Grant Writing Basics & Opportunities Resource Development

Grant Writing Successful grant writing involves the coordination of several components: Planning Searching for Data and Resources Writing the Proposal Preparing the Grant Proposal for Submission Submitting the Proposal

Plan Ahead Develop a small committee to determine the programs and projects that need funding Decide who will benefit from this project Determine goals and objectives in order to get the desired outcome Develop a rough budget to determine the amount of funded needed Begin researching potential opportunities on the internet or seek resources from your local library

ID the Funding Sources Once you identify what you determine to be a good fit: Ensure your organization meets all the eligibility requirements Look at the deadlines: Do you have the time to put together a good proposal Does the grant period fall within the parameters of your project timeline Will you be able to achieve the desired results before the grant period concludes Is an Letter of Intent (LOI) required before the proposal can be submitted

Preparing for the Proposal Work with your committee to help plan the grant outline and proposal Decide who will benefit from this grant if awarded Determine goals and objectives in order to get the desired outcome Draft the expected project outcomes and how they will be measured Generate a timeline specific to this grant to include: Deadline for Letter of Intent, if required Proposal Deadline Project Start and End Dates Grant Submission Deadline Be Knowledgeable of Reporting Deadlines

When Writing the Proposal Clarify the purpose of your project Include your mission statement Define the scope of work to focus your funding search State the project goals Define specific objectives Explain how you will focus your work to accomplish these goals Define the measurable outcomes Prepare a well-defined budget

Example Goal Objectives To distribute an additional 20,000 pounds of fresh, locally grown produce to families facing food insecurity To purchase a 10’ x 10’ cooler to increase the pantry’s cooler capacity To coordinate with Food Bank of the Albemarle to secure additional fresh produce To incorporate special produce pick- ups during peak harvest To promote this produce initiative within the community To provide the clients with nutritional information about the product being distributed

Example Cont’d Measurable Outcomes To provide our clients with access to more fresh, nutritious produce throughout the year To host 6 special produce pantries during the fiscal year To serve a minimum of 50 households monthly through this produce initiative To provide each client with a minimum of 15 pounds of fresh, locally grown produce per visit To provide clients with cooking and nutritional information about the produce being distributed

Preparing for Submission Ask Yourself… Have all of the grant questions been answered completely and appropriately Has every slot in the application been filled Are the outcomes achievable Do I have all of the required attachments, such as... 501 (c) 3 Status List of Board of Directors Annual Budget And, Any Other Documents Required Are all the grant documents in the appropriate order

Submit Your Grant Proposal Most grants are submitted electronically Allow extra time to enter and upload all of the required information Helpful Hint: Use a word document to write your proposal, keep each answer separate to avoid confusion, and when the answer is completed, copy and paste the response into the designated area on the grant portal Save all attachments as a PDF before uploading into the portal Keep in mind that many will wait until the last moment to submit an application which can tie up the grant portal and potentially make your submission late, so work in advance If mailing your proposal, ensure all documents are in the correct order Allow sufficient time for delivery

Potential Opportunities NC Community Foundation: Beaufort and Hyde NC Community Foundation: Bertie-Hertford Woman’s Givers NC Community Foundation: Chowan Community Foundation NC Community Foundation: Northern Albemarle Foundation NC Community Foundation: Thomas Watts Foundation North Carolina Rural Church Grants Outer Banks Community Foundation  Walmart Community Grants  

For Additional Information Contact Carolyn Anderson Director of Development caranderson@feedingamerica.org 252-335-4035, ext. 111