Grant Writing II

1. Laurie Jarrett Rogers April 19th and 26th Non-Profit Learning Point Grant Writing II

2. Introductions • Name • Your Organization • Your Experience with Grantwriting • “If you had a magic wand, what would you change?...”

3. Workshop Objectives • Gain a higher understanding of the grants process • Research and narrow sources more effectively • Gain a deeper understanding of all of the critical pieces of a successful proposal • Ensure the best fit between funder and project/organization • Reinforce communication skills and techniques with potential funders • The importance of Thank-you and Stewardship

4. Course Objectives Description of Homework Opportunity and Grading

5. Homework assignment Part 1-Due on Day #2 of class –April 26th • Research and bring back 2-3 potential funders for your project. You will be asked to share your finding with the class. Pick option A or B of Part 2 Part 2 –Due by 5:00 pm on Friday, May 10th Option A— Please submit a 1-2 page written evaluation plan for the project or program or your choice. Your plan can be in narrative form, chart or model, or both. • Your plan should contain the following components. • One goal (what are you trying to achieve?) • At least three objectives for that goal (how will you achieve it?) • Outcomes for each objective (what is the desired result?) • The system for measuring the results (how will you determine the overall effectiveness of your program?)

6. Homework assignment Pick option A or B of Part 2 Part 2 –Due by 5:00 pm on Wed., December 19th, 2012 Option B— Please submit an itemized budget and 1-2 page budget narrative for the project or program of your choice. The itemized budget can be in list or chart form. The budget narrative should address each item on the budget, why it is necessary to the project, and how you determined the amount. Students whose last names begin with A-M should submit their assignment to Amy Nisenson at d.nisenson@comcast.net Students whose last names begin with N-Z should submit their assignment to Laurie Rogers at lcjr@me.com

7. 2011 charitable giving Total = $298.42 billion

8. Types of recipients of contributions, 2011 Total = $298.42 billion

9. Number of Nonprofits in Virginia According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics--- Number of Nonprofits in Virginia have grown from 15,250 in 1998 to 26, 231 in 2008. This represents an increase of 72%.

10. Types of Grantmakers • Individuals • Independent foundations • Community foundations • Operating foundations • Corporate foundations • Corporate giving programs • Government funding at all levels

11. Types of Grant Funding • Annual funds/operating support/seed monies • Planning/assessing • Programs • Capital projects/capital campaigns • Endowments (typically individuals better source) • Equipment, furnishings and technology • Emergency funds

12. Types of Grant Funding • Challenge grants • Matching grants • Special projects/RFPs • Research • Publications, Media-film, Documentary, DVD/video, etc. • Scholarships (typically individuals better source) • Technology

13. How do you better tell your story… • Articulate organization’s needs • Mission/Vision • Impacts/Benefits • Geographic Focus • Local • Statewide • National • International

14. How do you better tell your story… • Define your project/problem • Needs in response to larger context • Target Audience • What funding have you gotten in the past? • What are your current needs?

15. Proposal Idea Questions • What new projects (or program expansions) are you planning for next two to three years • Which of the above projects are compatible with your current mission and purpose? • Who else is doing these projects? Is there duplication of effort? Can a partnership be formed that will benefit all organizations concerned with a project?

16. Proposal Idea Questions • What community need does each of your projects address? • What members of your community-including civic leaders, political figures, the media, and your own clients-support each project? • Does your organization currently have the expertise to undertake each project? Will new staff be necessary? Can the organization manage growth in personnel effectively?

17. Exploring the Foundation Center • The Foundation Center • http://fconline.foundationcenter.org • Foundation Directory Online is the nation's leading online funding research tool, developed by the Foundation Center, a national nonprofit service organization founded over 50 years ago to help open U.S. foundations to public view.

18. Exploring the Grants Connection • www.grantsconnection.com • Unlimited access to the database of Virginia foundations. The most current information available on foundations giving in Virginia. • The bulk of the information is from the IRS PF990 forms for the Foundations.

19. Finding Funding Sources • The Foundation Center • Grants Connection • Grant Station (via TechSoup) • www.K12grants.org • www.proposalwriter.com • www.npguides.org • Fundsnet: fundsnetservices.com • Michigan State Univ. Library (free) staff.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants • Chronicle of Philanthropy • Websites of foundations, corporations and organizations

20. Grant Funding Sources • Annual reports/publications of foundations, corporations and organizations • Google/other search engines • ConnectVA • Corporate Philanthropy Report

21. Grant Funding Sources Federal Funding • Federal grants www.grants.gov • Federal Register www.federalregister.gov • Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance www.cfda.gov • U.S. Department of Education www.ed.gov • National Science Foundation www.nsf.gov

22. Grant Funding Sources Other Sources • Donor boards, annual reports and/or websites from other nonprofits • Business and classified sections in local newspapers (what businesses are relocating, hiring, expanding ) • Review your board list and current funders (there may be relationships and hidden sources you can take advantage of)

23. Research tips and Techniques How to cull through research and know what to submit… • Be discerning! Don’t just shoot in the dark. • Look at interests or giving history (990s = great source for this) • Look at geographic approach (know the funders in your area)

24. Research tips and Techniques When researching, look for • Historical funding and amounts (never go way above their historical range unless you have been told differently) • Deadlines, requirements and can you meet them • Does the foundation accept unsolicited proposals or do you need an invitation?

