Grant Writing for Technical Communicators

1. Grant Writing for Technical Communicators Steve Merriam STC Presentation May 11, 2011

3. Nonprofits in America • From relief societies to the New Deal • Two surges in nonprofit growth • Nonprofits since Vietnam

4. Nonprofits in 2011 • What determines whether an organization is a nonprofit? • Why are nonprofit organizations tax-exempt? • The fund development “department” of a typical nonprofit

5. The Nine Components of a Typical Grant Proposal Executive Summary, Introduction/Description, Need Statement, Goals and Objectives, Methods, Evaluation, Sustainability, Budget, Appendix

6. Typical Proposal Components – 1The Executive Summary The Executive Summary is a one-page overview of a full proposal. “Here’s what you need to know.”

7. Typical Proposal Components – 2Introduction/Description Section This section describes the organization, state’s the agency’s mission, outlines the organization’s purposes and goals, profiles its clients, etc. “What we’re about.”

8. Typical Proposal Components – 3Statement of Need Section The Statement of Need section—also called the “Problem Statement” or “Narrative”—presents a compelling description of the need addressed by the proposal. “Why we’re asking for funding.”

9. Typical Proposal Components – 4Goals and Objectives Section The Goals and Objectives section describes the organization’s long-range benefits (goals) of the project, and spells out the specific short-term results (objectives) to be accomplished. “What we want to achieve with this funding.”

10. Typical Proposal Components – 5Methods Section The Methods Section—also called the “Methodology,” “Plan,” or “Approach” section—describes the specific way that the problem will be solved. “How we will solve the problem with the funding.”

11. Typical Proposal Components – 7Evaluation Section An Evaluation Section plans how a program’s achievements will be assessed. “How we will tell if our solution makes a difference.”

12. Typical Proposal Components – 6Sustainability Section A Sustainability Section describes how the organization plans to carry on with the project after the initial grant period. “How the program will continue.”

13. Typical Proposal Components – 8Budget Section The Budget is usually a line-item summary of the program revenues and expenses, and frequently includes a budget rationale. “How we’ll allocate resources and serve as effective stewards of your money.”

14. Typical Proposal Components – 9Appendices Appendices contain supportive secondary information that will strengthen your proposal narrative. “What other information do you need to see?”

15. Writing for Nonprofits • Passion • Volunteering • Building relationships

16. Writing for Nonprofits . . . paying bills • How much you should charge • What you should (and should not) charge for • Grant writing on “commission”

17. Contingency Grant Writing • Representing expertise • Representing the profession • Representing the grant maker

18. What’s Ahead for NPOs in 2011 • Continued fallout from the 2008 recession • “Leaning Out” • Engaging a new generation of donors

19. Questions . . . References for this presentation available upon request.

20. Research Resources • The San Diego Foundation www.sdfoundation.org • Guidestar www.guidestar.org • The Foundation Center www.fdncenter.org • Nonprofit Management Solutions www.npsolutions.org

21. Professional Development • Association of Fundraising Professionals www.afpsd.org • Certificate Program in Professional Writing, SDSU http://tcomm.sdsu.edu • M.A. in Nonprofit Leadership and Management, USD • Certification in Fundraising Management