Grant Writing Workshop

1. OEF Oxford EducationalFoundation PO Box 142 Oxford, PA 19363 620-932-7200 Grant Writing Workshop Oxford Area School District February 12, 2009 Susan Melrath and Etha McDowell

2. Agenda • OEF Professional Grants • Checklist • Deadline • How to Write Grant Requests • Where to look for Grants • What OEF can Offer

3. OEF Professional Grants

4. OEF Professional Grants

5. OEF Professional Grants

6. How to Write Grants • General Format • Common Grant Application Form • Specific Grantor Forms • On-line Form • Grantor Instruction

7. How to Write Grants • General Format • Executive Summary: • umbrella statement of your case and summaryof the entire proposal (1 page) • Statement of Need: • why this project is necessary (2 pages) • Project Description: • nuts and bolts of how the project will be implemented and evaluated (3 pages)

8. How to Write Grants • General Format (Continued) • Budget: • financial description of the project plus explanatory notes (1 page) • Organization Information: • history and governing structure of the nonprofit; its primary activities, audiences, and services (1 page) • Conclusion: • summary of the proposal‘s main points (2 paragraphs)

9. How to Write Grants • Common Grant Application Form • Found at http://www.dvg.org/ Delaware Valley Grantmakers • Checklist • A completed Grant Application Cover Summary with contact information? • A copy of the IRS letter confirming your organization’s 501(c )(3) status? • A completed Grant Proposal Narrative not exceeding five (5) typed pages (excluding attachments)? • An itemized annual budget for your organization’s current fiscal year, with actual figures for the previous fiscal year? • An itemized budget, listing income and expenses, for this specific grant? • Your organization’s most recent AUDITED financial statement or IRS Form 990? • List of three largest funders in the last fiscal year and type of grant? • Your organization’s latest annual report or summary of the prior year’s activities? • Current Board list and affiliations? • One-paragraph descriptions of key staff and their relevant qualifications? • Grantee report (if previously funded)? • Letters of agreement from any collaborating agencies (if applicable), and letters of support and/or recent reviews or articles (if available)?

10. How to Write Grants • Common Grant Application Form • Used by the following Foundations

11. How to Write GrantsSpecific Grantor Forms • Online Forms • Go to the Grantor Website and download or Copy and Paste • Specific Grantor Instructions • Follow all of the rules exactly! This is the number two reason that a grant application is denied. • Do not miss a deadline - even by one hour. • Use the terminology that they request. Speak their language. • Use a dispassionate proofreader - if you are sloppy with grammar, you indicate that you will not be a careful steward of the foundation's money. • Provide all of the forms requested. Do not exceed the length they specify.

12. Where to look for Grants • Professional Organizations • Networking Leads • Organization grants • Ex: PDE grants • Web • Delaware Valley Grantmakers (http://www.dvg.org/) • Chester County Community Foundation (http://www.chescocf.org/Index.htm) • Web search with <Grants Public Education>

13. What OEF can Offer • Partnering if you need a 501(1)(c)(3) organization • Required by some Grantors • PA Foundations Online • Extensive list of all Pennsylvania Foundations • $250 annual fee • EITC • the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC), provides companies with a 75% tax credit for donations to a non-profit scholarship or educational improvement organization • OEF initial efforts with Brian Urig, HS chemistry