Grant Writing for Social Impact:Tips for Winning Proposals

June 23, 2020

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Presenter Dan PraterSenior Managing Consultantdprater@bkd.com

• Overview of Nonprofit Sector

• Trends in Giving

• Nuts & Bolts of Effective Proposals

What We’ll Talk About

Fees for services/goods,Private sources 47.5%

Fees for services/goods,Gov’t. sources 24.5 %

PrivateContributions

13.3%

Gov’t. grants 8.0 %

Other income 1.9 %Investment income 4.8 %

Nonprofit Sector in Brief 2017, the Urban Institute

Revenue Sources for Nonprofits

Individuals75.6%

source: Giving USA 2019

Which CausesAre Funded?

Religion 29%

Education 14%

Human Services 12%Gifts to

Foundations 12%

Health 10%

Public & Societal Benefit 7%

Arts, Culture 5%

International 5%

Environmental, Animals 5%

To Individuals 2%

Unallocated 2%

source: Giving USA 2019

Giving Trends1978–2018

source: Giving USA 2019

Independent foundations

Community foundations

Operating foundations

Foundation Giving2018

Individuals75.6%

source: Giving USA 2019

Giving % GDP

86,203 grantmaking foundations

$62.8 billion 2015

42% increase 2005–2015

Urban Institute 2018

Foundation Giving2005–2015

COVID-19 Response

Funders are responding to the pandemic by supporting local agencies. Contributions to community/local foundations have increased

https://inrc.law.uiowa.edu/covid-19-nonprofit-resourcesUniversity of Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center:

https://www.desmoinesfoundation.org/Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines

http://iowacounciloffoundations.org/Iowa Council of Foundations (ICoF)

Image: https://www.newsweek.com/why-coronavirus-pandemic-philanthropys-big-moment-1500496

Crisis Giving

COVID-19 Response

$8.3 billion

Image: https://www.newsweek.com/why-coronavirus-pandemic-philanthropys-big-moment-1500496

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation – $50 millionUnited Health – $50 millionPepsiCo Foundation – $45 millionLilly Endowment – $48.5 millionVisa – $70 million Sony Global Relief Fund – $100 millionWilliam Penn Foundation – $11.6 millionJohn S. and James L. Knight Foundation – $10.3 millionBank of America – $10 million

Crisis Giving

COVID-19

Foundations

Major donors

Small donors

Earned revenue

Crisis Giving

https://www.philanthropy.com/article/Nonprofits-That-Rely-on/248945

We have a resource page with some very helpful articles, webinars, & guides to assist you

CARES Act – PPP, EID, tax information, webinars, loan forgiveness, etc.

https://www.bkd.com/covid-19-resource-center

Crisis Resource

Impact investing

Investments into organizations or companies with the goalof generating positive, measurable impact & a financial return

•Health care•Education•Energy, especially clean & renewable energy•Agriculture

https://donortracker.org/insights/impact-investing-missing-link-sustainable-development-finance

Giving Trends

Innovation & Emerging Technologies

Funders have a heightened interest in supporting organizations thatembrace technology to address social & environmental issues

https://donortracker.org/insights/impact-investing-missing-link-sustainable-development-finance

Giving Trends

Racial Equity & Inclusion

Funders are willing to invest into programs that promote equity & inclusion

https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/tools-resources/why-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-matter-nonprofits

Giving Trends

Demographic Shifts– Hispanic, other races increase– Transfer of wealth from Boomers

1

2

3

4

Government Involvement– Restrictions, more oversight

Increase in major donor involvement

Philanthropist demands– Donors want more involvement– Demand results– Major donors now impact public policy

Four External Realities

https://thenewipocom.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/seismic-shift.jpg?w=676

More nonprofits are shifting from “serving” to “solving”

Focus is now on solving long-term

problems, not just putting a

bandage on it

Shifting from house building to system-level change through advocacy & long-term projects

Seismic Shift

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcRmpI_9wwvYzA6wseU1ykxqwRME9nacSaysnYKxbbgNyIx7fJ6e&usqp=CAU

Limited Available Resources

Ever-increased Demand for Services

Growing Competition (CSR, L3C)

Nonprofit Reality

https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=T7kD%2faeV&id=0398198919AA35B9F554A1C6C1A4C3381A9754C5&thid=OIP.T7kD_aeV7YmLr4fW12ChgwHaE7&mediaurl=https%3a%2f%2fwww.goodleadership.com%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2f2014%2f08%2fstretched-thin.best_.jpg&exph=2704&expw=4064&q=stretched&simid=608014399441209497&ck=F69DAD0CFB10AA97A08E0B5D7F57EA6B&selectedIndex=4&ajaxhist=0

Nuts & Bolts of

Grant Proposals

Why submit a grant proposal?

