TIPS for Writing Grant Requests
By
Dale Tucker, KY State Program Specialist
Corporation for National & Community Service
1. Background
Information
A. Have a Mission Statement that captures who you are and what you do in a few short,
well-crafted sentences.
B. Establish the Need for Your Program
Why is the issue important? Do you have demographics from the latest census, or
studies that reveal that what you propose has been shown to make a difference, or a
statement from an authority to support your program and its mission/proposal. Is there some tie to a regional or national problem? Can your program show an innovative, timely, unique approach to solving the problem?
Good sources for data include:
Kentucky Data Center http://ksdc.louisville.edu/1maps.htm
Kentucky Youth Advocates http://www.kyyouth.org/ --has Kids Count Data Book
US Census http://www.census.gov/
Your Area Development District http://www.bgadd.org/index1.html
US Department of Labor http://www.bls.gov/
US Department of Health & Human Services http://www.hhs.gov/
US Chamber of Commerce http://www.uschamber.com/default
Habitat for Humanity http://www.habitat.org/how/stats.aspx
http://www.solutionsforamerica.org/thrivingneigh/homelessness.html
Your local library or university library—those librarians are very helpful!
C. Develop the program plan which reflects the agency’s mission statement and the
needs you have identified.
|
CORP FOR NATL SERVICE MODEL |
GENERAL MODEL |
|
Goals—General |
Goals |
|
Inputs—Specific people/things you utilize |
Assets you bring to bear |
|
|
Objectives--Measurable |
|
Activities |
Action Steps to reach Objectives |
|
Outputs |
|
|
Intermediate Outcomes |
Milestones/Check Points & Adjustment |
|
End Outcomes |
|
|
Evaluation |
Evaluation |
|
Reporting |
Reporting |
The General Model which may still be used by the foundation or will be understood by the company whose help you are seeking.
D. A Plan of Evaluation
1. Who will be doing the evaluation and how chosen?
2. What is the criteria for success of the project?
3. How is the data to be gathered and analyzed?
4. What type of report will be issued?
E. The Budget
1. A budget is a program that has been “costed out”
2. It should be fairly detailed without a large miscellaneous category
3. Be sure that you have included all items in the narrative and budget that were
requested by the potential funder.
4. Separate the program from the staffing costs
5. Include details of other funding sources
6. Indicate in-kind and volunteer services (cost them out if possible) Independent Sector
stated that the value of a volunteer’s time was worth $17.55 in 2004
F. GRANT WRITING KEEPERS—things you need to keep in a file
1. Non profit exemption letter from the IRS
2. Agency structure; board members and their affiliations/addresses, phone numbers,
and the officers
3. Annual Reports
4. Latest certified audit
5. Copies of your latest 990 reports
6. Your employee handbook and personnel policies
7. Affirmative Action Statement
8. Mission statement
9. Simple Strategic Plan for next year (s) which also indicate your priorities
10. A clipping file of your events, achievements, data that documents the need for your
services
11. Your Credibility Information
a. Full Legal Name
b. When/where you were incorporated and when you received your nonprofit
status
c. A Short History of the organization
d. Accomplishments over the past several years
e. Letters of support and endorsement
12. Copies of your latest newsletter
2. COMMON ERRORS IN
GRANTWRITING
a. Unsupported assumptions
b. Use of jargon—it is better to be understood than to try to “snow” the source
c. KISS—Keep It Simple Sam (or Samantha)
d. Use positive and active tone—verbs, adjectives, adverbs
e. Utilize your agency resources (staff, board, consultants) and make sure your
supervisor and board chairperson are knowledgeable about your organization and
what you are trying to accomplish with this grant request. Also have key staff
prepared for a surprise pre donation site visit.
f. Have the proposal test read—by a 13 year old, your grandmother, a client (and
someone who is good in English composition and spelling)
3. A
Prospectus/Letter of Inquiry
a. It should be no more than 2 pages
b. It should be positive and create interest
c. be sure of spelling, punctuation, grammar, the names, titles and addresses
d. If you write a Prospectus, also send a one page cover letter. However, your letter
could also be the prospectus.
e. The best bet is a 2 page letter of inquiry with attachments if necessary.
4. RESEARCHING
RESOURCES
a. The Center for Nonprofit Excellence sells a CD which contains most of the foundations and organizations that give to Kentucky nonprofits. You can get more information at www.cnpe.org They also have information on certain foundations on their webpage, grouped alphabetically and by interest areas.
b. The
Foundation Center
The Foundation Center provides information
about non-federal sources of funding. In addition to its publications and
extensive collection of materials at its several locations in the United States
the center also offers an Associates Program and a Cooperating Collections
Program at numerous sites throughout the nation. You can obtain more
information by contacting the Center's headquarters at:
The Foundation Center
79 Fifth Avenue, Dept. JG
New York, NY 10003-3076
(212) 620-4230
http://www.fdncenter.org/
This organization conducts week long training sessions that are excellent (but expensive). See if a local company, bank or foundation will pay for the director to go to this. A great investment in the organization’s future.
