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Grant Writing for GIS Development. or How to Squeeze Blood From a Rock…. presented by: Mark Duewell University of Missouri Columbia. GIS Development?. Getting started – get your feet wet… Creating additional capacity Develop advanced systems. Needs Assessment….
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Grant Writing for GIS Development or How to Squeeze Blood From a Rock… presented by:Mark DuewellUniversity of Missouri Columbia
GIS Development? • Getting started – get your feet wet… • Creating additional capacity • Develop advanced systems
Needs Assessment… • Problem or Issue to be solved with GIS • Stakeholders, Partners and Champions • Goals and Objectives • GIS Application/s to be built • Staff – GIS or otherwise • Budget – hardware, software, training, maintenance • Timeline • Management support
Typical Components of a Proposal • Executive Summary • Statement of Problem / Need • Project Description • Budget • Budget Narrative – IMPORTANT! • Organization Information • Conclusion • Cover letter • Cover and title page • Table of Contents • Appendix
Locating Funds • Actively research - Know where to look for grant offerings. • Build relationships with others with like missions. • Establish grant file for correspondence. • Professional correspondence, magazines, mailing. • Ask other agencies and orgs – State GIS Committee, clearinghouse, COGs, RPCs • Internet - email notifications – • Conferences (MAGIC, NSGIC, URISA), workshops.
Grant Sources –“Show me the money…” • Federal • State • Foundations • Corporate • Others? IMPORTANT - Download or secure a copy of the grant instructions!
Proposal Follow-Up • Contact potential sponsor. • Be prepared to answer questions and provide additional information. • Personalize follow-up. • What to do when unsuccessful.
Sponsor follow-ups • Within limits of professionalism – take advantage of personal contacts. • Understand that collaboration is paramount to many of the sponsors – explore the possibility of working with a potential competitor. • Avoid the pitfalls of arguing, anger, arrogance, frustration and criticizing others supporting similarprojects.
Tips for Successful Grant Writing • Your budget should be concise and specific. • Demonstrate a clear and justifiable plan. • Collaboration is the name of the game – find enthusiastic partners - get letters of support. • Follow-up with sponsor.
Tips for Getting More Grants - cont 5.Generate management support and commitment. • Research your project. • Don’t provide more information than sponsor requires. • Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Rejected! Why? • Unsubstantiated claims • Poor or no response to sponsor’s questions • Unenthusiastic • Negative attitude • And… Yes… a poorly written grant proposal
Rejected! Why? • Unsubstantiated claims • Poor or no response to sponsor’s questions • Unenthusiastic • Negative attitude • And… Yes… a poorly written grant proposal
Rejected! - cont… • Other problems to avoid: • don’t ask rhetorical questions • skip high tech lingo – write as you would speak • match scope of work to the budget • don’t assume that the reviewers know anything about your entity or about your problems • don’t use jargon, clichés, or redundancies
Potential grant funding sources… • Federal grant email “notifier” – http://fedgrants.gov/ApplicantRegistration.html • Grants “How To” – http://www.federalfundingsources.com/ • General GIS grants – http://www.technologygrantnews.com/grant-index-by-type/federal-grants.html http://www.technologygrantnews.com/grant-index-by-type/city-grants.html
Potential grant funding sources… http://www.esri.com/grants/index.html http://www.fema.gov http://www.fgdc.gov/funding/funding.html http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/index.html http://www.nationalmap.usgs.gov
Summary… • Grant writing is a process. • Beneficial to involve other partners. • Know your project before trying to obtain funding. • Match the project to the mission or purpose of the sponsor.
Summary - cont… • Don’t give the sponsor a reason to throw your proposal out. • Be clear, honest, and concise in the proposal. • Develop relationship with the funding source. • Ask if you are unsure of something. • Don’t give up! Practice makes perfect!
Credit for assistance…. • Tim Haithcoat (UMC) • Sonny Sanders (ESRI) • Shirley Frederiksen, (Coordinator -Golden Hills RC&D, Iowa) • Warren Johnson, (Coordinator - Limestone Bluffs RC&D, Iowa) • Brad Cutler, (GIS Project Specialist - Golden Hills RC&D)
Thank you… • Questions? • Contact Information Mark Duewell MSDIS Program Manager duewellm@missouri.edu (573) 882-6734