presented by: dr. khalif ramadan 716-812-1404 [email protected] strategic grant proposal writing...
TRANSCRIPT
Presented by: Dr. Khalif Ramadan716-812-1404
Strategic Grant Proposal WritingHosted by Masjid Al Qur’an
Boston, MADhul Hijjah 9, 1432November 5, 2011
Grantsmanship
• What is Grantsmanship?– Grantsmanship versus “grant writing”– More than proposal writing– Organizational readiness– Multiple roles of fundraisers– Organizational placement is key– Proposal writing is part of a process– Involving others
Grantsmanship & Faith-based Funding
• Background
• Changing landscape
• Implications
• Issues & challenges
Grantsmanship
• Avoid chasing money
Chasing $ can lead to…
MISSION
History MattersState <<<<< >>>>>Federal
Events – National Concerns – Politics
• Great Depression > New Deal• Sputnik > Science, Education, Technology• Domestic Poverty > Great Society• New Federalism• Block Grants• Faith-Based Funding
Moving UpstreamEvent
1. Legislation Appropriations
2. Regulations
3. Programs
4. NOFA.RFP/RFA/
5. Applications
6. Evaluation Results
Sources
1. Congressional office, Advocacy Organizations, Testimony
2. Federal Register
3. Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance “CFDA”
4. Federal Register
5. Federal Agency
6. Federal Agency
Flow of Federal Resources
Federal GovernmentDept. of Justice
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Dept. of Education
Dept. of Labor
Dept.of HUD
Department of Agriculture
Dept. of HHS
Flow of Federal Resources Case Study
SAMHSAState/Local Gov.
Formula Allocations
Community Development Block Grant
Continuum of Care
Competitive Grants
Stakeholders
•Faith-Based Org.
•Business Community
•Community Based Org.
•Elected Officials
•Community Partners
Decision-Making Table
Flow of Money
Grants
State
$ FUNDS $
Responsible Agency & OMB
RFP
Grants
Congress Passes a Law
Grant Application& ReviewProcess
(1) Statute; (2) Appropriation
Interpret Statute & Establish Operating Rules
Block Grant or Other Grant to State
In-state Award or Application ProcessHeld
$
Open Competition
Types of FundingFederal Government
•Organizational credibility•Personal relationships•Areas of interest•Application guidelines•Pattern of giving
•More specific•Knowing the players•Know what they want•Address specific questions•Format is important•Scoring •Bidders conference
Types of Federal Funding• Grants
– Categorical– Block– Formula– Research (knowledge development) – Demonstration (knowledge application) – Service– Other– Pork –”Ear Mark”
• Cooperative Agreements• Contracts
Foundation Characteristics• Large /National Foundations
– Fund programs of national significance– Cutting edge of change– Want to fund programs that can serve as models
nationally / internationally– Well-staffed and active in their fields of interest– Most have broad interests– Some have special interests
Foundation Characteristics• Mid-size Regional Foundations
– Usually have broad interests– Interested in making grants that have an important
impact within their geographic region
• Small Local/Family foundations– Interests of family members
• Corporate Foundations– Company controlled– Self-interest of the company –what’s in it for the
corporation– Distinct from corporate giving
Foundation Characteristics• Public Charities
– Funds from many sources– Geographic or special interest– Community foundations are public charities– staffed
Largest Foundations (by Assets)
Bill & Melinda Gate Foundation (WA) •$21.15B
Lilly Endowment Inc. (IN) •$15.59B
The Ford Foundation (NY) •$14.66B
J. Paul Getty Trust (CA) •$10.93B
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation (CA) •$9.79B
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (NJ) •$8.79B
W.K. Kellogg Foundation (MI) •$5.72B
The Andrew W Mellon Foundation (NY) •$4.88B
The Pew Charitable Trusts (PA) •$4.80B
The Starr Foundation (NY) •$4.48B
Searching for Foundations
Generic Topic Searches
Find Grantmakers for your Geographic Area
Find Grant Range & Size
Find Similar Organizations in Your Area
Positive Contact with Grantmaker
Apply- Letter of Inquiry
Find Your Classification of Organization
Proposal Writing Pointers
• Support assumptions– Present supporting facts for stated
assumptions
• Use clear, understandable language• Avoid Jargon• Be brief, concise, simple• Be positive• Use specifics, examples
– Specifics increase impact
Proposal Writing Pointers• Balance is important
– Data/facts and human interest– Words and graphics– Logic and Emotion
• Use hard & soft data– Statistics
• Percents +absolute numbers• Don’t overuse statistics• Clear, relevant
– Quotes, examples• Put faces, voices on the work
Proposal Format Components• I. Introduction (to the applicant
organization)Abstract or Summary or Organizational Capacity Statement
• II. Problem Statement/Needs/Assessment• III. Goals and Objectives• IV. Methods –Approach Design• V. Evaluation/Outcomes• VI. Sustainability• VII. BudgetAppendix
Organizational Capacity• Name• Do you have an Image?
