GRANT WRITINGIn 100 Minutes or Less

Sonja HudsonGrants Officer

Idaho Commission for Libraries

So where should we begin? ? ?

Community Needs Assessment

&Strategic Plan

REFRESHER COURSE

Needs Assessment:A systematic way of looking at your organizations community to identify existing needs.

Focus groupsCommunity surveysIndividual interviews

REFRESHER COURSE CONT’D

Strategic Plan

An organization’s strategies for addressing the

needs in their community that fall within their

mission. This assistance can be both financial

and/or physical, providing the organization a

direction, a “road map” for serving their community.

Ready to Write A Grant

NOT YET!!!

PROGRAM PLANNING

Working our way through the program planning maze.

Typical Grant Application Ingredients

Introduction

Needs Statement

Program Description

Objectives or outcome for the project

Activities

Sustainability

Evaluation

Timeline Budget Explanation

Proposed Project Budget

Personnel Budget

INTRODUCTION

What’s the Problem What’s our Solution What Funding is requiredWhat’s the Organization expertise

Handout #2

NEEDS STATEMENTDescription of NEED

Provide evidence, statistics

Relate to organizations goals

Reasonable size and dimension

Focus on your community

EXAMPLE NEEDS STATEMENT

National statistics demonstrate people are living longer, and the “Senior

Citizens” population, 65 and older, is growing faster than any other

population in each of the 50 states. Statistics also support the notion there

is a lack of learning programs available for this age group.

The XYZ Library has accessed senior citizen groups, retirement centers,

and care facilities in our service area, and find this to be true. Strategy 3

in XYZ Library’s strategic plan addresses the lack of Senior Citizen

programming, and we are working with Senior Citizen facilities to develop

and provide a variety of programs specific to this age group.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Who is your target audience?

What do you plan to do?

How do you plan to do it?

What result are you hoping to achieve?

Example Program Description

The XYZ library will partner with the Community Senior Citizen

Center to provide computer skills classes to the Center’s

membership. The Center will bring the Seniors to the Library

every Tuesday for 3 months. Using the library’s public access

computers, the Seniors will be instructed in how to set up email

accounts, as well as send and receive emails. Other programs

will be defined as the program progresses. Seniors will

demonstrate their knowledge by exchanging emails with the

instructor and other class participants.

WRITE A BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION FOR YOUR PROGRAM

Refer page 1 of Handout #3

OBJECTIVES

Results of your activities

Measureable statements addressing the need

Include words like increase, decrease or reduce

Example Objective

At the conclusion of class, 15 of the 20

participating Senior Citizens, or 75% will

demonstrate their increased knowledge

and skill by sending and receiving e-mails

to and from the instructor and other class

mates.

WRITE AN OBJECTIVE FOR YOUR PROGRAM

&WHAT DATA WILL DEMONSTRATE

SUCCESS

Refer to pg. 2 Handout #3

ACTIVITIES

Activities describe the way in which you propose to achieve the objective.

Example Activities

Design curriculum

Secure an instructorReserve public

access computersPublicize event to

target audience

Negotiate transportation

Enroll participantsProduce class

materials Report results to

stakeholders

15 of 20 Class participants successfully email instructor.

EVALUATIONFocus on benefits to your audience

Changes in knowledge, skill, attitude, behavior

What data best represents success or failure

When will evaluation take place

EXAMPLE EVALUATION

At the end of the program, the XYZ Library instructors will conduct an evaluation by assessing each participants performance in the 3 criteria identified◦Setting up e-mail account◦Sending e-mail to instructor◦Successfully opening email & ◦responding to e-mail received.

ACTUAL EVALUATIONAt the end of the program, 15 of the 22 participants in XYZ Library’s e-mail program or 68% were successful in both sending and receiving emails to instructor as well as fellow students.

This exchange of emails demonstrates this program was not successful, and the XYZ library plans to examine the program, make adjustments in class size, & training materials and provide it again.

TIMELINE BUDGET EXPLANATION

Chronological list of Activities:◦Date◦Description and purpose of purchases

or

◦Identification of a specific activity necessary to achieve an objective

◦Program(grant) reporting date◦Program Cost of Activity or -0-

Example Timeline Budget Explanation

DATE ACTIVITY COST

4/4/2011

$250.00

4/30/2011

$3,000.00

4/30/2011

$240.00 07/15/2011 LSTA Quarterly Report to ICFL -0-

Total $3,490

Purchase 2 Dell computers at $1,500 each with Internet access capabilities, vendor quote attached - Computers available for senior computer classes and other future programs identified in our strategic plan. The increased number of computers also expands our public access capabilities. CIPA Certification provided

12 books titled “E-mail and the Internet” at $20.00 each - Books will be provided to the program participants for their reference during class. Future classes will use the same materials

Staff Software Training – 2 staff members @ $125 per person - The remainder of staff already trained. Staff will receive intensive training with e-mail and the Internet.

Questions on Program Planning

Now you’re ready to look for grant opportunities!

GRANT SEARCH PROCESS OF ELIMINATION

What geographic area does the opportunity focus?

What is the grantors focus for funding?

What won’t they fund?

SEARCHING FOR A GRANT OPPORTUNITY

Compare GRANT strings with PROGRAM need

PROGRAM cost VS GRANT funding

FOUNDATION DATABASES

To name just a few:Grants.Gov www.grants.govNew USA Funding.Com

www.newusafunding.comNon-profit guides www.npguides.org

The Idaho Commission for Libraries does not sell or promote any of the database products used in this presentation. These products were identified through an Internet search with search parameters “grant databases.”

FOUNDATION DATABASES

FOUNDATION CENTER http://foundationcenter.org

GRANT FOUNDATIONS

Idaho Community Foundation www.idcomfdn.org.

NEWSLETTERSFoundation Center PND RFP Bulletin

E-mail publication - subscribe on the Foundation Centers website

CD Publications http://www.cdpublications.com

There are many others so seek them out

Found A Grant Source Go to their website & collect all the grant

information you can.◦ Instructions◦ Grant Application Forms◦ Budget Forms◦ Eligibility Criteria◦ Certifications (typical with Federal Grants)

READ THE INFORMATION Complete the grant application Verify your budget

◦ Is it tight ◦ Justifiable◦ Does it match the Timeline Budget Narrative

CONGRATULATIONSYOUR APPLICATION WAS APPROVED

You will receive a grant award packet including:◦Grant award document for

signature◦Description of reporting

requirements◦Approved budget ◦Additional information of

the grantors choosing

QUESTIONSThank you for your time! Sonja Hudson

Contact Information: sonja.hudson@libraries.idaho.govIdaho Commission for Libraries (208) 639-4136