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How to write a grant application
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- 2. Pre-Grant Writing check list ◦ Meet all of the grants requirements ◦ Summary statement Brief paragraph Who you are, what your project is, money needed ◦ Create an outline Describe each point of your proposal Expand on each point as needed ◦ Go back and make sure that the grant funder matches the funds you need Re-check the requirements
- 4. Form Grant Committee ◦ Get a group of colleagues together to work on the project as a team Two, or more, eyes are better than one Brainstorm ◦ Get ideas on paper Decide on Goals ◦ Have clear goals and a plan on how you will meet those goals
- 5. Lets the granter know what you are looking for or what you need at a glance Very Similar to a Cover Letter ◦ At a glance goals and objectives Short and Sweet ◦ Can be as short as a few sentences but no longer than one page Be Complete ◦ Concise and to the point goals that are clearly stated Time to impress ◦ Should be . . . Well written, concise, and intriguing so that the grant reviewer will want to keep reading
- 6. Meat of your proposal ◦ Where you convince the granter on why you need these funds or resources State what you propose to do is right and why your organization is the right one to do it ◦ Assume reader does not know about the issue/problem Explain what the problem is and how it is important Show them research done to search for possible solutions ◦ The need statement must include stories and data, and be matched to the interests of the granting organization. Goal is to convince the funder that this project solves an important societal problem, and that the funder should be completely interested in supporting it.
- 7. Explain what your organization plans to do about the problem ◦ Spells out what you hope to accomplish and specific outcomes or results from your project Goals ◦ General or broad outcomes Objectives ◦ Specific steps you will take to achieve those outcomes
- 8. Section where you will walk the grantor by the hand through EXACTLY HOW you will the goals and objectives from the previous slide ◦ This section must be very detailed and go into every aspect and step of the project’s process until completion Include a timeline along with a who will do what when Provide Logic Model Simple Chart of the key elements of the project Inputs-What is needed to complete the project Outputs-What will be produced Outcomes-What will be gained Impacts-How it will effect the community at large
- 9. Funder’s want to know that their money is going to actually do something so one must decide in the grant writing process how they will evaluate the impact of their project. ◦ Include what records you will keep or data you will collect and how you will use that data If this process costs money make sure to include that cost in your budget Many organizations hire outside firms to do this data collection
- 10. Most funders do not like to be the only source of funds so. . . ◦ Show the grantor that you have committed funds from other sources ◦ Also show the in kind contributions you expect Like, a meeting space or any equipment Any and all sources you may have gotten funds from Like Fundraisers Other Grantors Private investors Etc.
- 11. A few paragraphs explaining your organization ◦ Explain what your organization does ◦ Why it can be trusted to use the resources responsibly and effectively History of your organization ◦ State its mission ◦ The population it serves ◦ Provide overview of past projects and accomplishments ◦ Describe/list other programs Be Complete and describe everything about yourself
- 12. How much will the project cost as a whole ◦ Explains the money your organization will need and how it is going to be used to the grantor Needs to include expected expenses and income expenses Expected expenses are. . . Personnel expenses Direct project expenses Administrative or overhead expenses Income Expenses are. . . Earned income Contributed income
- 13. Where you show the grantor all of the additional work, research, and documentation that your organization is trust-worthy ◦ Need such things as IRS letter showing your organization is tax-exempt List of your board of directors and their affiliations Financial statement from your last fiscal year Budget for your current fiscal year Budget for your next fiscal year if it is upcoming Anything else that the grantor requires you to show or prove within the requirements
- 14. This is the first thing that the grantor will see and read about your organization so make it professional but eye catching ◦ This is simply a brief summary and quick and concise needs statement on why your organization needs these funds ◦ Also is a brief and concise statement about your organization and what it has done and what it wants to do This is the thing that will grab the grantor and make them want to continue reading Should be completed last so you know exactly what you want and can state it in a paragraph or two
- 15. The final process to writing a grant is putting it all together ◦ First the grant should be proof read and gone over so that there are no grammatical or analytical mistakes Need to make sure that you have provided and answered everything that is required for the grantor ◦ Next a Cover Letter and Cover sheet should be added with your organizations CEO’s signature on both ◦ Does not need to be placed into a fancy binder but should be held together as one piece in some form ◦ Make a copy of the grant for personal files ◦ Mail it to the grantor
- 16. After mailing the grant application wait a little while and check in how the application is doing by contacting the grantor ◦ Ask if it was received and complete Keep the grantor informed ◦ Mail or contact the grantor if your organization has accomplished anything new or has been sited in a news article Be patient and wait ◦ The application process can take sometime so be patient and you will be notified if you have received the grant Good Luck!