– What is it (to Funder)?
• Reinforce Positive• Defuse Negative
Organizational Capacity• Sets the stage
– Who are you?– What do you do as an agency?– So What?– Impact!!
• Marketing Tool• Credibility Statement
– (numbers,quotes,examples)
• Layers
Proposal Introduction ChecklistOffers statements and/or endorsements to
support credibilitySupports credibility in program area in which
funds are soughtLeads logically to problem statement Is interesting Is free of jargon Is brief
Proposal FormatProblem Statement/ Needs
AssessmentNarrative description of current situation
or conditions affecting people in a specific geographic area
Introduction ComponentsDescriptive Wow
•History•Program•Clients/ Constituency•Services/ Activities•Locale•Population/demographics•Total budget•Mission•Staff•Philosophy/vision
•Growth #•Demand/ Waiting List•Success Stories/ Quotes•Accomplishments/Evaluation•Affiliations•Awards/Recognition•Expertise•Board•100% Support•Outcomes•Grants, donations•Media•Evidence of Community support – e.g. volunteers
Problem Statement
• What is the current problem(s)• What are the causes of the problem(s)
– Clearly related to the purpose of your organization
– Describes current conditions that require action
– Includes a discussion of the causes of the problem
– Reasonable dimensions– Supported by evidence– Specific to a geographic area or population
Problem Statement/ Needs Assessment
• What IS going on• “Layers” / funnel• Supported with hard and soft data
– Facts– Stat’s– Quotes– Examples
• People – centered• Answers SO WHAT?
Proposal Problem Statement Checklist
Relates to purpose and goals of organization
Reasonable dimensionsSupported by statistical evidenceSupported by statements from
authoritiesStated in terms of clients or
beneficiaries
Problem Pitfalls
• Need for …– Staff– Equipment– Building, etc.
• Agency – centered
• Vague, general
• Elephant of a problem with mouse of a solution
Problem Pitfalls
Proposal Format Components• Program Objectives
- what activities and services will be provided• Program Outcomes
– How will the problem change– Stated in terms of the beneficiaries
• Methods Approach - Design– How will you accomplish the change you desire– Why do you think your approach will work?
• Evaluation– How will you be able to tell whether or not your
approach worked
Proposal Format Components
• Future Funding and Other Necessary Funding– How will this effort be continued at the end
of the grant funding?
• Budget– Specifically, what will this effort cost?
Objectives
• WHO
• Is going to do WHAT
• WHEN
• How MUCH
• (As MEASURED By)
Objectives
• “SMART” objectives
• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Realistic
• Time-referenced
Outcomes
• How will the problem change. Stated in terms of the beneficiaries.– Who will change?– What behavior will change?– In what direction will that change be?– By what time will this change take place?
Objectives or Outcomes?If so, good or not?
1. To provide a total of 20 hours of in-service training on conflict management to 35 middle school teachers during the 2001-2002 academic year.
2. Students will achieve at least a 10% improvement in standardized test scores by the end of 2 semesters.
3. To distribute educational materials to 1200 community residents concerning the Neighborhood Watch safety program.
4. By the end of 2002, 250 out of 300 people from Washington County that attend six HIV prevention workshops will have increased knowledge of HIV, its co-infection with Hepatitis C and the risks of transmission in substance abuse.
Objectives or Outcomes?If so, good or not?
