WRITING SUCCESSFUL WRITING SUCCESSFUL GRANT PROPOSALSGRANT PROPOSALS

How to prepare strong grant How to prepare strong grant proposals to compete effectively. proposals to compete effectively.

Workshop GoalsWorkshop Goals

To provide general tips for preparing strong application packages.To provide general tips for preparing strong application packages.

To provide an overview of general elements for successful proposals.To provide an overview of general elements for successful proposals.

To provide and discuss examples of strong and weak proposals.To provide and discuss examples of strong and weak proposals.

Do You Need to Do You Need to Write aWrite a

Grant Proposal?Grant Proposal?

• Do you have the talent and materials within your partnership to Do you have the talent and materials within your partnership to complete the project?complete the project?

• Could your problem be addressed by having local vendors Could your problem be addressed by having local vendors provide materials or make other contributions? provide materials or make other contributions?

• Could a community fundraiser fulfill your needs?Could a community fundraiser fulfill your needs?

If you answered yes to any of these questions … then you may NOT need to write a proposal.

Yes, I do need to write a grant Yes, I do need to write a grant proposal!proposal!

1. Begin researching funding sources1. Begin researching funding sources

2. Collect materials to write your proposal2. Collect materials to write your proposal

•Your mission/purpose •Letters of support•Budget estimates•Project support•IRS documentation

SHOW ME THE MONEYSHOW ME THE MONEY

How to work with fundersHow to work with funders

References and resources References and resources to find external fundingto find external funding

External Funding SourcesExternal Funding Sources

• State/Territory fish and wildlife agencyState/Territory fish and wildlife agency• Federal government grantsFederal government grants• Friends associationsFriends associations• Local businessesLocal businesses• UniversitiesUniversities• Local conservation organizationsLocal conservation organizations

Grant Funding Resource Grant Funding Resource InformationInformation

• Catalog of Federal Domestic AssistanceCatalog of Federal Domestic Assistancewww.cfda.govwww.cfda.gov

• Federal RegisterFederal Registerhttp://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/

• Grants.govGrants.govwww.grants.govwww.grants.gov

What is Grants.gov?What is Grants.gov?

• A one-stop online shopping source to find and A one-stop online shopping source to find and apply for Federal government-wide competitive apply for Federal government-wide competitive grant opportunitiesgrant opportunities

• Houses 900+ grant programs from 26 grant-Houses 900+ grant programs from 26 grant-making agenciesmaking agencies

• Fund opportunities for more than 20 diverse grant Fund opportunities for more than 20 diverse grant categoriescategories

• Over 1,100 active grant opportunities postedOver 1,100 active grant opportunities posted

• Nearly 9000 grant applications submitted through Nearly 9000 grant applications submitted through the electronic systemthe electronic system

Dummy bullet for transition

Find and ApplyFind and Apply

• ““Find” feature allows users to:Find” feature allows users to:– Search for available grant opportunities Search for available grant opportunities – Register to receive notification of grant Register to receive notification of grant

opportunitiesopportunities• ““Apply” feature allows users to:Apply” feature allows users to:

– Search for and download application packagesSearch for and download application packages– Complete application packages offlineComplete application packages offline– Submit completed application packages online Submit completed application packages online – Track the status of submitted applicationsTrack the status of submitted applications

Getting Started – Register Getting Started – Register with Grants.gov:with Grants.gov:

• A multi-step process with time required between steps for A multi-step process with time required between steps for verification, authentication and confirmationverification, authentication and confirmation

– Register with Central Contractor Registry (CCR) - Register with Central Contractor Registry (CCR) - OrganizationOrganization

– Register with the Credential Provider to receive username Register with the Credential Provider to receive username and password - and password - IndividualsIndividuals

– Register with Grants.gov to be designated as an Authorized Register with Grants.gov to be designated as an Authorized Organization Representative - Organization Representative - IndividualsIndividuals

– Log in to Grants.gov to verify successful registration - Log in to Grants.gov to verify successful registration - IndividualsIndividuals

– Download PureEdge viewer to be able to access and Download PureEdge viewer to be able to access and submit application materials - submit application materials - IndividualsIndividuals

Grants.gov registration/authentication processes—allow 7-14 days!

