This document summarizes a presentation on submission writing given by Gerard Byrne. The presentation covered major trends in funding, what funders and funding seekers want, developing a fundraising strategy with clear goals and a project plan, using skilled people and hard data to support applications, and tips for making submissions stand out. It also provided suggestions on using facts, figures, and personal stories; following primacy and immediacy rules; and utilizing sources like social media, Google, and Wikipedia to research and promote applications.

1. Saturday, 2 March 2013
Presented
by
Gerard Byrne B Com FCPA FAIM
Volunteering North Queensland Townsville City Council

2. Gerard Byrne
Author, Grants in Australia Book
Chair, NQ Community Supporting Police
Member, Townsville Lifelong Learning
Presenter, Volunteering North Queensland

3. Submission Writing 2013
Major Trends
National Not for Profit Reforms
Online Applications
Social Media

4. Submission Writing 2013
What do funders want?
Projects that match their needs closely
Demonstrated community benefit
Recognition

5. Submission Writing 2013
What funding seekers want?
Resources to achieve an outcome
Short – term outcomes
Satisfy members

6. Submission Writing 2013
Fundraising Strategy
Clear Goal
Project Plan
Skilled people
Systematic Approach
Hard data

7. Clear Goal
• Build a new club house
by 1 January 2014
• Assist 100 youth gain
employment by 1
January 2014
• Provide services to 100
clients per month

8. 2013 Project Plan
What makes a good Project Plan?
Clear
Concise
Complete
Correct
Comprehensive
(www.cpaaustralia.com.au)

9. Skilled People
Skilled people
Organising skills
Financial Skills
Networking Skills
Media Skills
Online support
(Ourcommunity Website)

10. 2013 Ten Point Plan
1. Plan Ahead
2. READ the Guidelines – use highlighter
3. PHONE the contact person
4. Be realistic
5. Do your homework
6. Gather your evidence
7. Collaboration
8. How can you measure your outcomes
9. Tailor your grant application to the criteria
10. Always have your work proofread

11. Hard Data
Research – Supported by data
The number one reason why submissions fail
Council Library Reference Desk (Ring)
Office of Economic and Statistical Research
Peak Bodies

12. Submission Writing 2013
A sporting organisation's main aim is to field teams each week, compete hard and
hopefully win. But it also serves other important purposes in the community. For
example, the club could also:
• Build community spirit through providing a rallying point for an otherwise disparate
community, and by offering a number of community events and activities - from games
nights to other social functions.
• Provide opportunities for young people in the area - and maybe in an area of low
socio-economic status or high youth unemployment. The club offers supervised training
sessions and builds self esteem and team-work.
• Maintain and develop community facilities - the playing field and clubrooms.
• Provide opportunities for people in far-flung rural areas that might not normally have
access to a sporting club, opportunities for residents from non-English speaking
backgrounds as well as running a program that offers coaching and participation for
children with disabilities. (www.ourcommunity.com.au)

13. Where do you get some good ideas?

14. Submission Writing 2013
How to make your submission stand out
Catchy Title
Facts Figures and Faces (3 F Rule)
Primacy and Immediacy Rule
Rule of Three

15. Submission Writing 2013
Facts, Figures, and Faces (3 F Rule)
 Number of people involved
 Number of possible beneficiaries / users / customers
 Geography / region
 Percentages
 Trends
 Comparisons
 Charts

16. Submission Writing 2013
How to make your submission stand out
Facts, Figures, and Faces (3 F Rule)
“Townsville is a major tropical, regional centre of 196,000
residents (?), 1358 klms North of Brisbane, located in North
Queensland, Australia.”

17. Submission Writing 2013
Possible sources of Facts, Figures, and Faces
 Townsville City Council Library
 Chamber of Commerce and Townsville Enterprise Limited
 Office of Economic and Statistical Research, Townsville
 Local Members of Parliament (ring or email if necessary)
 Google (beware how much time this may take)
 Websites (www.ourcommunity.com.au, www.deedi.qld.gov.au)
 Newspapers eg Townsville Bulletin
 Your networks

18. Funding Sources
Newspapers (Too few, too late)
EasyGrants (Ourcommunity)
Internet / Websites (eg www.grantslink.gov.au)
Local Government Councilors
Local Members of Parliament
Council Libraries
Volunteering North Queensland

20. The power of saying “Thank You”

21. Submission Writing 2013
How to use Social Media?
Facebook? Consider having a “Page” (photos)
Is Twitter for you? Using alerts in Twitter.
Linkedin to contact content experts
Promoting events: Alerts and Photos

22. Submission Writing 2012
How to use Google/Search Engines and
Wikipedia?
Be as specific as possible
Specify pages from Australia
Link off the Ourcommunity website for links
Google Alerts, Google+, Docs, Wikipedia

23. REFERENCES
Submission Writing Ten Point Model
Grants Writing Tips (Do’s and Don’ts)
References (Ourcommunity Books)
Volunteering North Queensland

24. How to make Google work for you?
Google Alerts
If in doubt, “Google it”.

26. Questions?
Thank you for your attendance this morning
Need further help?
Volunteering North Queensland
www.volunteeringnthqld.org.au
Townsville City Council
www.townsville.qld.gov.au