Grant Writing for the Novice Monday, November 26, 2012

1. Grant Writing for the NoviceMonday, November 26, 2012

2. What types of funding is available? • Federal • Research grants (e.g., National Institutes of Health) • Demonstration grants (e.g., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) • Foundation • Research (e.g., Robert Wood Johnson) • Program or service grants • Private/Corporate grants • Program or service grants

3. Funder Selection and Guidelines Where to find the funders? • Database searches Nonprofit Connect KCMO downtown public library (Cooperative Collections/Core Foundation Center) • Greater Kansas City Community Foundation • Other nonprofits’ websites, sponsorship lists, and event programs • Do not chase email advertisements, like • Obama’s Grant Giveaway, www.gofreegovernmentmoney.com/ Obama is Giving Out $15 Billion In Grants to stimulate the economy.

4. Finding a good funding fit… • Funders that support similar causes (E.g. Education) • Funders whose target populations are the same as yours (E.g. Adults with disabilities) *No time to waste! Remember: The better the match the higher greater the potential for funding.

5. Do Your Research Questions • Does the funding agency’s priorities match your mission? • What populations does the funding agency seek to assist? • When are their deadlines? • How much $$$ do they give? Where to find this information • On their website • In their IRS tax documents (form 990) • Includes a list of every grant paid per tax year • Indicates if they allow unsolicited requests

6. Funding Fit Activity Step 1 In small teams, complete the funding fit check list. Step 2 Answer the following two questions: Is this funder a good fit? Why or why not? *Activity adapted from Catholic Charities “The Art of Grant Making”

7. Planning and Preparing Do your homework: • Brainstorm (with board members, staff, current constituents and collaborators/partners) • Know your program purpose/goal • Know your program objectives and expected outcomes • Pre-write a description of your current programs • Enhance and/or identify new partnerships • Know how much funding is needed ***Read grant application, highlight, read again, make side bar notes, read again, ask questions and READ AGAIN!***

8. Key Grant Application Components Grant Application Components Organization Description Statement of Need Project Description Evaluation Budget

9. Organization Description Includes: • Your organization’s mission statement • Your organization’s history • Brief description of all community programs/outreach ministries, their target population(s) and #’s served

10. Statement of Need Describes the problem using… FACTS! • Recent data from reputable sources • National and local data • Organizational data (if available) .

11. Statement of Need *(Fictional Example) Many families living in Nowhere County, MO struggle with financial security and insufficient healthcare, with 51.3% of families living below poverty and 1 in every 3 lacking health insurance (2020 Census). While jobless rates across the nation dropped in March 2015, 20% of Nowhere County residents were still unemployed (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018). According to the Nowhere County Health Department those without health insurance account for 70% of uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension cases. In order to impact chronic disease prevention and management in vulnerable populations there is a need to improve accessibility of health screenings and linkage to health care for the homeless and low income families.

12. Resources to Establish Need Research data that describes health problems: • CDC Division of HIV and African Americans http://www.cdc.gov/minorityhealth/ http://www.cdc.gov/DiseasesConditions/ http://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/Default.htm • Missouri Health Department of Health and Senior Services http://health.mo.gov/living/families/minorityhealth/ • Kansas City, MO Health Department http://www.kcmo.org/idc/groups/health/documents/health/008396.pdf • Kansas Department of Health and Environment http://healthykansans2010.org/hk2010/disparities/reference%20materials/HealthDisparities.pdf

13. Program Description Includes: • Goal • Objectives • Activities • Outcomes

14. Program DescriptionDeveloping a program goal Your program goal should: • Describe the purpose of the program • Be concise • Include your target population • Could include your primary strategy

15. Program DescriptionDeveloping a program goal Choose the best example goal statement: To improve the lives of the homeless. To provide health screenings. To improve accessibility of health screenings and linkage to health care for the homeless and low income families.

16. Program DescriptionDeveloping Program Objectives • Objectives are the steps taken to achieve the goal • More specific and detailed • Use action verbs when writing objectives, activities and outcomes Goal: To improve accessibility of health screenings and linkage to care for the homeless and low income families. Example Objective: To identify and screen Individuals at risk for or living with chronic disease.

17. Program DescriptionDeveloping Program Activities • Activities are the action steps taken to reach each objective Goal: To improve accessibility of health screenings and linkage to care for the homeless and low income families. Objective: Identify and screen individuals at risk for or living with chronic disease. Example Activity: 10 individuals per week are screened for chronic disease indicators such as high or border line glucose reading, blood pressure reading, and obesity.

18. Program DescriptionDeveloping Program Outcomes • Outcomes measure changes relevant to knowledge, attitudes, behavior or other benefits achieved due to participation in the program • Program outcomes measure if the program has accomplished what it was designed to achieve… shows impact! Goal: To provide health screenings and linkage to care for the homeless and low income families. Objective: To identify Individuals at risk for or living with chronic disease. Activity: 10 individuals per week are screened for chronic disease indicators such as high or border line glucose reading, blood pressure reading, and obesity. Example Outcome: 80% of those identified and living with chronic disease(s) are linked to care and receiving on-going health care services.

19. Timeline

20. Why is Project Evaluation Necessary? • How will you measure success? • What did your project accomplish? • How many participants were reached? • What overall difference did your project make? • Is the project worth funding again based on your evaluation outcomes?

21. Developing Program Evaluation • Prepare data collection tools (E.g. surveys, pre/post tests). • Develop tracking tools to monitor program implementation and outcomes. • Train staff how to facilitate data collection tools and tracking tools. • Monitor tracking tools • Make program adjustments as needed

22. Develop Program Budget • Take the time to review the funders guidelines for allowable expenses. For instance, are they willing to pay for salaries, equipment, in-directs, etc. • Develop a line-item budget for both REVENUE and EXPENSE. • Calculate the budget realistically & accurately DO NOT inflate costs. • Prepare a concise narrative that justifies all projected expenses. DOUBLE CHECK ALL MATH

24. Budget Narrative Example REVIEW HANDOUT

25. Prepare Your Grant Application Addendums Organizational Paperwork needed: • IRS determination letter (501c3) • Financial statements (E.g. Profit & Loss Statements, Balance Sheet) • Most recent independent audit • List of board members

26. Prepare to Submit Your Grant • Get an outside person to read your grant • Call the program officer/ grant liaison • Be familiar with the submission process • Make sure grant application checklist is complete. • Set an early date to submit • Read your final application – out loud • Submit your grant application on time!