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Intro To Grant Proposal Writing Foundation Ctr

Introduction to Proposal Writing Video

  • Notes are from this video
  • Source: Foundation Center
  • Speaker:

The Proposal Writing Process

  1. Planning
    • what do you need the money for?
  2. Research
    • who will you approach
  3. Writing
    • how you put it all together?
  4. Followup
    • what you do once a decision has been made?

Planning

Do you have enough time?

Not a quick fix, 6-9 months between beginning proposal and receiving funds.

What are you asking for?

What kind of support: operations, project, building renovation, equipment.

Generating a Project Proposal is our focus today

Research

Finding the right fit.

  1. How does what you do fit with the funder's interests?
  2. The why is just as important as the who
    • Tell them how your project achieves their goals, mission, and priorities.
    • Through a combination of your program and their resources.

Writing the Proposal

Grantwriters are moving to online formats. Limited space and character restrictions.

Always follow the funder's guidelines.

Put together a master proposal or base proposal using the format we are about to go over.

There is a directory of common form grants on the Foundation Center Knowledge Base website.

Four Typical Proposal Elements

Executive Summary

How do I reduce everything to one page? Extract the key information from the full proposal (write the full proposal first).

They will look at this first to determine if they want to read the rest of the proposal. May not continue reading if they are not interested right away.

Also used to present your project to the foundation board for consideration.

This can be used for the letter of inquiry as well.

Includes:
  1. Statement of Need
  2. Brief description project incl goals and objectives
  3. Information about your objectives
  4. How much money you are asking for

Narrative

Statement of Need
  1. What specific need are you addressing?
    • fits size and scale of your solution
  2. What audience and community are you serving?
  3. What evidence do you have to support the need?
Project Description
  1. What are you trying to achieve?
    • Your outcomes must be measurable
  2. SMART Goals
    • Specific
    • Measurable
    • Achievable
    • Realistic
    • Time-based
  3. What is your specific plan? Your proposal is your organizing plan.
    • Who will do the work? Both paid and volunteer.
    • What?
    • When?
    • Where?
    • Why?
    • How?
  4. Evaluation: How do you know you are successful?
    • Specify program objectives in measurable terms
    • Identify key indicators of success
    • Outline data collection and analysis activites
    • Develop a TIMELINE to monitor the success of the program on an ongoing basis
    • What you will do with your information
  5. TRACY - Tools and Reseources for Measuring Social Impact (or something like that, i may have mistyped)
  6. Why are you the best organization to do this work?
Organization
Information
Conclusion

Budget

Supporting Materials

Follow the funder's guidelines.

Include everything (and very little of anything else).

For online applications it's ok to add links where possible.

  • Organization's most recent audited financial statements
  • IRS Form 990
  • Current Operating Budget and last year's budget versus actual
  • List of board of director names and professional affiliation
  • Brief biographical information of key staffers
    • People carrying out your project have sufficient knowledge and experience for success

Other Stuff

  • Grant is the beginning of the relationship with your funder
    • Regular reports, keep them informed!
    • Significant accomplishment? Send a note or make a phone call.
    • Having an event? Invite them as a courtesy no matter what, even if you know they cannot or will not go.

Follow Up

  • It's not personal
  • Find out why
  • Ask about future funding
  • Don't just put them on your generic mailing list! Keep them up to date

Key Takeaways

  • Start with an outline
  • Keep the language clear and concise
  • Focus on the funders' interests
  • Follow the funders' guidelines
  • Revise and edit before submitting
  • Tell them a story
  • Avoid jargon and acronyms.

Additional Resources

Foundation Center Resources

  • Foundation Center Training
  • Proposal Writing Workshop - 1 day - In Person
  • Proposal Writing Bootcamp - 3 day - In Person
  • There is also an Intro to Writing Grants course.
  • There is also an Intro to Finding Grants course.
  • grantspace.org skill space
  • grantspace.org sample documents (yes sample proposals from funders, including comments as to why they got the grant)