CLiC 2010, Dan Lawrence on 'Grant Writing: Tips, Tricks, and the Deep Six'

Goals of this Workshop:

• Identify key people, processes, and structures to have in place before starting to write (or not write) a grant;
• examine key sections of a grant app, w/an emphasis on SMART objectives;

http://preventioncolorado.org/clic10/

Some General Funding Trends

• Moving from funder to investment approach
• fewer, but larger grants
• continuing to fund current grantees
• not as many grants to small organizations, but more to consotria of small organizations
• suggesting diverse funding sources (e.g. matching or fund raising requirements)

Before you commit: Read, read, read!

1. Read for guideleings, check due dates, # of awards, average size of grants, eligibility.
2. Reread: for any technical requirements of application, preapproval guidelines, needs for letters of support, etc.
3. Reread: for narrative content.

Tips for Getting Started

Impose a structure on the process early
organize a planning group, layout some tasks and get volunteers
work backward from due date to rough out timeline of deadlines (wyou will be behind)

Sample Scoring Guide - 100 pts.

Minimum Responsiveness Criteria (required)
Narrative (30 pts)
Capacity 5 pts
Action Plan 30 pts
Evaluation Plan 10 pts
Budget 25 pts

B. Narrative
Summary: Get attention and state your case
Needs Statement: define the problem (data)
Gaps: current lack of services or programs in area
Program Description: must match funder priorities, address your problem, be directly related to action plan

C. Capacity

• aka: why you can trust us with your money
• who we are
• how we're qualified - e.g. history, governing structure, mission, primary activities, relevant partners, audiences, and services.

D. Action Plan

• Use language of the strategies endorsed by funder (logic models?)
• goals and objectives reflect those of funder
• create a timeline that makes sense
• activities should be specific and in chronological order
• all activities relate to objectives

Goals vs. Objectives

Goals: Objectives

Broad Narrow

General intentions precise

intangible tangible

Abstract Concrete

Can't be validated as is Can be validated

Goal: Community members understand the value of libraries to their lives.

Objective: by june 30, 2010, 50% of the community will be able to name 3 primary library services

Objectives

Describe the steps toward accomplishing a goal

show priorities

provide targets for progress and accountability

SMART Objectives

S=Specific (who? What?)

M=Measurable: It tells you How Much change is expected

A=Achievable: It can be realisticall accomplished given current resources and constraints

R=Realistic: It addresses the scope of the plan and proposes reasonable action steps

T=Time-Phased: it provides a timeline indicating when the objective will be met.

Activites

Things you're going to do to make sure you accomplish the objective

Examples:

Convene advisory committee to discuss community perceptions of the library

(Example: Activity -- Implementation Timeframe -- Measure of accomplishment -- job title of person responsible)

E. Evaluation Plan

How will you asses what you're

F. Budget

• Complete budget sheet if provided
• Budget Narrative

1. Personnel
2. Direct Operating
3. Contractual
4. Travel
5. Indirect (if allowed)

• Double-, triple-, quadruple-check numbers match between budget sheet and narrative!

The Four P's of Preplanning

• Processes
• Permission
• Planning
• People

Processes

• Read up on Grants and writing process
• Grants for libraries; neal-schuman, 2006
• The only grant-writing book you'll ever need, 3rd ed.; basic, 2009
• grant writing for dummies, 3rd ed.; Wiley, 2009

Permissions: Know people, processes and rules for grants for your library

• Who is allowed to work on grants?
• How can you recommend a new project?
• What are your board/municipal/etc. processes for approving or receiving funds?

Planning

• 'Evergreen' file (documents and boilerplate)
• Concept Paper
• Funding Development Plan

People

• Library Director / Leadership
• Staff and Board representatives
• Grant Coordinator
• Community Advisers
• Researcher
• Writiers, editors, proofers
• Implementation team
• Subject matter experts
• partners

Researching Grant Opportunities

See Locating Grand and Funding Opportunities on pg. 6 of handout

Free basics training and access to databases at Foundation Center Cooperating Collections. See: http://foundationcenter.org/collections/ccco.html

Questions? danl@rmc.org