The Foundation Rain Dance

1. The FoundationRain Dance Laurie S. Moran, CCE President Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce

2. What Are Grants? • Grants are potentially a meaningful source of funds for many kinds of projects and groups. • Grants are donations of money typically given to charitable (501c3) nonprofit organizations and public agencies in order to meet specific, agreed-upon goals.

3. Where Do Grants Come From? Charitable Foundations Corporations Service Clubs Government Agencies

4. Key Questions to Consider Before You Enter Into the World of Grants • What is your Chamber’s mission, goals, and priorities? • Do you have an existing or identified program / service that could benefit from additional funding sources? • Can you succinctly identify a community need that is aligned with your goal and program / service? • Do you have a budget for your program / service – with and without grant funding?

5. Key Questions to Consider Before You Enter Into the World of Grants • Is your program / service time-sensitive or can it potentially wait 3-12 months for grant funding? • Do you have the operational structure in place to support grant funds? • Would the Chamber implement this program / service WITHOUT grant funding?

6. What Are Potential Programs That May Be “Grant-Worthy”? • Tourism • Education • Workforce development • Leadership • Capital campaigns

7. Do You Have the Operational Structure to Support Grant Funds? • Do you have a 501c3? • Do you have a good grant writer? • Do you have an annual audit? • Do you have good systems to track and report the results of the grant (financial and outcomes)?

8. So Where Do You Find Local Grants? • Foundations • Corporate foundations • Service clubs • Contract for services with agencies that are receiving federal and/or state grants (i.e. workforce)

9. So Where Do You Find Federal Grants? • Grants.gov is a fairly comprehensive source in finding and tracking federal government grants

10. Is It Worth It? $150,000 teacher creativity grant from Danville Regional Foundation • Increased our teacher grants from approximately $15,000 to $100,000 • Expanded our Educator of the Year awards to include three (3) $2,500 cash prizes, underwrite our educators and their guests to attend our annual awards program, and to host a creativity workshop for the winners • Included an Education Creativity publication in our local newspapers which promoted our grants, our educators, and the Chamber’s work in education • Chamber received 7.5% for administrative costs

11. Is It Worth It? $58,000 from a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with our Virginia Workforce Center operator to provide the business services outreach • Hired a full-time staff person dedicated to workforce development • Provided some administrative overhead reimbursement • Enhanced our existing workforce services and programs

12. Is It Worth It? $41,500 from other grants • Received $10,000 for a “Love Southside” campaign • Received $11,000 to support a paid internship for the Chamber • Received $8,000 to support our leadership program • Receiving $5,000 in funding support for our high school leadership program • Received $5,000 in funding support for our high school career day • Received $2,500 to support outreach to MBA students participating in the Duke MBA World Rugby Tournament in Danville

13. Questions?

14. Contact Laurie S. Moran, CCE President Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce lmoran@dpchamber.org 434.836.6990