• Money, of course

• Recognition of your organization

• Partnerships with other groups

• Awareness of the problem/issue

Benefits of Proposals

Communityproblem or

issue

NPO formed tosolve/helpproblem

Communityproblem

solved or helped

PublicSupport

Begin with the end in mind

One of the worst things that can happen to an organization is to be funded for a program & that it then discovers it does not have the ability to implement …

Or worse yet, a project that does not meet the need identified

CurrentProblem

FutureCondition

Where to Start

SierraClub

O’Reilly: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcSv1SAGadywy9KgBE5H40EeqbCmQH7VNqkEv_kejfrLBP4jtbHF&usqp=CAU

Walmart: https://www.google.com/search?q=walmart+logo&tbm=isch&chips=q:walmart+logo,g_1:transparent:y-jTnlIZ4Us%3D&rlz=1C1GCEB_enUS888US888&hl=en&ved=2ahUKEwjWkc-Z7vLpAhUGNK0KHTgLANgQ4lYoAHoECAEQFQ&biw=1238&bih=839

Bass Pro: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcTOFONPjhu5ShmxwRhHPhbDomvh8PXB756uqjQWnLeJlvjIA0fl&usqp=CAU

DNR: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcRFUTXFyAt0rI5QMEOxWxxcMae6jKvxEb9By6TdbMs5PslyF082&usqp=CAU

Alignment

Sears: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b1/25/4e/b1254ea8501dac13d80ff9e8443e743e.jpgKum: https://assets1.csnews.com/files/styles/content_sm/s3/2019-11/Kum%20%26%20Go%20Logo_Sm_111919.jpg?itok=h54riH88Barnes: https://fontmeme.com/images/Barnes-Noble-Logo.jpgLowes: https://logodix.com/logo/942260.jpg

Alignment

LiteracyCouncil

1. Cover letter

2. Executive Summary

3. Need Statement

4. Goals

5. Objectives

6. Methods/Strategies

7. Evaluation

8. Sustainability

9. Organizational Background

10. Budget

Major Componentsof a Grant Proposal

Must clearly explain the problem by answering the 5 WsWho is in need?

What is the social condition, issue or need?

Why does this problem exist? (root, not symptom)

Where is it occurring? (certain part of city or region)

When is the need most evident? (summer breaks or after school)

Problem or Needs Statement

Address a need that is local (assuming your goals are not national)

Have a direct connection with your organization’s mission

Be a good match for the grant maker

Be supported by credible information from a variety of sources

Facts & Figures

News Stories

StatisticsExpert Testimonies

ExamplesStudies

Problem or Needs Statement

An objective is a step toward the goal; something you will need to do to reach the goal …

– 75% of low-income children increase their school attendance in one year– 85% of first-time parents can read & will have appropriate books in their

home within a year– All students in kindergarten that are diagnosed with asthma will decrease

incidents of severe attacks by 15% in first quarter of school year

Where goals are broad, objectives are specific

Objectives

Goals are statements of the ultimate outcome or purpose of the program … a “hoped for” state of change

– Eliminate child abuse

– Prevent teen drug use

Goals are broad, a general direction or aim

The goals must be tied in directly to the need or problem statement

Goals

GOALS OBJECTIVES

Long Term Short Term

Cannot Be Measured

Can Be Measured

Generic Specific

Broad Narrow

Specific – Use exact language & quantifiable numbers in describing what you will accomplish

Measurable – Precisely what changed? To what degree?

Attainable – Make sure you can actually do it

Relevant – Does the idea still work today? For this demographic?

