WELCOME TO PROPOSAL DESIGNS FOR HUMAN SERVICES UNIT 2 SEMINAR Tina Smith, MA

Outline for Unit 2 Seminar  Brief review of Unit 2 Project  Documents/Info Needed for Grant Proposals  Importance of Understanding Your Community and Needs Programs Fill  Importance of Mission Statements

Unit 2 Project  1 page double spaced essay  Identify an existing agency that interests you  Discuss mission, 2 programs that the agency has, and why agency is of interest to you

Documents/Info for Grant Proposals  Start a folder with materials that may be necessary for grant proposals during a time that isn’t busy  Structure of Most Nonprofits: Board of Directors, Executive Director, other staff (Development Director, Case Managers, etc.)  List of documents you may want to start collecting are on pages  Agency mission statement  Certificate of incorporation  Most recent 501(c)(3) letter  Employer Identification number  DUNS Number  List of Board members  Organization chart  Job descriptions for all positions

Documents/Info for Grant Proposals  For Not for Profit organizations start boilerplate materials-paragraphs with brief narratives that can be used in different grant proposals  Organization’s history  Current programs  Community needs  List of existing formal linkages (with letters of agreement)  Any recent needs assessments, program evaluation reports and examples of forms and procedures  Recent publicity

Documents/Info for Grant Proposals  For Government agencies or a school district, start boilerplate materials- paragraphs with brief narratives that can be used in different grant proposals  Overview of locality  Information about the various neighborhoods or sections of the locality  Overview of the school system  Specific neighborhood/district/school information  Overview of the particular agency  Resume’s of key staff  Organization chart

Documents/Info for Grant Proposals  For Individuals, start boilerplate materials-paragraphs with brief narratives that can be used in different grant proposals  Resume, curriculum vitae, or professional biography  A portfolio  Review  List of clients or partners

Getting ready…  How can understanding your community help you in the grant writing process?

How Can You Prove There Is a Compelling Problem That Deserves a Grant?  Economic and demographic statistics  Relevant, up-to-date research  Anecdotal information from participants, staff, etc.  Waiting lists for different programs  Focus group results

Components of Strong Needs Section or Problem Statement  Target population-group that the program is set up for  Context-National trends? Specific regional trends?  Community demographics

Hands On Exercise  Go to      Answer the following questions and then bring back your info and share with class 1-Are there programs offered by this organization that address the needs of the community? 2-In your own words, describe the mission statement of the organization (either on the home page or found under the tab About Us) 3-Do the programs offered by organization match their mission statement?

Mission Statements QUESTION: Should an agency’s mission statement remain the same throughout the life of the organization, or should it adapt to meet community needs?

Reminders  You need to make sure the funder you are seeking money from matches your agency’s mission/the program you are trying to get funded  Look up the types of agencies funder has given money to in the past by looking at 990’s (can be found for many funders at foundationcenter.org)

Final Thoughts  That is all for tonight….any final questions or thoughts?