1. GRANT WRITING The Basics

2. WHY GRANTS?  Why is grant writing such a hot button topic?  Words matter  It will be all they have!  Steps in the process (Koch 8-10)  Abstract—Intro—Organizational description—Statement of need— Goals/objectives—Activities/outcomes—Evaluation—Dissemination— Budget/constraints  Must be familiar with who you are, what you want, and who you can get it from  Who are you?  Grassroots, social service agency, advocacy groups, individual? 501(c)(3)?

3. KEY THINGS TO CONSIDER  You absolutely must always address the “So what?” question  Koch p. 24-25  Focused goals lead to measurable objectives  This will help!  Tell us who will benefit and show us that the project is doable  External funding should NEVER drive your organization  Design tricks  Benefit many, collaborative, inclusive, investment, leverage, replicable, continued

4. IN YOUR OFFICE/AREA  Don’t be intimidated by the amount of work you have to put forth  Need to know institutional info, long-range goals, PR efforts  Want good partnerships within your office  Especially between budget person and the grant writer (if they’re different)  Know the needs and accomplishments of your organization (KK113)  Team-driven proposals are tough  And they are NEVER written by an actual team  Find quantifiable data on your efforts, know the relationships you have, and figure out who you are competing against!

5. MUST HAVE A HOOK!  Be persuasive!  This will create the link with the grantor  Need to know their POV  Direct service, research, research for policy, research for activism, education, activism  Ideology 100% can matter  Use buzzwords  Can make or break some proposals

6. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER ABOUT WHERE TO APPLY  Eligible?  Geography?  Subject matter?  RFP?  Amount of money?  Problem-solving approach?  There are trends!  Foundation considerations (Koch 43)

7. WHAT TO LOOK FOR  Must match started goals, preferences, and limitations of grantor  www.foundationcenter.org www.foundationcenter.org  IRS990-PF (KK 86)  What grants have they made?  Koch p. 33—roadmap  Conferences and workshops

8. KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE: FOUNDATIONS  Effect social change  Associate with greatness  Peer review with criteria  Paper you write for class—build case  No assurance of being read in full  National, regional/local, family, community, non-grant-making, independent private, federated, corporate, financial institutions

9. KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE: CORPORATIONS  Visibility and marketing  Different audience  Short, bullets, clear link to them

10. KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE: GOVERNMENT  Need that needs addressed  Federal Register (designated period)  Complex and time-consuming  Review committees  Departmental program officers  Teams of reviewers  Will ALWAYS know review criteria  PAY ATTENTION TO THEM!  Less freedom  Help them give you points (p. 77 Koch)

11. ADVICE POINTS  No two applications will be the same  Don’t be afraid to call program officers (but be quick and on point!)  See what they’ve funded lately  Use the teleconferences  Don’t do anything they don’t ask you to  You MUST follow directions  Must answer every question/topic  Learn from rejections!!

12. WHAT CAN I DO TO BE PREPARED FOR GRANT OPPORTUNITIES?  Potentially needed documents (KF 60-62)  Boilerplate materials (KF 63-64)  Information to collect/update regularly (KF 68-69)