Timely – Provide a time frame in which you will meet your objectives

SMART

Objectives

1. Based on the Problem statement, what is (are) the key area(s) your organization is seeking to change?

2. Who (segment of population) will be involved in the change?

3. To what degree are you seeking to change (# or %)?

4. When will this change take place?

Objectives should answer four basic questions

Objectives

GOAL

METHODS STRATEGIES

METHODS STRATEGIES

METHODS STRATEGIES

METHODS STRATEGIES

METHODS STRATEGIES

METHODS STRATEGIES

1. What steps/actions need to occur to meet the objectives?2. Who will be responsible for this?3. What are the start/end dates4. What resources are needed?

OBJECTIVE OBJECTIVE OBJECTIVE

Methods

Objective J F M A M J J A S O N D#1 – Recruit & Train 100 new child advocatesDevelop new Print & Broadcast materials X XConduct Speaker’s Training X X X XSend “ask” letter to groups X XWrite Press Releases & editorials X X X X X X X X X X XTutoring Begins X XSet up Display booth at area shows X X X X X X X XConduct Child Advocate Training X X X X X X

Evaluation Report X X X

Timeline

Was the program a success?

Did we accomplish what we promised?

What was the clear change or impact on the problem/need we identified?

What didn’t work as we thought? What adjustments did we have to make?

The “Objectives” represent the promise

The “Evaluation” provides evidence the promise was fulfilled

Evaluation

Objective Person(s) Measure

June 2020 teachers will implement & deliver new course materials, then test for student learning

Project Director 1. Distribute/collect surveys to collect responses & degree of change

2. Give pre- & post-test in class3. Follow-up individually with each

student to determine next step

1. Determine what you want/need to prove (look at earlier sections)

2. Create questions & measurable outcomes

3. Determine who you need to evaluate or monitor

4. Develop methods to gain this information (quantitative & qualitative)

Evaluation

Inputs (Resources)

Activities Output Short-termoutcomes

Long-termoutcomes

UltimateImpact

In order to accomplish our set of activities

we will need these resources

What we do with resources;

activities that deliver outputs

Who we reach & how they

participate:Servicesdelivered,

workshops & trainings,

documents & publications

We expect that if completed or ongoing these activities will lead to the following changes

immediately to 1 year

We expect that if completed or ongoing these activities will lead to the following

changes in 4–6 years

We expect that if completed these

activities will lead to the following

changes in7–10 years

Two Pillars of Outcome MeasurementLogic Model & a Theory of Change

Be Clear About Your Work

Theoryof

Change

Identify your ultimate, long-term goal (Vision)

IF then IF then IF then IF then IF then

Paint a picture of how change occursShow pathways to success

Goal

Objectives

Methods

Objectives Objectives

Methods Methods

Methods Methods Methods

Methods Methods Methods

Budget

What we want to

do

How wewill do it

Money it will take to do it

The budget translates the

“methods” section into

dollars

1.

2.

3.

Direct Personnel (with benefits)TravelEquipmentSupplies

Indirect AKA “Administrative” or “overhead” costs

Executive Director’s salary (%)Building costsInsuranceUtilitiesOther services

Listed as “indirect” if Ex. Director is not significant part of program, other than to provide occasional support

Types of Project Costs

A simple formula: take on average, 15% of your total funding source revenue & budget that amount for indirect cost

Most federal grants have a special format & the indirect rate established is adjusted & reviewed annually by a special federal department

How Much Can We Keep to Cover “Overhead” Costs?

Justification or Budget NarrativeProvide a rationale for your expenses, how you arrived at this figure

Salaries, supplies, etc. all need to show a quantity, cost per unit, & show how each ties into a specific method or activity you plan to carry out

1. Capture Attention & Imagination

Make sure your application stands out by focusing on developing a succinct & powerful description of the problem, model, & impact

https://www.123rf.com/photo_18976380_glowing-yellow-light-bulb.html

Summary

2. There is no magic formula

Grant writing rules can help, but not all will work in every setting

https://depositphotos.com/vector-images/magic-wand.html

Summary

3. Relationships matter

The more they know & trust you, the better chance you have of receiving support

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcT8vaXauKomH2pdoNg-wTSJyB--SJ7tEGgOdU-wNM9Ru3jYMAhJ&usqp=CAU

Summary

4. Develop a Seamless Proposal

Everything must connect & support

NO MISTAKES! Proof three times, let others proof

Summary

Follow the guidelines – little things make a BIG difference

Emotion is good, but logic is better

Be clear & concise, avoid industry jargon & don’t try to write a novel

Taylor fit your proposal – one size does not fit all

Summary

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