Grant Writing for GIS Development or How to Squeeze Blood From a Rock… presented by: Mark Duewell University of Missouri Columbia

GIS Development? 1. Getting started – get your feet wet… 2. Creating additional capacity 3. Develop advanced systems

Needs Assessment… Problem or Issue to be solved with GIS Problem or Issue to be solved with GIS Stakeholders, Partners and Champions Stakeholders, Partners and Champions Goals and Objectives Goals and Objectives GIS Application/s to be built GIS Application/s to be built Staff – GIS or otherwise Staff – GIS or otherwise Budget – hardware, software, training, maintenance Budget – hardware, software, training, maintenance Timeline Timeline Management support Management support

Typical Components of a Proposal 1. Executive Summary 2. Statement of Problem / Need 3. Project Description 4. Budget 5. Budget Narrative – IMPORTANT! 6. Organization Information 7. Conclusion 8. Cover letter 9. Cover and title page 10. Table of Contents 11. Appendix

Locating Funds Actively research - Know where to look for grant offerings. Actively research - Know where to look for grant offerings. Build relationships with others with like missions. Build relationships with others with like missions. Establish grant file for correspondence. Establish grant file for correspondence. Professional correspondence, magazines, mailing. Professional correspondence, magazines, mailing. Ask other agencies and orgs – State GIS Committee, clearinghouse, COGs, RPCs Ask other agencies and orgs – State GIS Committee, clearinghouse, COGs, RPCs Internet - notifications – Internet - notifications – Conferences (MAGIC, NSGIC, URISA), workshops. Conferences (MAGIC, NSGIC, URISA), workshops.

Grant Sources – “Show me the money…” Federal Federal State State Foundations Foundations Corporate Corporate Others? Others? IMPORTANT - Download or secure a copy of the grant instructions!

Proposal Follow-Up Contact potential sponsor. Contact potential sponsor. Be prepared to answer questions and provide additional information. Be prepared to answer questions and provide additional information. Personalize follow-up. Personalize follow-up. What to do when unsuccessful. What to do when unsuccessful.

Sponsor follow-ups Within limits of professionalism – take advantage of personal contacts. Within limits of professionalism – take advantage of personal contacts. Understand that collaboration is paramount to many of the sponsors – explore the possibility of working with a potential competitor. Understand that collaboration is paramount to many of the sponsors – explore the possibility of working with a potential competitor. Avoid the pitfalls of arguing, anger, arrogance, frustration and criticizing others supporting similar projects. Avoid the pitfalls of arguing, anger, arrogance, frustration and criticizing others supporting similar projects.

Tips for Successful Grant Writing 1. Your budget should be concise and specific. 2. Demonstrate a clear and justifiable plan. 3. Collaboration is the name of the game – find enthusiastic partners - get letters of support. 4. Follow-up with sponsor.

Tips for Getting More Grants - cont 5. Generate management support and commitment. 6. Research your project. 7. Don’t provide more information than sponsor requires. 8. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Rejected! Why? Unsubstantiated claims Unsubstantiated claims Poor or no response to sponsor’s questions Poor or no response to sponsor’s questions Unenthusiastic Unenthusiastic Negative attitude Negative attitude And… Yes… a poorly written grant proposal And… Yes… a poorly written grant proposal

Rejected! Why? Unsubstantiated claims Unsubstantiated claims Poor or no response to sponsor’s questions Poor or no response to sponsor’s questions Unenthusiastic Unenthusiastic Negative attitude Negative attitude And… Yes… a poorly written grant proposal And… Yes… a poorly written grant proposal

Rejected! - cont… Other problems to avoid: Other problems to avoid: don’t ask rhetorical questions don’t ask rhetorical questions skip high tech lingo – write as you would speak skip high tech lingo – write as you would speak match scope of work to the budget match scope of work to the budget don’t assume that the reviewers know anything about your entity or about your problems don’t assume that the reviewers know anything about your entity or about your problems don’t use jargon, clichés, or redundancies don’t use jargon, clichés, or redundancies

Potential grant funding sources… Federal grant “notifier” – Federal grant “notifier” – Grants “How To” – Grants “How To” – General GIS grants – General GIS grants – type/federal-grants.html type/federal-grants.html type/city-grants.html type/city-grants.html

Potential grant funding sources…

Summary… Grant writing is a process. Grant writing is a process. Beneficial to involve other partners. Beneficial to involve other partners. Know your project before trying to obtain funding. Know your project before trying to obtain funding. Match the project to the mission or purpose of the sponsor. Match the project to the mission or purpose of the sponsor.

Summary - cont… Don’t give the sponsor a reason to throw your proposal out. Don’t give the sponsor a reason to throw your proposal out. Be clear, honest, and concise in the proposal. Be clear, honest, and concise in the proposal. Develop relationship with the funding source. Develop relationship with the funding source. Ask if you are unsure of something. Ask if you are unsure of something. Don’t give up! Practice makes perfect! Don’t give up! Practice makes perfect!

Credit for assistance…. Tim Haithcoat (UMC) Tim Haithcoat (UMC) Sonny Sanders (ESRI) Sonny Sanders (ESRI) Shirley Frederiksen, (Coordinator -Golden Hills RC&D, Iowa) Shirley Frederiksen, (Coordinator -Golden Hills RC&D, Iowa) Warren Johnson, (Coordinator - Limestone Bluffs RC&D, Iowa) Warren Johnson, (Coordinator - Limestone Bluffs RC&D, Iowa) Brad Cutler, (GIS Project Specialist - Golden Hills RC&D) Brad Cutler, (GIS Project Specialist - Golden Hills RC&D)

Thank you… Questions? Questions? Contact Information Contact Information Mark Duewell MSDIS Program Manager (573)