An introduction to grantwriting course offered at Bethel University 2015, www.betheluniversityvt.wordpress.com

1. PITCH
PERFECT
FINDING GRANTS + WRITING GREAT PROPOSALS
REBECCA SANBORN STONE | COMMUNITY WORKSHOP LLC

3. GRANTWRITING IS NOT
ABOUT THIS…

4. IT’S ABOUT THIS…

5. 3 SECRETS TO GETTING
FUNDED

6. 1. TELL A GOOD STORY

7. 2. FUNDERS LIKE FADS

8. 2. FUNDERS LIKE FADS

9. 3. PLAY BY THE RULES

10. TRENDS IN FUNDING
1. Funding lags
2. Collective impact giving
3. Grassroots grantmaking
4. Operating support
5. Multi-year funding
6. Hot topics:
• partnerships
• underserved
populations
• big issues
• network solutions

11. TYPE OF FUNDERS
EFFORT
Local
organizations
Regional &
community
foundations
National
foundations
Corporations
& businesses
Local, state
& county
government
Federal
government
Crowdfunding
?Contests
PAYOFF

12. GRANT VOCABULARY
Funders & Grants
• RFP (Request for
Proposals) & RFQ
• Foundation (grantmaking
vs. operating)
• Challenge grant
• 990
Applicants & Grantees
• NGO (Non-governmental
organization)
• 501(c)(3) / tax exempt /
public charity
• Fiscal sponsor
See: http://www.coloradohealth.org/glossary.aspx
Proposals & Projects
• Rolling deadlines
• LOI (Letter of Interest /Inquiry
/ Intent)
• RBA (Results-Based
Accountability
• Fee-for-service
• Operating support
• Direct costs
• Indirect costs / overhead
• Match
• In-kind

13. WHERE TO LOOK:
FOUNDATIONS
The Foundation Center
Philanthropy News Digest, Grant Space
grantspace.org
foundationcenter.org
Vermont Community Foundation
vermontcf.org
fdovermont.foundationcenter.org/

14. WHERE TO LOOK:
GOVERNMENT
Grants.gov
www.grants.gov
State Agencies
Federal Agencies
Congressional Websites

15. WHERE TO LOOK:
BUSINESSES
Corporate websites
CSRWire
CSRWire.com
Industry groups

16. WHERE TO LOOK:
CROWDFUNDING

17. WHERE TO LOOK:
OTHER SOURCES
GrantsAlert.com (K-12)
GrantStation
Professional listserves
NGO & Network websites
Annual reports
Event sponsorships
Local news
Local organizations
Friends & family
Google!

19. WHO ARE WE?
1. What type of organization are we?
2. What do we do and believe?
3. Whom do we serve?
4. Who are our partners & competitors?
5. What’s our track record?

20. WHAT DO WE NEED?
6. What’s the project / need?
7. What’s our timeline?
8. What’s our budget (overall & project)?
9. What support do we need?

21. WHAT’S THE OPPORTUNITY?
10. Which funding sources are we looking at?
11. Who are the funders?
12. What’s their giving history?
13. What’s our relationship?
14. What are the requirements & guidelines?
15. Is it worth it?

22. WHAT’S OUR PITCH?
16. What are the selection criteria?
17. What’s written between the lines?
18. What are we offering & asking for?
19. What happens if we’re not funded?
20. What’s the follow up?

24. PRACTICE
MAKES
PERFECT
Elevator Pitch!
• Who we are
• What we need
• Why it matters
(remember FADS)

25. Rebecca Sanborn Stone
Community Workshop LLC
rsanbornstone@gmail.com
www.rebeccasanbornstone.com