10 Tips for Successful Grant Proposals

10 Tips for Successful Grant Proposals Dalya Massachi Use Twitter Hashtag #npweb Special Thanks To Our Sponsors

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OUTLINEI. The life cycle of a grant proposalII. 2P2R Planning System: 4 easy stepsIII. Powerful writing techniquesIV. Spot the weaknessesV. Bonus handouts (follow-up) ©2011 Dalya F Massachi www.dfmassachi.net 6

Program Officer reviews your proposalYou answer any outstanding questions Program Officer advocates for you Board votes on your proposal You rejoice OR learn why you lost ©2011 Dalya F Massachi www.dfmassachi.net 8

2. USE THE 2P2R SYSTEM1. Understand your “Good writing does Purposes. not come from fancy word processors or2. Define your expensive typewriters or special pencils or Priority info. hand-crafted quill pens. Good writing3. Know your comes from good Readers. thinking.” – Ann Loring4. Refine your messages. ©2011 Dalya F Massachi www.dfmassachi.net 10

UNDERSTAND YOUR SPECIFIC WRITING PURPOSES. Inspire the funder with your unique ideas. Encourage the view of your organization as a solid investment. Explain your pressing issue. Show that you share goals and values. Instill trust in your ability to get the job done. ©2011 Dalya F Massachi www.dfmassachi.net 11

YOUR UNIQUENESS:So powerful that it cuts through inertia,gets noticed, and gets people talking aboutyou. Under-served clients, location, etc. Outstanding credentials or experience Extensive collaborations Unusual point of view or approach ©2011 Dalya F Massachi www.dfmassachi.net 12

EXAMPLE: Beyond Breast CancerBeyond Breast Cancer is different fromother breast cancer organizations inthat we focus on quality of life. Weacknowledge the challenges andlimitations of living with breast cancer,and we believe that focusing onactivities that our clients are able toenjoy cultivates a higher quality of lifethan might otherwise be possible. ©2011 Dalya F Massachi www.dfmassachi.net 13

ASK YOURSELF:1) What’s inspiring and intriguing about your organization or program?2) What is the unique value it adds to the community?3) What makes your org a good investment- NOW? ©2011 Dalya F Massachi www.dfmassachi.net 14

ASK YOURSELF:What does your work mean for the community:personally, economically, spiritually, emotionally,socially, etc.?How does your work serve, excite, entertain, oreducate your community?“So what?” How does your work lead to somethingbetter for the community?“What’s in it for US?” ©2011 Dalya F Massachi www.dfmassachi.net 16

EXAMPLE: HOMELESS SHELTERPROGRAMS: You offer homeless families a soup kitchen, warm beds, restrooms, child care, long- term job and housing servicesBENEFITS: (the difference you make – so what?) Higher level of nutrition and stability Higher level of employment Fewer families living in cars or on streets Less desperation, often leading to crime, drug abuse, etc. The sense of being a community that cares for everyone Lower long-term financial cost to local area ©2011 Dalya F Massachi www.dfmassachi.net 17

PROGRAM OFFICERS:Foundation gatekeepersHave background, concern BUT may beunfamiliar with your particular slant/nicheAre time-pressedWant to be inspiredHave been around, frequently talk to othersAre people too, with hearts, minds, concerns ©2011 Dalya F Massachi www.dfmassachi.net 19

WHAT INFORMATION IS OF MOST INTEREST TO THEM?True match with your goals and prioritiesProgram is a high priority for youHigh chance of success: realistic, specific planClear, measurable impact on a vital community need-- NOW ©2011 Dalya F Massachi www.dfmassachi.net 20

Beneficiary involvement Strategic collaboration/role in the field Strong evaluation plan Replicable model Community support ( and in-kind) Funded by other foundationsNote: Corporations are looking for how their investment will benefit them. ©2011 Dalya F Massachi www.dfmassachi.net 21

HOW TO FIND OUT MORE? Read their publications, websites, grant guidelines. Research what they have previously supported. (Is there enough similarity with your project, yet uniqueness in your specific approach?) Call or email to clarify. ©2011 Dalya F Massachi www.dfmassachi.net 22

3. FOCUS ON CLARITY“The most powerful factors in the world are clear ideas in the minds of energetic men [and women] of good will.”— J Arthur Thomson You know all about your program, but your readers don’t. Explain everything! Avoid vagueness; talk specifics. Use examples, quotes. ©2011 Dalya F Massachi www.dfmassachi.net 25

