It is not radical to say that grantseeking is a competitive process. As pools of eligible funds continue to shrink and those in need continue to grow, it is difficult for nonprofit organizations to keep their heads above water. This free webinar is here to help! We will review trends in what funders are looking for in grant applications so that you can create the strongest applications possible. In addition, we will identify common mistakes and suggest solutions and resources to help you avoid these pitfalls. We will have plenty of time for live questions and answers, so be prepared to bring your biggest concerns for discussion.

1. Grant Trends and
Common Mistakes:
Make Your 2019
Applications Shine!
February 6, 2019

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3. A Global Network
Bridging Tech Solutions
and Services for Good
Where are you on the map?

4. Acclivity
Adobe
Alpha Software
Atlas Business Solutions
Atomic Training
Autodesk
Azavea
BetterWorld
Bitdefender
Blackbaud
Bloomerang
Box
Brocade
Bytes of Learning
Caspio
CauseVox
CDI Computer Dealers
Cisco
Citrix
CitySoft
CleverReach
ClickTime
Closerware
Comodo
Connect2Give
Dell
Dharma Merchant Services
Digital Wish
Dolby
DonorPerfect
Efficient Elements
FileMaker
GoDaddy
GrantStation
Guide By Cell
Headsets.com
Horizon DataSys
HR Solutions Partners
Huddle
Idealware
InFocus
Informz
InterConnection
Intuit
JourneyEd
Litmos
Little Green Light
Mailshell
Microsoft
Mobile Beacon
NetSuite
Nielsen
NonProfitEasy
O&O Software
Quickbooks Made Easy
Reading Eggs
ReadyTalk
Red Earth Software
Sage Software
Shopify
Simple Charity Registration
Skillsoft
Smart Business Savings
Society for Nonprofit Organizations
Sparrow Mobile
Symantec
Tableau
TechBridge
Tech Impact
Teespring
Telosa
Tint
Ultralingua
Western Digital
Zoner

5. $99 GrantStation Special
Offer
February 12 and 13 only
TechSoup’s partnership with GrantStation
means we have the best deal nonprofits can
get — $99 for a full 12-month subscription.
That's $600 less than standard retail, and $200
off our usual TechSoup price. This limited $99
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For more information, please visit
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6. Presenters
Alice Ruhnke
Founder and Owner
The Grant Advantage
Sima Thakkar
Senior Manager, Content
TechSoup
Assisting with chat:
Zerreen Kazi, TechSoup
Zerreen Kazi
Marketing
Associate
TechSoup
Sima Thakkar
Senior Manager,
Content
TechSoup
Alice Ruhnke
Founder and Owner
The Grant Advantage

7. Grant Trends and Common Mistakes:
Make Your 2019 Applications Shine!
Alice Ruhnke
Founder and Owner
The Grant Advantage
Presented by
Sponsored by

8. Agenda
• Grant trends
• What are funders looking for
and how can I increase my
chances of success?
• Common mistakes and solutions
• Question and answers

9. Grant Trends
Grants are becoming
more and more
competitive

10. Grant Trends
• Increase in connecting a cause or an
issue to a product
• Greater competition for poverty-related
issues like feeding programs and basic
needs
• More government funds available to
address substance abuse and the opioid
crisis
https://grantstation.com/gs-insights/Grantmaking-Predictions-for-2019

11. Grant Trends
• Increase in funding strategic
collaborative efforts
• Corporate funding:
– Increase of in-kind donations
– Increase in funding activities
that employees are connected
with
• More funders are requiring
that you involve those you
serve in the design of your
programs

12. In-Kind Donations
Services: meeting
space, photocopy
and mail services,
and administrative
or financial support
Goods: computers,
software, furniture,
and office equipment
Expertise: like legal,
tax, or business
advice; marketing
and web site
development; and
strategic planning

13. What Do Funders Want?
For a funder, a grant is an investment in positive change.
For an organization, it is a tool used to address important issues
within their community.
Grants are about their impact rather than the money.
https://www.tgci.com/what-grant-proposal

14. Show Your Strengths, Not Your Needs
• Paint a picture for the funder
that you are worthy of an
investment
• Present solutions and show the
impact you have had and will
continue to have

15. What Do Funders Want?
Common Sections of Grant Applications
Organizational background
Need for project
Outcomes/impact on participants
Approach
Evaluation process
Project budget

16. Grant Writing 80/20 Rule
Planning
80%
Writing
20%
Level of detail
and planning is
becoming much
more rigorous

17. Program Planning Framework

18. Purpose of Each Section
To establish your organization’s credibility
To clearly define
the problems
experienced by
the target
population
To identify the
root causes of
the problems
described above
To identify the
changes you
anticipate in the
target population
To determine how
you will measure
the changes in the
target population
To outline what you will
do to achieve your
outcomes and address
the root causes of the
problem. Your budget is
“spent” here.
To determine how you
will measure your
approach—quantity
and quality of what you
will do
To outline and justify the funding needed to
carry out your approach

19. How Can I Increase My Chances of Success?
• Identify matching funds
• Develop meaningful
partnerships
• Create an outcome
measurement system that
measures the changes in those
you serve

