1. Grant Writing Workshop for Small Businesses & Non-Profit Organizations Kristine Tolan SEBM Workshop October 16 th, 2016 MGTK 410 Professor: Dr. Angela Patrick Texas A&M University-Central Texas

2. WHAT IS A GRANT? A grant is money given to an organization or individual, which does not have to be paid back if the terms or agreement of the grant has been met

3. IMPORTANT GRANT TERMINOLOGY LOI Letter of Intent LOI Letter of Intent RFP Requests for proposals RFP Requests for proposals Grantor (Grant Maker or Funder) The organization or agency that receives your funding requests and decided to either accept or reject it. Grantor (Grant Maker or Funder) The organization or agency that receives your funding requests and decided to either accept or reject it. Grant Applicant Is the organization or person submitting the grant application. Grant Applicant Is the organization or person submitting the grant application. Grantee Is the organization or individual who receives the grant or award. Once you are funded, you become a grantee. Grantee Is the organization or individual who receives the grant or award. Once you are funded, you become a grantee.

4. MYTHS ABOUT GRANTS 1) There aren’t enough grants offered; There is no money out there 2) Grants are only awarded to large companies that are already established 3) To be a successful grant writer, you need to know the right person 4) Only Non-Profits under 501c3 may receive grants 5) Writing a grant is too much of a hassle and is not worth the time 6) You can use the same proposal for multiple grants 7) Accepting a grant means you relinquish control of your company or organization

5. TRUE OR FALSE? Grants are easy money. FALSE Only experienced writers receive grants. FALSE

6. WHO OFFERS GRANTS? 1) GOVERNMENT -Federal -State -Local 2) FOUNDATIONS 3) CORPORATIONS or SPONSORS

7. HOW DO I FIND AVAILABLE GRANTS? Research and look for RFPS (Requests for Proposal) Funder will initiate by publishing a request for approval You respond by submitting a proposal indicating interest

8. WHERE CAN I FIND RFP’S? Local foundations typically publish in local newspapers Local foundations typically publish in local newspapers State agencies publish on their websites and through networking agencies State agencies publish on their websites and through networking agencies Federal agencies publish through the Federal Registrar and Foundation Center website Federal agencies publish through the Federal Registrar and Foundation Center website

9. TIPS TO ISSUING A GOOD RFP Be Creative. You want to be unique Be Creative. You want to be unique Know why you are issuing the RFP. Have a clearly defined goal Know why you are issuing the RFP. Have a clearly defined goal Define and share a budget Define and share a budget Ask open-ended questions Ask open-ended questions

10. HELPFUL WEBSITES www.grants.gov www.foundationcenter.org www.texasgrantwatch.govwww.texasgrantwatch.gov (Subscription site/ You must pay for subscription) www.philanthropynewsdigest.orgwww.philanthropynewsdigest.org (They will send you alerts for new grants)

11. FOUNDATIONS Established for the sole purpose of giving funds to organizations which will help them achieve their goals and missions

12. TYPES OF FOUNDATIONS Typical -Have a Board of Trustees that meets to consider grant proposals after they have been screened by a program officer. Example: Kellogg Foundation Family -Majority of trustees are related to the foundations father and depend on family members donating their time. (Only approach if they say they accept unsolicited proposals and you are certain your project meets their guidelines. These grants have pre-selected applicants) Corporate-Grants come directly from companies, or have foundations that give money.

13. CORPORATE GRANTS Two Main Purposes: 1) To Benefit the Community 2) To Increase the visibility in the community

14. FINDING FOUNDATION INFO 990-PF (Private Foundation) 990-PF (Private Foundation) Annual Information from IRS Tax Returns Annual Information from IRS Tax Returns www.foundationcenter.org www.foundationcenter.org www.foundationcenter.org www.guidestar.org www.guidestar.org www.guidestar.org Some foundations have their own websites Some foundations have their own websites

15. DETERMINING WHO TO FUND Potential grantee must meet all guidelines Potential grantee must meet all guidelines Government grants are awarded on a point system Government grants are awarded on a point system Foundations/Corporations have a board that makes the decision Foundations/Corporations have a board that makes the decision Some foundations ask for a letter of inquiry to qualify applicants Some foundations ask for a letter of inquiry to qualify applicants

16. HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU NEED? It May Depend On: 1) The type of grant you apply for 2) Size of the grant 3) Experience of the grant writer 4) The type of application

17. IMPORTANT TIPS DO YOUR RESEARCH! DO YOUR RESEARCH! Ensure your project matches the funder’s guidelines, or you could be wasting your time Ensure your project matches the funder’s guidelines, or you could be wasting your time

18. BREAK TIME We will resume again in 10 minutes

19. HOW TO WRITE A PROPOSAL 1)Take Classes 2)Trial and Error 3)Books and Resources 4)The Internet 5)Ask a Professional 6)Practice, Practice, Practice

20. ONLINE APPLICATIONS Are becoming more popular as we “Go Green” Are becoming more popular as we “Go Green” Are easy to use Are easy to use Can be typed more quickly than you would normally write Can be typed more quickly than you would normally write

21. DISADVANTAGES OF ONLINE APPLICATIONS Have a generic look/ Don’t stand out among others Have a generic look/ Don’t stand out among others You have to download and print the application often You have to download and print the application often Having to write in other programs, then copy and paste Having to write in other programs, then copy and paste Formatting preferences aren’t always indicated Formatting preferences aren’t always indicated

