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I ain’t afraid o’ no Grants :. Strategies to Develop a Grant-Seeking Plan. Co-presented at 2014 TEFN Annual Conference April 4 th , 2014 Erica V. Ekwurzel, CFRE, Advocacy In Motion Ellen Moutos -Lee, Regional Foundation Library. Who ya gonna call?.
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I ain’t afraid o’ no Grants: Strategies to Develop a Grant-Seeking Plan Co-presented at 2014 TEFN Annual Conference April 4th, 2014 Erica V. Ekwurzel, CFRE, Advocacy In Motion Ellen Moutos-Lee, Regional Foundation Library
Who yagonna call? • If there's somethin' lacking from diversifying your funding base … • If you feel all alone and lost in the land of private grants… • If you're seein' grant applications runnin' through your head….
Program Highlights • Understanding the GrantmakingLandscape • Types of grantmakers • Proposal processes • Cultivation & Stewardship • Importance of Prospect Research • Resources to Turn for Help • Top 3 Grantbustin’ Myths
Landscape of Grantmaking Entities • Types of Funding Organizations • Corporate giving programs • Community foundations • Grantmaking public charities • Private foundations • Family • Independent • Corporate
(not so…) Frightening Facts about Foundations • 81,777 total foundations • 40K family foundation • 2,355 TX family fdns • >60% of all private foundations formed in last 15 years • Private foundations required to grants of at least 5% of their average assets annually • 70% grants for educational purposes (2010 FC stat)
More (not so…) Frightening Facts about Foundations • Less than 30% of family foundations have websites • Majority are family foundations • Avg. private foundation donor younger than generation ago • Proactive trends: not waiting until retirement & replenish $$
How Foundations Operate • Characteristics of small foundations: • Few or no staff • Keep a low profile • Tendency to fund locally • Make grants to nonprofit organizations with which they are personally acquainted
Different Ways the Grant Process Works Level of Foundation Staffing & Operations
Core Items of Grant Application • Amount requested • Specific purpose of funds • Why it is needed • Who it will help & how many • What you hope to accomplish
Timing of Grants • Don’t Expect Quick Results • Often part-time philanthropists • Small or no staff • 3 or 4 funding cycles annually
Importance of Prospect Research • Foundation Center Online Directory • Who funds my area of interest? • Who funds my geographic region? • Who funds the type of support needed?
Don’t be afraid of 990s! • What is a 990? • Exempt organizations must file some version of Form 990 with IRS each year • Form 990 has information on organizations finances and activities • Form 990-PF gives complete list of grants awarded for specified fiscal year and will help you learn more about a foundation’s giving history
Online Resources to Turn for Help • Foundation Center: www.foundationcenter.org • Guidestar: www.guidestar.org • Urban Institute: http://nccs.urban.org/statistics • CTEF Giving Profile: www.centraltexasedfunders.org • FC Funding Information Networks: foundationcenter.org/fin/l • 20+ Networks around Texas
Where to find Funding Information Networks in Texas • Insert Slide shot of Texas List
Top 3 Grantbustin’ Myths • #1: Grants are the revenue’s silver bullet. • #2: Quantity supersedes quality. • #3: No always mean ‘no’
Don’t Let Rejection Discourage You • Rejection is part of the process of finding funding • Reasons for rejection may have nothing to do with the quality of your program or proposal: • Funding priorities may have changed • Reached annual quota for funding • Contact them again next year. Strengthen personal relationships and program awareness.
Questions & Comments • Thank You! • Erica V. Ekwurzel Ellen Moutos-Lee • Advocacy In Motion Consulting Regional Foundation Library • erica@civicaim.com ellenml@austin.utexas.edu • CivicAIM RegionalFoundationLibrary