1. Getting Grants for Your Small Business
Presented by Anita Khayat

2. Session Objectives At the end of the session you will
Know where to look for grant opportunities
Identify those relevant to your business
Know how to determine eligibility
Understand how to approach writing a grant application

3. Grant-making Cycle Program announcement developed
Agency specifies objectives, eligibility, important deadlines, dates of review, dates of award.
Announcement published
Application filed
Awards announced
Funding initiated

4. Grant-making Cycle (cont.)
Time frame
If government grant, the time from the deadline for submission to the announcement of grant award is usually 10 months. Actual release of funds may take longer, depending on the funding from the government.
If private grants, the time can range from 3-6 months for the same interval. Usually foundations meet semi-annually to review awards.

5. Where do I find grant opportunities?
which will refer you to
Represents 26 government agencies that give grants
Database of all private foundations that give grants
Grants, loans, tax incentives specific to Ohio

6. Are You Eligible? There are two keys to eligibility:
Registering to apply through Grants.gov
Must have a DUNS ( and register in SAM (System for Award Management (
Private foundations also will list eligibility in the announcement…may be quite different from gov.
If in doubt, contact the program director listed in the request for application

7. Legal Eligibility
Understanding legal eligibility per the funding opportunity
Each announcement clearly states eligibility requirements
-size and type of organization, objectives of the funding agency
-May include which organizations are ineligible (length of time in operation, structure, etc.
Rarely fund start-ups unless specifically asking for a new program.
However, generally require that the application org. is in business for at least three years.
If you do not meet eligibility requirements, don’t waste your time in applying
If in doubt, contact the program director listed in the RFA

8. What Now??
You searched grants.gov and foundationcenter.org and found an opportunity
Download the announcement
Review the eligibility requirements closely
If eligible, download the grant forms or obtain per instructions on the site.
Review the requirements for application
Letter of intent? Deadlines?

9. What Goes in the Application
The granting agency wants to know the following:
What are you going to do?
How are you going to do it?
When will it be completed?
How much will it cost?
If this will be an on-going program, how will you pay for it when the grant ends?

10. Preparing to Write an Application
Outline the objectives of the grant from the announcement
Determine how your request will relate to each of those objectives. This should be the basis for your objectives/purpose/specific aims of the application

11. What are you going to do? State your purpose/objectives/specific aims
This details what you are going to do to respond to the objectives of the grant
If you can specifically relate each of your objectives or aims to the objectives stated in the announcement, it will be easier for the reviewers to approve the application

12. How are you going to do it?
This will be the bulk of your application
Be very clear how you will carry out your objectives
What are the specific tasks involved
Who will carry them out
What are their qualifications to do this?
Do they have sufficient time for this purpose?

13. How (cont.) For example;
If your project is educating a target group in specific skills
What materials will you use: do they need to be developed? If so, who will do it, when, how, etc.
How will you recruit your clients?
Who will present the materials, over what time frame, etc.

14. How (cont.) Do you have adequate staff or do you need to recruit?
How will you recruit to be sure individual is available and trained for the project?
Where will the training occur?
Do you have space and equipment available?
Will there be a cost involved?

15. How (cont.) When will the project be complete?
Can it be done in the time frame of the award?
If not, how will you continue the project? (i.e. fund it)
How will you measure success?
Pre-test and post-test of skills?
Ability to complete specific tasks?
Feedback from clients?

16. What will it cost?
Proper budgeting is critical to success of the project
To prepare a budget,
list all of the people involved in the project, their time allocation and salary and benefits (if multi-year project, include salary increases over the time period)
List all equipment and supplies that will be utilized for the project

17. What will it cost?
List any cost for facilities
Will it be necessary to travel?
If so, include mileage or airfare, etc.
Include maintenance costs (utilities, etc.)
For each budget item you may have to provide a justification.
For personnel, a job description related to the project –what will each do, and how much time will it

18. What will it cost? For equipment and supplies
Explain how it will be used and to what extent it is necessary for the success of the project (E.g., if you buy a printer, tell what materials will be printed and what they will be used for, such as training booklets, flyers to announce the project, etc. )
If travel is included, estimate the mileage or number of air flights with estimated average cost.

19. Hints to Success
If the format for the grant is included in the application or specific forms required, make sure to use them exactly as detailed.
If there is a page limit, do not exceed it.
If a certain number of copies are to be submitted, include that number
Meet the deadline for submission.

20. Hints to Success (cont.)
If you have questions, contact the program director. S/he is generally very helpful.
Be as accurate as possible.
Don’t use a lot of jargon. If you use acronyms, make sure you spell them out the first time.
If you are working with other organizations or agencies to complete the project, include letters of support from the principles involved.

21. The review process Government grants
Applications are received and distributed to peer reviewers (usually done electronically)
Reviewers complete their reviews, write their comments, and score the application
Review committee meets and discusses applications, reconciles disparities in scores, recommends awards.
Agency determines funding line and makes awards

22. The Review Process (cont.)
Private foundations
Applications are submitted either electronically or on paper, and sent out to reviewers. Each one may be different, although many have adopted a standard format. The committee may be quite diverse (different from government reviewers)
Each committee may have a different process for approving applications.
Funds are usually released shortly after approval.

23. Final Thoughts
Don’t be discouraged if your grant is not approved the first time
Read the commentary of the reviewers and see where you can improve the application
Plan to resubmit the application for the next cycle, if possible
Submit to other funding agencies