Tools
for Nonprofits:
Grantwriting 101
So, your nonprofit
organization has a great idea for a new program. The
only problem is that you don’t have any funds available
in the operating budget to cover the cost of setting up
this great program. As a nonprofit organization,
you are eligible to request grant funding from foundations.
Grantwriting
is often seen as a mystical, complicated exercise.
But realistically, it’s
about common sense and good writing skills.
The first step in the process is finding a foundation
you feel will likely grant you the funding. There are
several ways of finding this information. There are foundation
directories in the form of books, searchable Web databases,
and searchable CD-ROM packages from a number
of companies. Many public libraries offer these resources
for free, and they are worth looking into if you have
a limited budget.
Once you’ve
identified the research tool that works for you, you’ll
need to identify several foundations whose priorities
mesh with your project. Also, look at
where the foundation is located, who the trustees are,
what their key areas of support involve, and any limitations
or restrictions they may have for applicants. Pay
close attention to their deadlines and application procedures.
If in doubt, try to make contact with the foundation.
Larger foundations with several staff members often assign
organizations a program officer to help you through the
application process. You can also request written
materials from a foundation, such as their latest annual
report. The annual report is a great tool to
determine what kinds of projects this foundation is funding.
Now you are ready
to write your proposal. The rules and etiquette in writing
proposals vary so widely between foundations, it
does no good to establish a “master proposal”
that you will send out en masse. Each
foundation has set guidelines on what they will accept—always
follow the rules to a “T”!
-
Do
they want more than one copy of the proposal?
-
What
attachments are necessary?
-
Is
there a page limit or other formatting restrictions?
Be sure to answer every question in a clear and concise
manner.
Some key elements
to any proposal usually include the following:
•
General information about
your organization
-year founded, mission statement, vision/philosophy statement,
staff/board members
•
Specific description of
the project for which you are requesting funding
-timeline, population served, key staff involved, expected
benefits
•
Detailed project budget
-line item budget including staffing, materials, location
cost, fees for service, etc.
-total cost of project, amount requested from foundation,
other expected funding sources
•
Evaluation methodology
-specify the outcomes you want to achieve and precisely
how you will measure your success for each of these outcomes
•
Future sustainability
-foundations like to provide “start-up” funding
but often will not continue funding a project for several
years; you will need to have a plan to continue this program,
making it self-sufficient
Once the proposal
is written, you may have options on how it will be delivered
to the foundation. You can hand-deliver the proposal,
mail it via certified mail, or overnight it with the carrier
service of your choice. At this point, the only
thing you can do is wait for the foundation to reply.
If the request is
awarded, your first priority
will be to write a thank you letter to the foundation.
I usually restate the purpose of the grant and the timeline
of the project. This is useful for your records, as well
as for those of the foundation. Also,
if there is a contract to sign, this can be enclosed with
the thank you letter. Many foundations
require a final report on how the funds were spent and
your evaluation results of the project. Being
a good steward of the grant money is very important; watch
where the money is spent and report each expense accurately.
On the other hand,
if the request is declined,
my first reaction is usually to call my contact person
with the foundation. I find it very helpful
to hear their reaction to the proposal and what their
suggestions are, should my organization re-submit the
proposal in the next grant cycle. Keep
in mind, these decisions often do not reflect negatively
on you, the grantwriter. Maybe the foundation
was overextended this grant cycle or perhaps the trustees
were focused on another issue, geographic area, or target
population this time around.
The important
thing to remember is that your organization will survive
as long as its mission is viable in your community.
The mission statement is the organization’s guide
in every program you develop, every dollar you solicit,
and every client you serve. Stay
focused on the goal and you will succeed!
|
Anna
Spell Miller, MPA