4. TELL STORIESTalk about how people havebenefited: results they have seenand importance.What are some characteristics of greatstories? A beginning, middle and end Memorable characters Interesting setting (time and place) Compelling plot or conflict resolution ©2011 Dalya F Massachi www.dfmassachi.net 26

5. TAKE CUES FROM THE FUNDER Remember to answer all of the funder’s questions with details. Use the funder’s language. Use headings and sub-headings with chunks accessible at a glance. ©2011 Dalya F Massachi www.dfmassachi.net 27

6. AVOID JARGON AND UNEXPLAINED ACRONYMS Does the term mean the same thing to them as it does to you? If you must use technical terms or acronyms, explain them the first time. ©2011 Dalya F Massachi www.dfmassachi.net 28

7. SHOW, DON’T JUST TELL Convey striking details Use metaphors and analogies Show HOW your solution benefits folks Use word pictures: NOT “affordable housing and good nutrition” BUT “safe roof and 3 solid meals a day” Compare your topic to a more familiar one. ©2011 Dalya F Massachi www.dfmassachi.net 30

EXAMPLEThe Frameworks Institute used stats from U.S.Dept. of Ed’s 2005 study, “Calories In, CaloriesOut: Food and Exercise in Public ElementarySchools,” and crafted this message:“Exercise is something that children needevery day. But half of all students attendschools that have reduced their phys ed classto just one or two days per week. Part-timefitness is no more effective than part-timereading or math instruction.” ©2011 Dalya F Massachi www.dfmassachi.net 31

9. CULTIVATE CONCISENESS:LESS IS MORE“I didnt have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead.” —Mark Twain Sentences: 14-20 words max. No freeloading words KISSS: Keep It Short, Simple, Skimmable Average LOI:1-3 pp.; full proposal: 7-10 pp. ©2011 Dalya F Massachi www.dfmassachi.net 33

10. PROOFREADCheck your documentfor grammar,punctuation, spelling,and other slip-ups.Always read your pieceout loud (even if it’sonly to yourself). Mostpeople hear words asthey read them, so yourwords should roll offthe tongue. ©2011 Dalya F Massachi www.dfmassachi.net 34

LET IDEAS GERMINATE."The beautiful part of writing is that you dont have toget it right the first time, unlike, say, a brain surgeon." —Robert Cormier Wait at least 24 hours before starting to revise. Try keeping a notepad & pen on your nightstand. This invites creative ideas to visit you. ©2011 Dalya F Massachi www.dfmassachi.net 35

EXERCISE (SPOT THE WEAKNESSES)Dear Program Officer:We are pleased to submit this brief Letter ofIntent to the Over-the-Top Foundation. Wepropose the “Get A Life Project,” which willhave a negligible effect on housing conditionsfor low-income women and will probably donothing to change their economic status. ©2011 Dalya F Massachi www.dfmassachi.net 37

EXERCISE (SPOT THE WEAKNESSES)We don’t have an innovative bone in ourbodies, so we’re just doing the same oldproject that we’ve always done, and it’s notpart of any larger plan. In fact, we think thereare already many organizations doing thiswork in our town. ©2011 Dalya F Massachi www.dfmassachi.net 38

EXERCISE (SPOT THE WEAKNESSES)Based on no community feedback orinvolvement, we believe that our Get A LifeProject will provide much-needed assistance.It’s not clear how we will do this work, but weare sure that we’ll come up with something.To be sure, we definitely will not beevaluating it. ©2011 Dalya F Massachi www.dfmassachi.net 39

EXERCISE (SPOT THE WEAKNESSES)Our project does not address any of yourpriority areas, but we know you will make anexception because of our good intentions. Wewill have to indefinitely rely on yourfoundation to sustain our work. Otherwisewill have to close.Sincerely,Wanda Grant ©2011 Dalya F Massachi www.dfmassachi.net 40

FINAL THOUGHT"Find a subject you care about and whichyou in your heart feel others should careabout. It is this genuine caring, not yourgames with language, which will be themost compelling and seductive element inyour style.”— Kurt Vonnegut ©2011 Dalya F Massachi www.dfmassachi.net 41

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10 Tips for Successful Grant Proposals

by NonprofitWebinars.com on Feb 16, 2011

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10 Tips for Successful Grant Proposals — Presentation Transcript