Building your Case: How to Design Compelling Grant Projects Presented by Angela Richardson, Trainer at The Grantsmanship Center

What will we cover? What makes a project compelling for the OGP grant program? Which Project should I chose? What are the guidelines really asking me? How do I know? Program budgets vs Organizational budget? Goal: For participants to leave with a OGP narrative skeleton

Approaching the Guidelines How can this grant award be used to leverage your organization? the program? Choose the category that best fits Look at the criteria

Approaching the Guidelines Goal: To get maximum amount of points per section!

OGP Narrative Understand the question and Answer all the questions with appropriate information ➡ 9. Organizational Information ➡ 10. Project Information ➡ 11. Project Budget

Question 9: ORGANIZATIONAL (not Project!) INFORMATION ➡ This section is where you Introduce your organization and describe organizational readiness/capacity/excellence and establish credibility What is your mission? Briefly describe RELEVANT history and overview of core program & services. Note significant changes

ORGANIZATIONAL (not project!) INFORMATION Planning and Leadership ➡ This question provides the reviewers with an understanding of how this two-year grant invests in a future vision for your organization. Leverage! ➡ Discuss the relevant decisions/plans about where your organization intends to be in the next two years? Artistically. Administratively. Financially. ➡ How will this grant award help with achieving these goals? How is this related to larger Org. Plan?

ORGANIZATIONAL (not project!) INFORMATION Planning and Leadership (cont’d) ➡ How have board and staff contributed to the overall planning? Community/Core Audience: Who is your target audience? Use DATA! American Fact Finder provides great information Artistic Policy: This is an Artistic quality question and ask for a description of how your organization supports artists.

Exercise: Organizational Information What kind of relevant information can your organization provide in the Organizational Information Section to demonstrate credibility? What are some goals your organization would like to achieve in the next 2 years?

Question 10: Project Information Describe the Project Explain the category choice Details! Details! Details! Answer all the questions, as appropriate. Reference criteria. Evaluate - how will you know if the project is a success?

Project Information (cont’d ) A.PROJECT OVERVIEW - Describe Major activities of the Project How and Why is this timely for your organization right now? GOALS and Objectives – What is the difference? Demonstrate how the proposed project aligns with OGP project category goals

Goals vs Objectives – What’s the difference?  GOAL: Describes the result or outcome your organization intends to achieve by the END of the grant period. Example: To increase the number of attendees ages at the annual summer music festival  OBJECTIVE: Describes the steps to achieve your goal. Example: To produce 3 (fall, winter and spring) Friday night “Music in the Courtyard” events with artists targeting young adult audience.

Project Information (cont’d ) B.PROJECT DETAILS: When? Where? Who? Participants and Who will implement the project How?: Selection criteria for artists  Marketing strategy?  New staff?

Project Information (cont’d ) C. PROJECT EVALUATION How will you know whether your project is a success? Qualitative vs Quantitative data Demonstrate how the project aligns with project category goals (outcomes) and objectives (process) Is this relevant if your organization is hiring a new staff person?

Exercise: Project Information In 1-2 sentences give an overview of the proposed project Describe 1 Goal of the proposed project Identify 1 Objective to achieve this goal

Question 11: Project Budget This is a two-year project request Check and double check your funding request calculation Tip: Plan the budget when as you plan the project to avoid mistakes and omitting important details.

Program vs Organization budget Organizational Budget Provides information from all program areas of the organization Sometimes called the Annual budget Includes program and operating expenses Project Budget Direct Expenses related to the Project’s Activities ONLY

INCOME Cash Match Income ‣ Earned Income: ex: Ticket sales, Sales, rental income ‣ Contributed Income: Other grants, Individual donations OGP Grant request Income Explanations

Income - Example INCOME OGP Year I/OGP request Cash Match A. Earned Income Admissions Ticket Sales5000 Sponsorship Income 7500 B. Contributed Income Foundation grant10,000 Board Contribution2,500 Government (county request)25,000

EXPENSES Project Expenses ‣ Salaries and Fringe benefits: Staff members who are directly involved with project activities ‣ Operating Expenses: other project expenses Expense Explanation

Expenses - Example EXPENSESOGP RequestCash Match A. Salaries and Fringes Artist and Performers140006,000 Program-All Other Salaries7,500 General Administrative Salaries B. Operating Expenses Accounting Catering/Hospitality2500 Equipment rental Production/Exhibition Costs10,

Exercise: Project Budget Brainstorm a list of the things that will cost money for the proposed project.

Tips and Reminders Review appropriate criteria Establish Organizational credibility Answer all the questions Provide information about how intended project fits into organization’s longer term plan and the appropriate project category Make sure narrative and budget match Take time and care to present EXCELLENT work samples

QUESTIONS??? Thank you!!