Grant Development Overview

1. Grant Development Overview Presented by: Columbia-Pacific Resource Conservation & Economic Development District Jesus (Jesse) Cardenas Executive Director

2. Potential Funding Sources • Private Foundations • Federal Programs

3. Foundations • There are over 300,000 private foundations operating in the United States • Less than 10% of all foundations give more than 50% of all grants • Private foundations are required by law to distribute 5% of the market value of their assets each year • Grant application guidelines can vary • Specific eligibility requirements

4. Online Grant Development Resources • Online Funding Database Subscription Service Providers • Should be comprehensive & keyword searchable • Should contain detailed information and profiles on foundations/corporations • Writing resources should include Letter of Inquiry (LOI)/Request for Proposal (RFP) award winning templates • Client Support

5. Big Online America – Grant Service Provider – www.bigdatabase.com • Funding Resource: A comprehensive, keyword and field searchable database with detailed information and profiles on 25,000 foundations, and government grant makers.Writing Tools: Award-winning templates for the writing of funding proposals and letters of inquiry.Client Support: Assists clients with product training and provides advice and direction for maximizing usage of the BIG Online database.Grant Development Services (GDS): Offers a complete range of fundraising consulting services

6. Foundation Center Online • Also known as FC Online • ColPac has established an annual subscription • Annual subscription rate in the amount of $2,195 is split among user organizations • Non paying organizations can use FC Online in the ColPac office under the supervision of ColPac office staff • http://fconline.fdncenter.org

7. Types of Foundations • National General Purpose Foundation • Special-Purpose Foundations • Family Foundations • Community Foundations • Corporate Foundations

8. National General Purpose Foundation • Represents 200 – 300 foundations • Account for nearly 60% of all foundation assets • Support one or more general subject areas such as education, environment, health, etc. • Prefer proposal national in scope which solves universal problems in an innovative manner

9. Special-Purpose Foundations • Support one specific subject area such as cancer research • Generally they only fund projects that significantly impact their area of interest

10. Family Foundations • Support programs valued by the family members of the person who established the foundation • Most family foundations have geographic preferences • Usually operated by the family members

11. Community Foundations • These foundations support a specific geographic region • Most community foundations obtain their money from local citizens for specific types of local projects

12. Corporate Foundations • These foundations administer the charitable contributions of the company represented • Most corporate foundations limit their support to the geographic regions where the corporation operates • Generally not “risk-takers” do not like to be the first to fund a new program • The Boeing Company, Ford Foundation

13. Contacting Private Funding Sources • Generally begins with a letter of inquiry limited to 3 pages • Keep in mind that many foundations may or may not accept phone calls at the beginning of the proposal process • Your letter is the vehicle by which the foundation begins to evaluate the relevance of your proposal to their established guidelines

14. Letter of Inquiry Includes • Summary explanation of your proposed project and organizational background • Why there is a need for the project – explain problem and proposed solution • Who will benefit from the project • Amount required from funder • Resources (including cash) already committed and raised for project • Your project’s contact information

15. Federal Funding • 300% greater than private support • U.S. Federal Government largest grantor • Grant projects relevant to funding agency • Accepts solicited/unsolicited proposals • Announce RFP’s in Federal Register • WWW.GRANTS.GOV • Specific eligibility requirements

16. WWW.GRANTS.GOV • Electronically find & apply for competitive grant opportunities from all Federal grant-making agencies • Navigate using tabs: Get Started, Get Registered, Find Grant Opportunities, Apply for Grants, Customer Support, etc. *Note: The complete registration process can take up to 5 weeks!

17. Find Grant Opportunities Tab • Ability to search for Federal government-wide grant opportunities • Ability to set-up a user profile • Ability to sign up for electronic notification of future grant opportunities • Keep in mind that there is a lengthy registration process for authorization to use grants.gov!

18. U.S. Government Solicited Proposal • Is in response to a formal government agency's program announcement • Requires strict adherence to government agency guidelines • Requires the use of specific government forms i.e. SF424A,B,C, Certifications, Assurances • Full Application Package available in grants.gov

19. U.S. Government Unsolicited Proposal • Prepared and submitted by an organization on its own initiative • Requires contact with applicable government agency to determine interest, need for a formal proposal, availability of funds

20. Government Funding Opportunities • Environmental Protection Agency • U.S. Fish and Wildlife • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) • USDA Rural Development • Economic Development Administration • Department of Health & Human Services • Department of Energy • Administration for Native Americans

21. Contacting Government Funding Source • Call or e-mail applicable agency and speak to a program officer (contact information usually listed in grant announcement) • Describe your organization and project • Convey a positive attitude towards your proposed project

22. Questions You Should Ask • Can proposal be reviewed prior to deadline? • Amount of average grant award? • Common mistakes in proposals? • Review and evaluation process? • Recommendations key points? • Previously funded proposal availability?

23. Expectations? • This all takes time • If the foundation is interested in your project’s LOI they will request a full proposal • Government agencies usually have strict application deadlines

24. Proposal Preparation Includes • What the project will accomplish • What are the short and long-term project goals • What are the project objectives (measurable) • Who will the project benefit • Who is responsible for completing goals and objectives • How and when will the objectives be completed • How will you monitor the project (evaluation process)

25. Statement of Need • Critical for gaining interest and motivating a potential funder • Keep in mind that without a pressing need the funding will not be provided

26. Your Organization Information • Inform the funding source that your organization’s mission is in unison with your proposed project as well as the grantor’s criteria • Describe your organization • Explain how your project will continue after the funding ends (sustainability) • Identify staff or volunteers who are uniquely qualified to complete the project

27. Project Budget Includes • All project direct/indirect expenses • All contractual expenses • All capital equipment expenses • All cost share sources as required • Budget should represent all funds required to complete the project • Identify potential project revenue

28. Locating a Funding Source • Research, Research, & more Research • Concentrate on matching your project with potential funder requirements • Send Letters of Inquiry to prospects identified as a good match • When allowable contact an agency directly

29. Writing the Proposal • Follow the funding source guidelines • Research proposals with similar projects that have obtained funding • Familiarize yourself with the reviewing process • If possible establish a working relationship with agency contact

30. Proposal Structure • Follow these rules Neat, Clean, Easy to Read • Include a Table of Contents if over 5 pages • Use Headings, Sub-Headings, and (some) Graphics • Double Space (if guidelines allow) • Keep it Brief, Concise, and to the Point

31. Proposal Content • Establish a logical flow from the Project Summary through the Budget • Use words that will gain the reviewer’s attention (emphasis on benefits) • Stress an urgent need for your project • Use verifiable accurate facts & data

32. Proposal Review • Prior to submitting have your proposal reviewed by several people • Be prepared to make revisions as required • Do not knot totally rely on Spell Check!! • Make sure you have followed the agency guidelines

33. Summary • Pre-planning is critical prior to beginning a grant application • Your organization’s needs assessment is the first step in grant development • Project must be thought out well before the grant application development process begins • Avoid last-minute grant applications

34. Jesus (Jesse) CardenasExecutive DirectorColumbia-Pacific Resource Conservation&Economic Development District(360) 249-2267330 Pioneer Ave., WMontesano, WA 98563executivedirector@colpac.org