5. Teens participating in the “Teen Parenting Education Program” will:
– Follow proper health and nutrition guidelines– Deliver healthy babies
6. To increase by 550 the number of youth, ages 12 to 15, receiving sexuality education.
7. At the conclusion of the six-week ‘Smoking Cessation Program, “ 72% of participants will stop smoking.
8. 30 Injection drug users will increase their harm reduction skills in needle cleaning and correct barrier usage to reduce their risk of exposure to HIV and Hepatitis C.
Objectives or Outcomes?If so, good or not?
9. Students’ academic performance improves
10. To develop educational materials on “Making Healthy Choices” to distribute to community residents.
11. To increase by 50% the number of hours parents spend reading with their children.
12. To increase the number of women entering the fields of science and engineering.
Proposal Format Components• Summary• I. Introduction (to the applicant organization)• II. Problem Statement/Needs/Assessment• III. Program Objectives• IV Program Outcomes• V. Methods• V. Evaluation• VI. Future Funding• VII. Budget
Appendix
Methods• How will you accomplish the change you
desire?• Why do you think your approach will work?• Components of section:
– Summary of major Components– Collaboration– Staffing– Facilities and Equipment– Work plan/Timeline– Rationale
Proposal Methods ChecklistFlows naturally from problems and objectivesClearly describes program activitiesStates reasons for selection of activitiesDescribes sequences of activities Describes staffing of programDescribe clients and client selectionPresents a reasonable scope of activities that
can be accomplished within the time allotted for program and within the resources of the applicant.
Evaluation
• How will you be able to tell whether or not your approach worked?– Involve outside evaluator early in the
planning process– Evaluation as a tool for marketing
Summary of Program
Evaluation Plan– What data you will collect– How you will collect it– When you will collect it– How you will use it
Problem/Need Conditions
ObjectivesEnds
Outcomes
MethodsHow & Why
Evaluation
Problem Objectives Methods
Impact Outcome Process
Evaluation Design
Data
CollectionMethods
When
Data Collection Tools• Pre-post Test• Questionnaires• Instruments• Interviews• Trained Observers• Focus Groups• Physical Measurements• Logs in Client Files• Reports• Control/Comparison Groups
Information Gathering
Problem Objectives Methods
Info. To collect
How collect
When
Proposal Evaluation ChecklistCovers outcomes and processTells who will be performing evaluation
and how evaluators will be selectedDefines evaluation criteriaDescribes data gathering methods
Proposal Evaluation ChecklistExplain any test instruments or
questionnaires to be usedDescribes the process of data analysisShows how evaluation will be used for
program improvementsDescribes evaluation reports to be
produced
Proposal Introduction ChecklistClearly establishes who is applying for fundsDescribes applicant agency purpose and
goalsDescribes agency programsDescribes clients or constituentsProvides evidence of accomplishmentOffers statistics to support credibility
Proposal Format Components• Summary• I. Introduction (to the applicant organization)• II. Problem Statement/Needs/Assessment• III. Objectives• IV. Methods• V. Evaluation• Future Funding• Budget
Appendix
Budget• Estimate• No surprises• Support assumptions• Requested• Donated• Other sources
Proposal Budget ChecklistDefine how you calculated expensesExpenses should be reasonableSources of matching funds and in-kind
resources should be identifiedMultiple years must be presented if requestedFigures should be correctHave a reviewer
Future Funding• Plan for continued support after grant (If needed)• Earned Income – fees for services /products• Third Party Payment• Absorb into Budget• Development Plan
– Special events– Annual Fund– Membership– Phone/mail solicitation– Major gifts– Planned giving– Endowment– Capital campaign
• Business ventures
Proposal Future Funding ChecklistPresents a plan to provide future funding if
program is to be continuedDiscusses both maintenance and future
program funding if program is for constructionAccounts for other needed expenditures If program includes purchase of equipment
Future & Other Necessary Funding
• Future and other necessary funding– Other funding is needed when you are requesting
a specific item but you need to be able to provide the other resources
Proposal Format & Delivery• Font• Margins• Spacing• Headings/subheading• Use of pictures & graphic elements• Reader friendliness• Length• Packaging• Delivery methods
Letter of Inquiry• Think Proposal• Signed by the chair of the Board• Follow foundation guidelines• Use Proposal Planning & Proposal Writing
Format if no guidelines are given• Don’t be overly formal• Generally 2-4 pages