SHOW ME THE MONEY! Writing a winning grant proposal Joy Rockenbach, Act 1220 Coordinator Arkansas Department of Education Arkansas Department of Health June 11, 2010

Learning Outcomes Basic grant writing tips Basic grant writing tips Reasons why proposal fail Reasons why proposal fail Expectations of grantors Expectations of grantors Tips for success Tips for success

Basic Tips: Read the entire application! Read the entire application! Do you qualify Do you qualify Check dates and time line Check dates and time line Who will write Who will write Is it worth it? Is it worth it?

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

THINK… Gloom Gloom Doom Doom Drama Drama Trauma Trauma

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

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

TIPS FOR GRANT WRITING SUCCESS

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

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