Successful Grant Seeking and Writing Tips
January 16, 2013
Cyndi Desrosiers, CPS
Grant Support Specialist, Cheshire County
Consultant
About me…
 I manage 4 million dollars worth of grants
at Cheshire County including federal, state,
foundation, and local grants
 I have reviewed grants for the Federal
Government and local agencies
 I write grants as a consultant for non-profits
 I also provide strategic planning,
prevention ethics training, board
development and other related services to
non-profit agencies
Grant Office’s 10 Tips for Getting More Grants
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Learn as much as possible about each program which
you intend to apply.
Involve others in your project, but be judicious; have a
purpose for their involvement.
Customize each proposal to the requirement of the
funder.
Include only support letters that demonstrate a real
commitment on the part of the sender.
Get reviewers’ comments for rejected proposals and
use their feedback in the future proposals.
Homeland Security Today Magazine, January 2011
Grant Office’s 10 Tips for Getting More Grants
continued
Make grantseeking part of your agency’s strategy-don’t
put all your eggs in one basket and look for funding
from only a single program.
7. Be specific in your budget—most funders have
generous allowances for budget length.
8. Don’t include materials other than those specifically
requested by the funder.
9. Have an outsider edit your proposal before you submit
it.
10. Folllow the funding guidance meticulously.
6.
Homeland Security Today Magazine, January 2011
THE FIVE Ws: WHO, WHAT, WHY, WHEN,
WHERE
1. Who am I (the organization or institution
I represent)?
2. What is my project?
3. Why do I need the money?
4. When do I need the money?
5. Where will the funds be directed?
Grant Training Center, GTC 2009 Resource, Arlington, VA
And, why not three more?
1. What is my evaluation plan?
2. Who will benefit?
3. Who will implement the project?
Grant Training Center, GTC 2009 Resource, Arlington, VA
The Organization’s Strategic Plan
(Business Plan)
What are your organization’s goals and objectives to fulfill its
mission? State the mission and overall goals for your
organization. Then consider the objectives required by your
organization to meet each of the goals. Remember, the mission
is usually only one sentence long. The goals are usually limited
to one to three one-sentence goal statements. Each goal usually
has two to five objectives. Objectives should be measurable.
Your organization’s objectives may be still pretty general, but
when you write your proposal, you will have to make sure that
your objectives meet a number of criteria that we will
specify at a section which follows. Therefore, it is good to start
thinking about the differences between goals and objectives.
Grant Training Center, GTC 2009 Resource, Arlington, VA
Know who you are…
 Name of the organization
 Mission of the organization
 Goals of the organization
 Objectives of the organization
Grant Training Center, GTC 2009 Resource, Arlington, VA
Preliminary questions
 What resources will you need if you are funded?
 What capabilities do you or your organization
already have?
 What kinds of organizational support do you
have for writing the proposal and implementing
the project?
 What kind of organizational support do you still
need?
Grant Training Center, GTC 2009 Resource, Arlington, VA
Building support and getting buy-in
In answering the following questions, briefly describe your initial thoughts
about the following items in relation to your proposed idea and your
organization. Which of these questions can you readily answer and which
ones will you need to research?
 Identify two or three major organizational challenges or problems
that your organization is currently facing.
 How does your proposed idea or project relate to or help resolve
these problems or challenges?
 Who else in your organization would be useful to have on your
proposal development team?
 What could these people do to help you prepare the proposal?
 What role would they play if the project gets funded?
Grant Training Center, GTC 2009 Resource, Arlington, VA
Resources available
People
Special skills or
knowledge
Experience with
similar projects
What are the resources that you
already have? Describe the
resources that you already
have that could help you
implement your idea and write
the proposal.
Facilities
Equipment
Grant Training Center, GTC 2009 Resource, Arlington, VA
Questions to ask and answer about your idea ???
To persuade not only funders but members of your
organization to work with you on this proposal or to release
some of your time and that of others to develop the proposal
you should be able to answer the following questions.





Is my idea unique? Explain why.
Is my idea timely? Explain why.
Is my idea urgent? Explain why.
Is my idea compelling? Explain why.
If my idea is funded and the project implemented, will this project
capitalize on my organization’s strengths? How?
 If my idea is funded and the project implemented, will this project help
overcome some of my organization’s weaknesses? How?
Grant Training Center, GTC 2009 Resource, Arlington, VA
Building External Support
 Networking—With whom can you network?
 Personal contacts—What contacts have you made or should you
make?
 Meetings and conferences—Are there any upcoming meetings or
conferences you should attend to meet people and talk about your
project?
 If your organization does not have the expertise or contacts or
resources to implement your project, with whom could you
collaborate?
 Whom should you contact in potential collaborating organizations?
 Who from your organization should make the initial contact?
 What would be the advantage to these outside organizations of
working with your organization on this project?