There are cooperating collections of foundation information at:
WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
Helm-Cravens Library
www.msc.wku.edu/library
110 Helm Library
Bowling Green, KY 42101-3576
(270) 745-6163
LEXINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
140 East Main Street
Lexington, KY 40507-1376
(859) 231-5520 www.lexpublib.org
LOUISVILLE FREE PUBLIC
LIBRARY www.lfpl.org
301 York Street
Louisville, KY 40203
(502) 574-1617
c. Catalog
of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)
See Glossary for description. The catalog is sent to a number
of distribution points, including U.S. Government Depository Libraries, (see
item 8, below) in each state, Federal Executive Boards in major metropolitan
areas, and offices of state and local governments. It is often available in the
reference sections of major libraries as well. You can also purchase a
subscription directly from the Government Printing Office. For further
information, contact:
Superintendent of Documents
Attn: New Orders
Box 371954
Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance can also be
accessed online at:
d, Federal Register
See Glossary for description. The Government
Printing Office distributes paper, 24x microfiche, and online versions of the Federal
Register to U.S. Government Depository Libraries (see item 8, below). It
is often available in the reference sections of other major libraries as well.
You can also purchase your own paper or microfiche subscription. For further
information, contact:
Superintendent of Documents
Attn: New Orders
Box 371954
Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954
Orders can be made with a credit card at:
(202) 512-1800 (voice)
(202) 512-2250 (fax)
orders@gpo.gov
http://bookstore.gpo.gov/
The Federal Register is also
available through an online database. Public access is available at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html.
Questions about the Federal Register
online can be directed to the GPO Access User Support Team by e-mail at
gpoaccess@gpo.gov; by telephone at (202) 512-1530 or toll free at (888)
293-6498; by fax at (202) 512-1262.
e. Business First lists top 20 in different categories and has a book of those lists
f. Newspaper legal notices—Foundations will often advertise that they are accepting proposals or how you can get a copy of their annual reports.
g. Go to special events, get on mailing lists of other nonprofits and look who is donating to those causes, then begin to research how your organization might make a connection.
h. Your local telephone book. Contact the business and ask who is responsible for receiving requests for donations.
i. The Secretary of State of Kentucky –find an organization, its address, members of their boards and their other connections. http://apps.sos.ky.gov/business/obdb/(g5xds5rceycx42z3ktevgh55)/default.aspx
j. Guidestar www.guidestar.org
k. The Chronicle of Philanthropy—the best magazine to which you can subscribe (in my book anyway after years of fundraising) Great ideas and a listing of deadlines for grant proposals for many foundations http://philanthropy.com/
5. MATCHING RESOURCES
WITH YOUR NEED
a. Different types of organizations that make grants/donations
(1) Operating foundations—for a hospital for instance
(2) Staffed/non-staffed
(3) Family Foundation
(4) Local, state, national government
(5) Community Foundations—Community Foundation of Louisville, Community Foundation of West Kentucky
(6) Corporate Foundations
(7) Corporate donations programs
(8) United Way—usually has some special funding for new ideas/needs
(9) Federal campaign list—your organization needs to be on the list if it is not and there is a process to get on the list
(10) Employee Donations Programs: GE Employee Fund, UPS Pilots, Bell Pioneers
(11) Denominational Funding Programs
(12) Donated in-kind services/products
(13) Company matching program for employee donations/volunteer hours
(14) Service/fraternal clubs in your area
(15) Churches/synagogues in your area
(16) Unions may be a source
b. What is the Profile of the Potential Donor?
(1) Geographic limitations
(2) What is their usual size of donations—don’t ask for too much or too little
(3) Which areas of interest is publicized (or determined through your research)
(4) Who is on their board and what can you learn about their interests/who knows them
6. Other Thoughts
a. People give money to people—They give to organizations that have captured their
interest, organizations that have served someone they know, or because someone
they know and value has asked them to help out your organization.
b. Have a program before you ask for money—don’t create the program to look for
the money although it has been done before.
c. Make sure you can do what you say you can do in your proposal
d. Try creative combinations if the straight shot is not fundable
e. Collaboration pays—most funders are looking for some form of collaboration
f. Try to get leadership from a targeted corporation or business on your board before
you ask them for a big donation—you will then have an advocate for your request.