT FUNDING

14. HOW TO FIND GRANT FUNDING: BEFORE YOU BEGIN Before you begin research, make sure you know: Your parameters What is realistic Your capacity The fundraising landscape of your association TIPS: Try to have a conversation with the funder before applying (but AFTER doing your research!) Be specific 14| GRANT WRITING 101 | YMCA Campfire Conference 2016

15. HOW TO FIND GRANT FUNDING: WHERE TO LOOK Google – specific purpose, local foundations, 990s Local companiesLocal companies, Board/Volunteer connections Y-USA Equipment manufacturers/suppliers Public library – Foundation Center online directory Funders of similar programs/organizations 15| GRANT WRITING 101 | YMCA Campfire Conference 2016

16. KEYS TO SUCCESS

17. KEYS TO SUCCESS: Give yourself plenty of time Read the directions carefully and answer every question/detail If the application is online, create a Word document with the questions; complete your application in that document then copy it to the website Be concise Have someone else read it before you submit Keep up with data along the way – don’t wait until a few days before a report is due to track down numbers Develop a relationship with funder Make sure you communicate within your association 17| GRANT WRITING 101 | YMCA Campfire Conference 2016

18. QUESTIONS?

19. THANK YOU Allison Jones Director of Community Relations & Communications YMCA of Greater Charlotte 704 716 6232 allison.jones@ymcacharlotte.org