Grant Training Center, GTC 2009 Resource, Arlington, VA
Logic Model Terminology
Goals = Long-term outcomes
Inputs = Resources, program investments
Activities = Strategies, action steps
Outputs = Deliverables, products, units of
service
Outcomes = Results, impact, objectives
Karen Horsch, Evaluation Consultant, Endowment for Health
Proposal Outline
Summary
Needs Statement
Program Description
Evaluation
Staff & Organizational Experience
Budget
Appendices/Supporting
Documentation
Children’s Services Council, Palm Beach County
Summary
Usually limited to one page, this component of your
proposal should briefly describe:
1. The problem you are addressing.
2. Your overall program goal, expected outcomes
and program plan to address the problem.
3. Briefly highlight your organizational and staff
qualifications for the program.
4. Your financial request from the funder
Children’s Services Council, Palm Beach County
Needs Statement
This section of your proposal should
explain the following:
1. Why the proposed program/project is
necessary.
2. Who (e.g., individuals, children, families)
will benefit from the program.
3. Where (geographically) the need is.
Children’s Services Council, Palm Beach County
The following represents five basic
needs assessment approaches
1. Key Informant – testimony from people
who know the problem
2. Community Forum
3. Case Studies – example of clients in the
population in need
4. Social Indicators – data which establishes
the need
5. Survey – Random
Children’s Services Council, Palm Beach County
Program Description
1. Description of the services to be provided.
What services will be provided?
Who will receive the services?
Who will provide the services?
When will the services be provided?
Why you are providing these particular
services?
Where services will be provided?
Children’s Services Council, Palm Beach County
Program Description
2. Your plan of action to achieve the program
outcomes. This is often referred to as the
program plan or the service delivery plan. Your
plan of action should be designed so that it is
clear that the expected outcomes for the program
can be achieved through the implementation of
your program plan.
3. The timetable for the program. This should
reflect a thoughtful approach including time
needed to realistically phase-in the program until
it becomes fully operational.
Children’s Services Council, Palm Beach County
EVALUATION = How the project will be
measured and the results given to the donor
QUANTITATIVE = hard data
QUALITATIVE = Soft data – e.g., opinions, individual
stories, surveys
PROCESS = assesses project implementation
OUTCOMES = assesses the extent to which outcomes are
being achieved
EVALUATION
Please state:
 What results will be evaluated in your
project?
 How will you evaluate the results?
 Who will evaluate the results?
 When will the evaluation take place?
 What hard data will you utilize?
 What soft data will you utilize?
“Chains” of Outcomes
Short-term Outcome
Changes in Learning
Intermediate
Outcome
Long-term
Outcome/Goal
Changes in Action
Changes in Condition
• New
Knowledge
• Modified
Behavior
• Improved
access
•Increased
Skills
•Changed
practices
•Improved
health
•Changed
attitudes or
opinions
•Changed
decisions
•Improved
quality of life
•Changed
motivation or
aspiration
Karen Horsch, Evaluation Consultant, Endowment for Health
Staff & Organizational
Experience
In this section you must describe both the
qualifications of the key staff who will be
assigned to direct and operate the program as
well as the qualifications of the agency to
administer the type of program you are
proposing. Sometimes it is required that you
provide the resumes of key staff. In the absence
of identified staff to direct and operate the
program, provide specific information regarding
the qualifications you will be requiring of the
staff to be hired.
Children’s Services Council, Palm Beach County
Budget
The budget generally includes the following
primary components:
Expenses
Revenue
Budget Narrative
Children’s Services Council, Palm Beach County
Appendices/Supporting
Documentation
IRS 501(c)(3) Certificate
Articles of Incorporation
Resumes
Letters of Support
Most Recent Agency Audit
Children’s Services Council, Palm Beach County
TRACK IN-KIND
Name: ________________________________Organization/Affiliation: _____________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________________
Phone: ______________________
Email:_____________________________________
In Kind Hours Donated: ______ Hourly rate_________ Total In Kind Donation: ________________
Volunteer time? Yes___ No___
Date
*Work Done In-Kind
(It may include meetings, phone calls, technical work, travel for the project, etc.)
Guidelines for Hourly Rate
(Please choose one as you see appropriate)
Number of Hours Total Contribution
Community Meeting/Activity Planning
Community Forum/Program Workshop Facilitation
Community mobilization/engagement
General Outreach
Technical Capacity Assistance
$40.00/hr or more
$35.00/hr or more
$30.00/hr or more
$20.00/hr or more
$70.00/hr or more
*http://www.simplyhired.com/a/salary/search
Plus, equipment, meeting space, etc.
Signature
Or, use the volunteer rate= the Independent Sector has established the current rate of $ per hour in NH.
This can be confirmed on the Points of Light web site.