25. Research tips and Techniques • Review funders guidelines • Some funders issue proposal guidelines and application procedures (deadlines, geographic limitations, etc.) • On-line resources to find guidelines (print or download application forms and instructions) • Contact the funding source • Set up an initial informational interview/visit • Use connections to get an introduction (if appropriate, send a Letter of Inquiry)

26. Research work Spend the next 30-40 minutes doing the following: • Find 3-5 viable funding sources for your organization • Write a few sentences on why each source may be viable

27. Once you research, now what? • Organize your research and decide where to apply • Narrow it down where you have the best chance of getting the grant • Reflect back on your development plan

28. Relationships are important Board has an important role • Make introductions • Accompany on site visits • Help identify potential donors • Write letters of support

29. What about the staff? Staff’s job- • Inform Board of where potential grant funding may come from • Ask Board for their help • Intros • Calls • Letters of support

30. Talking to the Funder • Complete funding research before calling a potential funder • Use the call to make sure you are a fit with the funder’s objectives and goals • Ask about an in-person visit or visit to site • Ask if information from recent IRS Form 990 is indicative of their giving priorities or if there have been changes

31. Talking to the Funder Sample questions to ask the funder… • How many new awards do they expect to make in this program area? • Does the program provide one-time only support or do they offer other funding opportunities in the future? • Would they be willing to review a draft proposal in advance of a submission? • What is the review process? • Does the funder expect last year’s average grant amount to change?

32. Talking to the Funder: • How does the project serve? (what do you want to accomplish?) • Is agency sound? (do you have the capacity to accomplish what you want to do?) • Is there a future here? • Are we the only funder here? • How will you know if you accomplished your goals? • Will your program have genuine impact/make a difference?

33. Exercise on Talking to Funder The entire class will collectively serve as the Director of Development. Spend 10 minutes in your small groups preparing for your interview. At the end of this period, two students as funders will be standing in front of the class and your interview will begin.

34. Exercise on Talking to Funder • You are the director of development for a 10-year-old nonprofit that serves women and children. The annual budget of the organization is $450,000. They receive 50% of their funding from state and federal funds and the rest comes through private donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations. The organization currently has 9 staff members—an executive director, 2 house managers, 2 case managers, 3 counselors, and a director of development. • The board consists of 12 members. The by-laws call for up to 25 members of the board. The board consists mainly of passionate community members who got involved in the organization because a friend asked them to join or because they volunteered at a HOMEWARD event and learned of the organization. • Both giving and attendance have been long-term issues for the current board members. In fact, at their last 4 board meetings, the board has failed to achieve quorum on 2 of these occasions. In the most recent fiscal year, 8 of the 12 board members contributed financially (the remaining 4 stated that their time was their gift). • The organization serves 25 clients per year in 2 group homes. The clients are women who are in need of transitional housing. Most have been recently displaced from their homes because of financial issues or were forced to leave an abusive situation. Some of the women have young children (under the age of 10). The organization has very good success rates with their clients. In fact 90% of their clients move out of shelter into stable housing and obtain at least part-time employment. • The board has decided to explore the possibility of purchasing a vacant office building located behind one of the group homes. This would allow them to move their office space to this building and expand their services. As the director of development, you have been asked to research potential funding sources to support this move. Your most promising funder happens to be the Mary Morton Parsons Foundation. You have just scored a meeting with Amy Nisenson for which you have very little time to prepare entire class will collectively serve as the Director of Development. Spend 10 minutes in your small groups preparing for your interview. At the end of this period, two students as funders will be standing in front of the class and your interview will begin.

35. Ethics • Your name in this business is everything – always be honest with the funders. • Even though CEOs ultimately own and make the decisions for the organization, you, the development staff, have the power to decide if you want to be affiliated with agency.

36. Ethics Sources of Ethical Guidelines • Donor Bill of Rights • AFP Code of Ethical Principles and Standards • Ethical Policy Statements within Your Organization • The Golden Rule

37. Day 2 • Review of day 1 • Homework from day 1

38. Letter of Intent (LOI) • 1-2 pagesAsk for the gift in first paragraph.Describe the needDescribe the projectBackground/history of your agencyBudget InformationConclusion

39. Usual Proposal Components:• Cover Sheet • Cover Sheet• Organizational Information• Need• Project: goals, objectives, activities and strategies, timelines• Evaluation/OutcomesLogic Models• Budget/Budget justification

40. Components of the Proposal • • Cover sheet/Executive summary

41. Proposal Component: • • Intro/background/mission statement

42. Proposal Component • Need

43. Proposal Component • • Project (includes what you are doing, how you will find your participants, the timeline for activity, objectives, the plan!)

44. Proposal Component: • • Evaluation - Goals: Broad-based statement of a desired end (increase, decrease, reduce) - Objectives: measurable, achievable; indicates a path your org will take to meet goal - Strategies: specific activities to achieve each objective

45. Proposal Component: • • Logic Models

46. Proposal Component: • Budget/Budget Justification

47. Proposal Component: • Proposal checklist …Before you hit submit

48. Final Reports • Critical tool for future investment • Specific information required • Send one even if not required

49. Stewardship: • Ensure that the funder feels good about the return on investment

50. Cultivating Support Cultivate Support…Don’t Expect It! Awaiting the Decision • Provide updates to the funder, as needed or requested. Do not pester the funder while the decision is in process. • Inform your board that the proposal has been submitted. Take advantage of any relationships that might exist. • Do not assume anything – await formal notification.