1. SHOW ME THE MONEY! Writing a winning grant proposal Joy Rockenbach, Act 1220 Coordinator Arkansas Department of Education June 24, 2008

2. Learning Outcomes Reasons why proposal fail Reasons why proposal fail Expectations of grantors Expectations of grantors Tips for success Tips for success

3. Reasons Why Proposals Fail… Carelessness Carelessness –Sloppiness-pay attention to grammar, editing details, and specifics –Answer the questions! –Responses don’t connect to information requested –Procrastination!

4. Forcing failure! Missing deadlines Missing deadlines Disorganized Disorganized Missing sections Missing sections Budget doesn’t compute or match work plan Budget doesn’t compute or match work plan Format is not followed Format is not followed

5. To ensure failure… Rely on spell check Rely on spell check Go over the page limit Go over the page limit Fail to sign appropriate forms Fail to sign appropriate forms Miss the deadline, ask for an extension Miss the deadline, ask for an extension

6. Example of relying on spell check… Dear Spat, I had a really food crime at the picnic in the bark. It was nice to gel together with old fiends and enjoy so much slaughter! We should so that more often. The flied chicken was malicious. Thank you for flinging it. Your Fiend, Brain

7. Writing bloopers! A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow. A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow. Attend and you will hear an excellent speaker and heave a healthy lunch. Attend and you will hear an excellent speaker and heave a healthy lunch. The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon. The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon. Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance

8. To ensure failure… Rely on spell check Rely on spell check Go over the page limit Go over the page limit Fail to sign appropriate forms Fail to sign appropriate forms Miss the deadline, ask for an extension Miss the deadline, ask for an extension

9. Expectations of Grantmakers Write a compelling story Write a compelling story Grab reader’s attention Grab reader’s attention Educate the reader about YOUR problem Educate the reader about YOUR problem Use YOUR words and bring the story to life Use YOUR words and bring the story to life

10. THINK… Gloom Gloom Doom Doom Drama Drama Trauma Trauma

11. WORK PLAN Goals—pie in the sky, where you want to BE when the grant money is gone Goals—pie in the sky, where you want to BE when the grant money is gone Objectives—SMART** Objectives—SMART** Action steps or process steps or strategies—how you will get the objectives done Action steps or process steps or strategies—how you will get the objectives done

12. SMART Objectives S pecific S pecific M easurable M easurable A ttainable A ttainable R ealistic R ealistic T ime bound T ime bound

13. TIPS FOR GRANT WRITING SUCCESS

14. To maximize success… Make sure you are eligible Make sure you are eligible Follow all instructions Follow all instructions Develop a check list Develop a check list Use forms if they are provided Use forms if they are provided Ask a third party to edit Ask a third party to edit

15. Success… Get it in on time Get it in on time Have the right amount of postage Have the right amount of postage Make sure you have enclosed all required forms and required number of copies Make sure you have enclosed all required forms and required number of copies

16. Practice application When is the grant deadline? When is the grant deadline? How many awards will there be? How many awards will there be? How much money will they award? For how long? How much money will they award? For how long? What are the deadline rules? What are the deadline rules?

17. Continued How many copies will you need? How many copies will you need? Who should sign the application? Who should sign the application? What are the page limits? Font? Margins What are the page limits? Font? Margins Will they reject your application? For what? Will they reject your application? For what?

18. Continued Is there a format? What is it? Is there a format? What is it? Which component is worth most points? Which component is worth most points? What gets second? What gets second? To whom should you direct questions? To whom should you direct questions?