SOUNDS SIMPLE…but
 READ THE PROPOSAL- OVER AND OVER
AGAIN AND AGAIN
 FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS
 RELATIONSHIPS DO MATTER
 IF THEY ASK FOR AN MOU, GIVE THEM
AN MOU, NOT AN MOA
 IF THEY DIDN’T ASK FOR A LOGIC
MODEL AND INSTEAD WANT A
WORKPLAN, THEN…
SOUNDS SIMPLE…but
 GET TO KNOW YOUR FUNDER
 RELATIONSHIPS DO MATTER
 DO WHAT YOU SAID YOU WOULD
DO IN THE PROPOSAL OR FORGET
ABOUT EVER BEING FUNDED AGAIN
 KEEP LANGUAGE CONSISTENT
 AVOID TANGENTS
 BE SPECIFIC AND CONCISE
SOUNDS SIMPLE…but
 DO NOT ASSUME THAT FUNDERS KNOW
WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT YOU DO
 FOLLOW THEIR FORMAT, NOT YOURS
 INCLUDE CITATIONS AND WORK CITED
 USE HEADINGS, ETC. SO READIBILITY IS
EASY
 WHEN IN DOUBT, ASK…
 BE SPECIFIC
 DID I SAY RELATIONSHIPS MATTER?
Resources for grants
 http://www.grantproseinc.com/
includes grant alerts by fixed deadlines and
rolling deadlines
 www.Grantgopher.com
 www.GuideStar.com
 FundBook Grants database
Resources for grants
 Grants.gov provides information on more
than 1,000 grant opportunities for 26 federal
grantmaking agencies. FindYouthInfo.gov has
developed a customized search of Grants.gov
to help you find open grant
announcements for programs that serve
youth and their families.
 To use the tool, go to
www.findyouthinfo.gov/GrantsSearch.aspx
Top Ten Twitter Accounts for
Grant Information
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pndblog
@fdncenter
@grantspace
@nihforfunding
@HHSGov
@NSF
@usedgov
@thompsongrants
@gordanjayfrost
@dgreismann
Top Five Twitter
Searches for
Grants:
•#rfp
•#grant
•#fundchat
•#fundraising
•#philanthropy
Source:GrantPose, Inc
www.findyouthinfo.gov/GrantsSearch.aspx
Search Filters
Topics [Select All | Deselect All]
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Agencies [Select All | Deselect All]
Dept. of Agriculture
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Services
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Dept. of Transportation
Social Security Administration
All other agencies
FARM GRANTS & LOANS
GRANTS/USDA
 Rural Energy for America
Program
 Rural Business-Value-Added
Producer Grants
 Rural Business Enterprise Grant
 Sustainable Agriculture
Research and Education (SARE)
Farmer Grants
 Farm Labor Housing- direct
loan and grant
 Conservation Innovation
Grants through NRCS
LOANS
 USDA: Intermediary
Relending Program
 NH Community Loan
Fund
PROGRAMS
 The Fair Food FundNortheast
 Environmental Quality
Incentives Program
through NRCS
OTHER FARM GRANTS
 Conservation Innovation Grants through NRCS
 State Conservation Committee – Conservation Grant
Program (Moose plate)
OTHER POSSIBLE RESOURCES
 Monadnock Conservancy
 UNH Cooperative Extension
 NOFA-NH
 Cheshire County Conservation District
Logic Models
University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension
http://www.uwex.edu/ces/pdande/evaluation
/evallogicmodelworksheets.html
University of Wisconsin Grants Information
Collection
http://grants.library.wisc.edu/
http://researchguides.library.wisc.edu/content
.php?pid=16143&sid=108666
Federal Grants
Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance (Listing of all federal
programs, projects, services)
https://www.cfda.gov/?s=main&mode=list&tab=list
DUNS number request (Dun & Bradstreet’s Data Universal
Numbering System)
Free for all businesses required to register with the US Federal
government for contracts or grants
http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform
Federal Forms
www.fedforms.gov/organization.cfm
Online Data Sources
Education Resources Information Center
http://www.eric.ed.gov/
County Health Rankings
http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/
State Health Rankings
http://www.americashealthrankings.org/
US Statistical Abstract, State Rankings
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/rankings.html
Census Quickfacts
http://swrpc.org/data - regional 2010
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/index.html
Online Data Sources
Monitoring the Future
http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/
US Census
http://www.census.gov/
http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tractez.html
US Government Publications
http://www.gpo.gov/
Child Stats
http://www.childstats.gov/
Federal
http://www.fedstats.gov/
Online Data Sources
US Health Statistics
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/
US Education
http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/sdds/index.aspx
US/comparative (health, education, population, labor
force, economy, etc.)
http://www.prb.org/DataFinder.aspx#
Kids Count
http://datacenter.kidscount.org/
Local Resources for Farms
Cheshire County Conservation District
Amanda Costello Littleton, District Manager
http://cheshireconservation.org/
756-2988 x 116
NOFA NH
Ray Conner, Beginner Farmer Program Coordinator
http://nofanh.org/
(603) 224-5022
Monadnock Conservancy
Ryan Owen, Executive Director
http://www.monadnockconservancy.org/
(603) 357-0600
UNH Cooperative Extension
Carl Majewski, UNH Cooperative Extension
http://extension.unh.edu/Agric/Agric.htm
352-4550
Cyndi Desrosiers, CPS, CASA/gal
Grant Support Specialist
T
H
A
N
K
Y
O
U
Cheshire County
cdesrosiers@co.cheshire.nh.us
603-355-3023