The PHCC Foundation: a resource and a requestor Natalie J. Harder VP of Institutional Advancement, PHCC Executive Director, PHCC Foundation October 13, 2008

What we will cover PHCC Foundation – provides resources and requests resources What do we look for when providing funds What do we do when asking for funds Examples of poor requests What to do to write a successful application Wrap-up

Resource vs. Requestor Students apply for scholarships College requests funding  Faculty and staff  Institutional needs $13M in assets  Most endowed = not unrestricted Unrestricted funds have the most flexibility Temporarily restricted funds also flexible Apply to foundations, governments, and individuals for funds

Resource vs. Requester What do we look for?  Complete application  Sound reasoning  Budgets that total correctly  Fit to Foundation mission What do we provide?  Complete application  Sound reasoning  Budgets that total correctly  Fit to mission of funding organization  Enhancements  Letters of support  Demonstration of partnerships  Demonstration of commitment

Examples PHCC Foundation requests funds from a private foundation which summarily rejects more than 50% of applications because applicant projects clearly do not fit the guidelines.  E.g. apply for funds for a middle-school project when the foundation only funds programs for high school and older. Read the following:

What do you read? XYZ Professional Development Grant Application DIRECTIONS: 1. Applications are to be submitted online. We recommend that you use the PD Grant Proposal Template (which contains all of the questions on the online form) as a working document when collaborating with colleagues in writing the proposal. You may then cut and paste the text from the working document onto the online submission form.PD Grant Proposal Template 2. Your application should not include your name or the name of your college except for the faxed application cover page. The contact information in the form is used for administration purposes only and will be excluded from the review process. 3. Your application is not considered complete until the faxed PD Grant Application Cover Page is received at the System Office. The PD Grant Application Cover Page (which is to be faxed to the PD Office when the online application is submitted) requires endorsement signatures from the applicant, co-applicant (if appropriate), dean/supervisor, vice president/provost, and president. Some XYZ Colleges also require processing of professional development grants through the college's grant office. Be sure to allow sufficient time for these steps. The Cover Page is used for administrative purposes and is not included when your grant is evaluated. Cover page and application must arrive by 5:00 pm ET on the application deadline date for the applicable semester.PD Grant Application Cover Page

Examples Recently applied for a grant for travel funds where the instructions clearly state NOT to name the institution that would receive the funds.  Each funding round at least one application is not even read because it names the institution. PHCC Foundation has returned requests for aid because they have arrived in our office without the appropriate signatures. PHCC Foundation has disregarded numerous scholarship applications because students did not meet the criteria.

How to succeed? Start immediately – read it over Complete application – read the instructions Sound reasoning – how does the funding meet a need that fits your organization’s mission Budgets that total correctly – use a calculator and a friend Fit to mission of funding organization – learn about funder Enhancements – go the extra mile  Letters of support  Demonstration of partnerships  Demonstration of commitment Any questions – CALL THE FUNDER!

Overall Keep trying – if grants were easy to receive you wouldn’t be in this class. Keep writing – more will be rejected than will be funded. Don’t submit a poor application. If you don’t have time to do it right – wait for the next funding cycle. Only submit excellent applications – see previous slide.

Thank you Contact Info: Natalie J. Harder VP of Institutional Advancement, PHCC Executive Director, PHCC Foundation Ph#