22. TIPS FOR SUBMITTING AN ONLINE APPLICATION Submit the grant early Submit the grant early Check your grammar and spelling before submitting Check your grammar and spelling before submitting Prepare for a maximum word limit Prepare for a maximum word limit Check out www.cybergrants.org Check out www.cybergrants.orgwww.cybergrants.org Enable your JavaScript and cookies Enable your JavaScript and cookies

23. TIPS BEFORE YOU START WRITING Get Organized Get Organized Brainstorm with others Brainstorm with others Collect information before you start writing Collect information before you start writing Identify and gather attachments Identify and gather attachments 501C3 501C3 Letters of support Letters of support Contract or estimates Contract or estimates

24. PREP YOUR FOLDERS Budget Board resumes Staff resumes 501c3 letter Job descriptions Newspaper articles Letters of Support (from other organizations and clients)

25. BE PREPARED Who is in your organization? Who is in your organization? What is the history of your organization? What is the history of your organization? What is your organization’s mission statement? What is your organization’s mission statement? What are your goals and objectives? What are your goals and objectives?

26. SORT YOUR GRANT 1.Organizational Information History, Awards, News Articles, Needs 2.Program Redesign 3.Partners and their Roles 4.Staff Resumes 5.Budget Information

27. GRANT WRITING PROCESS Identify needs Identify needs Find funders Find funders Develop proposal and budget Develop proposal and budget Submit letter of inquiry Submit letter of inquiry Receive request for formal proposal Receive request for formal proposal Prepare proposal- Submit before deadline Prepare proposal- Submit before deadline Implement program/ project Implement program/ project Evaluate Evaluate Submit report to funder Submit report to funder

28. BASIC PROPOSAL COMPONENTS Proposal summary Proposal summary Introduction of organization Introduction of organization Problem statement or needs assessment Problem statement or needs assessment Project objectives Project objectives Project methods or design Project methods or design Project evaluation Project evaluation Project budget Project budget

29. PROPOSAL SUMMARY Outlines the proposed project Outlines the proposed project Should appear at the beginning of the proposal Should appear at the beginning of the proposal Can be a cover letter or separate page 2-3 paragraph max Can be a cover letter or separate page 2-3 paragraph max Best if prepared after proposal has been done Best if prepared after proposal has been done

30. SUMMARY Important Important Funder’s first impression Funder’s first impression First part reviewed First part reviewed This is the place to SELL your organization This is the place to SELL your organization (Highlight and show off)

31. TYPES OF DATA Hard Data: Statistical Data Soft Data: Data relating more to personal human interest

32. BREAK TIME! We will resume again in 10 minutes Almost Done, Hang in There!

33. OUTCOME OBJECTIVES THINK “SMART” S- Specific M- Measurable A- Attainable R- Realistic T- Time Sensitive

34. QUESTIONS ABOUT BUDGET PROPOSAL Are you clear about the implementation costs? Are you clear about the implementation costs? Are you sure the funder will support these costs? Are you sure the funder will support these costs? Is there adequate staffing? Is there adequate staffing? Do you have realistic timelines? Do you have realistic timelines? Is the budget realistic and understandable? Is the budget realistic and understandable?

35. YOU GOT THE GRANT! NOW WHAT? Thank the funder immediately Thank the funder immediately Celebrate with your team Celebrate with your team Search for press releases Search for press releases

36. IF YOU DON’T GET THE GRANT Never take NO personally Never take NO personally Thank the funder NO MATTER WHAT! Thank the funder NO MATTER WHAT! Look for other grants or funding and move on Look for other grants or funding and move on Learn from your mistakes Learn from your mistakes Try, Try Again Try, Try Again

37. TIPS TO WRITE A GOOD PROPOSAL Have a good proofreader Have a good proofreader Have a colleague critique it before submission Have a colleague critique it before submission Be open to constructive criticism Be open to constructive criticism Pay attention to detail Pay attention to detail Follow instructions exactly Follow instructions exactly Make an outline Make an outline Set aside enough time Set aside enough time Complete ahead of deadline Complete ahead of deadline Get others to help you when you need it Get others to help you when you need it Determine if funding is appropriate for your project Determine if funding is appropriate for your project Match your grant to the funding available Match your grant to the funding available Look at grant funder priorities Look at grant funder priorities Research previous grantees Research previous grantees Ask questions Ask questions

38. A LOOK AT GUIDELINES Priorities of the funder Priorities of the funder Submission deadlines Submission deadlines Eligibility Eligibility Proposal format Proposal format Review timetable Review timetable Acceptance of unsolicited proposals? Acceptance of unsolicited proposals? Necessary attachments Necessary attachments Pages in order Pages in order

39. BUDGETS Is the budget enough? Is the budget enough? Are costs reasonable? Are costs reasonable? Is it consistent with proposed activities? Is it consistent with proposed activities? List all in-kind/ matching support List all in-kind/ matching support

40. READ OTHER GRANTS Identify acronyms Identify acronyms Include references from literature Include references from literature Reference footnotes Reference footnotes Start with smaller, less complicated grants Start with smaller, less complicated grants Write an abstract/ summary list Write an abstract/ summary list

41. REASONS FOR REJECTION Did not number pages 18% Did not number pages 18% No table of contents 73% No table of contents 73% No abstract 81% No abstract 81% No resume or principal investigator 92% No resume or principal investigator 92% No project evaluation page 66% No project evaluation page 66% Did not provide name of project director 17% Did not provide name of project director 17% Did not provide list of objectives 20% Did not provide list of objectives 20%

42. QUESTIONS?

43. THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING THE GRANT WRITING WORKSHOP! Please help me better my workshop by taking the post transactional survey. Your answers will provide me with valuable feedback to help me improve the workshop for next year.