20. Matching Funds
Do you have other funds to
support your grant request?
Most of the time, funders don’t
like to fund 100% of a project or
proposal.
Find match through real dollars
or in-kind funds

21. Possible Sources of Match
“Real Money”
• Organizational funds
• Financial donations
from individuals
• Money raised through
fundraisers
• Other grants
“In-Kind”
• Volunteer activity
– $21.10 in WV 2017
– $24.69 in US in 2017
– Independent Sector
• Discounts—written
confirmation
• Donations

22. GrantStation In-Kind Resources
Tracking In-Kind Contributions and Volunteer Hours
Gregg Bossen, QuickBooks Made Easy
www.QuickBooksMadeEasy.com
The webinar will be offered again later on in the year
Secure Cash Awards by Leveraging Product Donations
Cynthia Adams, GrantStation CEO
Free archived webinar on GrantStation website
https://grantstation.com/public-resources/free-recorded-webinars-2

23. Partnerships
• Who else is doing the same kind of
work in your community?
– How are you unique or different?
– How are you the same?
– How can you share resources or partner
together?
• What other organizations/agencies can
support your work?
• How can you assist other
organizations?

24. Root Cause Analysis
• Identify the “problems” your target
population encounters with numbers and
data
• Now that you have the problem clearly
identified, ask yourself, “Why does this
problem exist?” For example, why is
unemployment high? Why are youth
dropping out of school before they
graduate? Why are individuals homeless?
Why are youth absent from school? Why
are people in poor health?

25. Example: Afterschool Tutoring Program
Root Cause Analysis Partner/Gap
Parents don’t have the skills to help
with out-of-school academic activities
Adult basic education
provides adult literacy
services
Youth don’t see the value in academic
work
Gap that no one is
filling-->our project
Youth don’t have access to after-school
hour tutoring programs
Gap that no one is
filling-->our project
Youth don’t have access to technology
or academic resources during after-
school hours
County school board is
providing iPads to all
students
Problem:
• 25% of students
(100 youth) at
MySchool Middle
School are below
proficient in
math scores.
• 30% of students
(120 youth) at
MySchool Middle
School are below
proficient in
reading scores.

26. Partnership Identification Tool
Businesses and Corporations Possible
Motivations
Potential
Resources
Located in your community
Companies where your
stakeholders work
Companies that sell to your
stakeholders
Vendor corporations
Affinity corporations
Download a free copy at
www.thegrantadvantage.net
Resources tab
Grant Writing Resources

27. Community Assets Possible
Motivations
Potential
Resources
Social service agencies
Educational institutions
Communities of faith
Elected officials
Governmental entities
Civic groups
Community gatekeepers
Healthcare organizations
Media outlets
Funders
Public resources

28. Develop Outcome Measurement System
What are outcomes?
The changes or benefits your
participants experience
because they engaged in your
programs
GrantStation Webinars
Grant Writing 101 February
7, 2019
Logic Models: More Than
Just Extra Work
February 21, 2019
www.grantstation.com

29. Why Measure Outcomes?
• To see if
programs really
make a
difference in the
lives of the
people you serve
• To help programs
improve services
• Recruit and retain talented staff
• Enlist and motivate volunteers
• Attract new participants
• Engage collaborators
• Garner support for innovative
efforts
• Win designation as a model or
demonstration site
• Retain or increase funding
• Gain favorable public recognition

30. Common Mistakes and Fixes
Application is boring and not engaging
Know who you are writing to
Use stories to capture mind and hearts
Be interesting!

31. Common Mistakes and Fixes
Not formatted the way the funder wants it
Follow the directions!!!

32. Common Mistakes and Fixes
Application is disjointed and inconsistent
Use the Program Planning Framework

33. Common Mistakes and Fixes
Application is disjointed and inconsistent
Use the Program Planning Framework

34. Common Mistakes and Fixes
Not enough detail
Assume that the reader/funder knows nothing about your
organization, population served, how you provide services
etc.

35. Grant Capacity Tip #1
Find a Friend
Connect and meet with an
organization that is already
receiving grants and ask them
for mentoring, assistance, and
guidance
For federal and state grants, it
is recommended to “find a
friend” in one of the agencies
to provide guidance

36. Grant Capacity Tip #2
Read Successful Grants
Find them on the internet, by asking
people if you can read their
proposals, and on the following
websites:
GrantStation
www.grantstation.com
The Grant Advantage
www.thegrantadvantage.net
Under Resources Tab
Grant Writing Resources

37. Grant Capacity Tip #3
Become a Grant Reviewer
Local community foundations
United Ways
State agencies
Federal agencies

38. Questions and Answers

39. Thank You for Participating!!!
Alice Ruhnke
The Grant Advantage
www.thegrantadvantage.net
alice@thegrantadvantage.net
304.400.4894 (office)
Mapping the Course:
A Practical Approach to Grant Writing
$25.00
20% off through February 7, 2019
Code: TWENTY19
Order a copy today!
http://bit.ly/2tqX8DK

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