10 Elements of Successful Grant Writing

1. 10 Elements of Successful Grant Writing Presented by Michael Lane I'll Grant You This - Development Consulting

2. No. 1 • Know Your Funder • Is what you are proposing in sync with their funding priorities • Establish a relationship I'll Grant You This - Development Consulting

3. No. 2 • Grants are business agreements • Funders see themselves as investors and to be treated accordingly • Grants must clearly define the quantifiable/qualifiable deliverables of the proposal – i.e., what is the funder/investor’s return on the dollar • Grants are not creative writing – cute, clever or pedantic are sure fire losers I'll Grant You This - Development Consulting

4. No. 3 • It is virtually impossible to write a worthwhile grant when you have nothing worthwhile to write about • Proposal is ill-conceived or ill-planned • Proposal is a vanity project • Proposal is outside the organization’s mission – i.e., chasing grant money • Proposal is duplicative of other organization’s services or programs • Proposal is for programming that has gone “stale” I'll Grant You This - Development Consulting

5. No. 4 • Do not under estimate what your funders know about you – they know everything I'll Grant You This - Development Consulting

6. No. 5 • Grant budgets are not creative accounting – the number 1 grant killer I'll Grant You This - Development Consulting

7. No. 6 • Grammar and spelling – the three “Rs” are critical • One typo is one too many • Write in active tense; not passive I'll Grant You This - Development Consulting

8. No. 7 • Get to your point – be bright, be brief, be gone • On average, you have less than 1 minute to impress a grant analyst the first time he or she reads your proposal. Your summary or abstract paragraph must encapsulate the fundamentals of your proposal in 3 to 4 sentences. I'll Grant You This - Development Consulting

9. No. 8 • Pay attention to the instructions I'll Grant You This - Development Consulting

10. No. 9 • If an e-file grant (i.e., online) do NOT wait until the last day to submit I'll Grant You This - Development Consulting

11. No. 10 • Write thank you notes • If you are awarded a grant, write a thank you note. If you are declined, write a thank you note. Above all DO NOT GIVE UP! I'll Grant You This - Development Consulting

12. Sealing The Deal: You and Your Funders I'll Grant You This - Development Consulting

13. Funders: Dating with Intent of Marriage • Do your homework • Open a dialogue with potential funders • Network • One the relationship is established, keep funders updated and in the loop. • Funders ARE NOT ATM MACHINES I'll Grant You This - Development Consulting

14. Grants Are Business Agreements • You may not think of yourself as a business, but your funders do. • Questions most likely asked about the business component of your organization I'll Grant You This - Development Consulting

15. You Want to Know What? I'll Grant You This - Development Consulting

16. The questions everyone hates to answer • How often does the board meet? • How important is it to have trustees with a deep understanding of your services? Describe how your trustees are involved in assessing the quality of your programs and the organization’s ability to reach service goals. I'll Grant You This - Development Consulting

17. The questions everyone hates to answer • Describe your board’s level of engagement with the organization. Discuss the board’s committee structure and its level of ongoing activity. • What is your organization’s policy on board giving? I'll Grant You This - Development Consulting

18. The questions everyone hates to answer • Discuss the management staff capacity of your organization: • Please list key staff by name and title, and attach their resumes to the application: I'll Grant You This - Development Consulting

19. The questions everyone hates to answer • Describe any changes in key staff positions in the last year: • Describe your organization’s technological capacity and business systems, including: computer network, hardware and software; internet access, email, website; telephone system, voice mail; automated accounting, bookkeeping, financial management reports, etc.; desktop publishing: I'll Grant You This - Development Consulting

20. The questions everyone hates to answer • Describe your office set up and its level of functional adequacy: • Describe the adequacy of your performing/presenting venue and your ability to manage or control it effectively for your needs I'll Grant You This - Development Consulting

21. The questions everyone hates to answer • Discuss any exceptional growth or reduction in your operating budget over the past year. If there was less than 5% growth or reduction, you may answer “not applicable.” • Did you have a negative balance at the end of your last fiscal year; if so, explain how you are addressing it. I'll Grant You This - Development Consulting

22. The questions everyone hates to answer • Describe how you manage cash flow; include information on cash reserves, lines of credit, board or staff loans, or use of personal credit. • Describe how your organization has dealt with anticipated financial changes over the last five years; provide specific examples I'll Grant You This - Development Consulting

23. The questions everyone hates to answer • Does the organization owe any long-term debt? If so, to whom and how much? • Describe any capital projects that the organization currently has underway I'll Grant You This - Development Consulting

24. The questions everyone hates to answer • If something happens to the person delivering the program, how will the organization meet its commitments? • Can the organization meet its immediate obligations? I'll Grant You This - Development Consulting

25. The questions everyone hates to answer • Is the organization prepared to replace the leader in case of an emergency? • Please state if there is no vision of the organization beyond the founder: • Does the organization engage in any long-range or strategic planning? If so, please describe the process below and attach a copy of your most recent document(s). I'll Grant You This - Development Consulting

26. I’ll Grant You This Development Consulting Michael S. Lane, Owner p: 856.503.6282 e: mlane32201@aol.com I'll Grant You This - Development Consulting