Help is available…Help is available…

• Grants.gov provides numerous sources of help to Grants.gov provides numerous sources of help to guide you through the processguide you through the process– Online tutorials and training demosOnline tutorials and training demos– Checklists and worksheetsChecklists and worksheets– Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)– User GuideUser Guide– Help line – telephone and e-mail supportHelp line – telephone and e-mail support

Grant Funding Resources – Grant Funding Resources – Agency InformationAgency Information

• U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service www.fws.govwww.fws.gov (see “Grants at a Glance”) (see “Grants at a Glance”)

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrationwww.coralreef.noaa.govwww.coralreef.noaa.gov/grants.html/grants.html

• USDA Natural Resources Conservation ServiceUSDA Natural Resources Conservation Servicehttp://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/

National Fish and Wildlife National Fish and Wildlife FoundationFoundation

• www.nfwf.orgwww.nfwf.org

Other Types of GrantsOther Types of Grants

FoundationFoundation

CorporateCorporate

Foundations and Foundations and Corporations $213 BillionCorporations $213 Billion

76% Individuals

8% Bequests

12% Foundations

4% Corporations

Where it goes:

7% environmentaland animal

3% science andtechnology

25% education

65% other

Where the money comes from:

Foundations and CorporationsFoundations and Corporations

• Give locallyGive locally• Don’t normally have applicationsDon’t normally have applications• Personal contact is requiredPersonal contact is required• Fund very specific projectsFund very specific projects• Give to non-profitsGive to non-profits

How Do we Find Foundations How Do we Find Foundations and Corporations?and Corporations?

• InternetInternet– Foundation Center OnlineFoundation Center Online– Conservation GrantsConservation Grants– Environmental Grantmaking Environmental Grantmaking

Foundations DirectoryFoundations Directory

• LibrariesLibraries– Foundation Center CollectionsFoundation Center Collections– Foundation searches, 990sFoundation searches, 990s– Chronicle of PhilanthropyChronicle of Philanthropy

Does the Grant Opportunity Does the Grant Opportunity Work for Me?Work for Me?

• Does your project meet the funder’s interest?Does your project meet the funder’s interest?• Are you an eligible applicant?Are you an eligible applicant?

• Does it support projects in your area?Does it support projects in your area?

• Does the funder support all project needs?Does the funder support all project needs?

• What size grants are given?What size grants are given?

• What is involved in the application process?What is involved in the application process?

• What are the grant criteria?What are the grant criteria?

• Does the timing of funding meet your needs?Does the timing of funding meet your needs?

Budget Your TimeBudget Your Time

80% planning the project 20% writing the proposal

Solid partnershipsSolid partnerships

Innovative Innovative projectproject

CommunicateCommunicate

Define your Define your budgetbudget

Get the award for a strong Get the award for a strong proposal proposal

• Do your homeworkDo your homework• Know the big picture Know the big picture • Coordinate, establish partnershipsCoordinate, establish partnerships• Communicate Communicate • Know the funder’s budget cycleKnow the funder’s budget cycle• Determine how you will meet match Determine how you will meet match

requirements.requirements.

Pre-writing PhasePre-writing Phase

Basic Grant Application Basic Grant Application ComponentsComponents

For a more competitive application be sure to For a more competitive application be sure to include:include:

– Detailed methodology/description of activity Detailed methodology/description of activity – Detailed Budget include how match funds are will be Detailed Budget include how match funds are will be

usedused– Demonstrated partnerships with local communities Demonstrated partnerships with local communities

and resource agenciesand resource agencies– Relevant Principle investigator experience and Relevant Principle investigator experience and

expertiseexpertise– Description of how information from project will be Description of how information from project will be

used to improve management.used to improve management.– Realistic description timeline with benchmarks for Realistic description timeline with benchmarks for

deliverablesdeliverables

Get the award for a strong Get the award for a strong proposal (cont) proposal (cont)

• Follow grant application instructionsFollow grant application instructions• Be succinct, well organized, on timeBe succinct, well organized, on time• Specify your piece of the pieSpecify your piece of the pie• Target funding agency’s prioritiesTarget funding agency’s priorities• Set a realistic budgetSet a realistic budget• Provide real, legitimate matchProvide real, legitimate match• Be innovativeBe innovative• Work with a proofreaderWork with a proofreader

Writing PhaseWriting Phase

Grant Writing Tools – Grant Writing Tools – Agency InformationAgency Information

• Updated Agency WebsitesUpdated Agency Websites

• FWS/NCTC Grant Writing for Conservation CourseFWS/NCTC Grant Writing for Conservation Course

• EPA Grant Writing TutorialEPA Grant Writing Tutorial

• NFWF Pre-proposal FormNFWF Pre-proposal Form

• NOAA Coastal Services CenterNOAA Coastal Services Center

• NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service

• NOAA Grants Management DivisionNOAA Grants Management Division

Weak proposalsWeak proposals

• Do not follow directions in the guidanceDo not follow directions in the guidance• Are not proof read, have lots of errorsAre not proof read, have lots of errors• Have incorrect or insufficient match Have incorrect or insufficient match • Lack coordination and had duplication Lack coordination and had duplication

of activities.of activities.• Are submitted after the deadline. Are submitted after the deadline.

Weak proposals (cont)Weak proposals (cont)

• Do not provide adequate Do not provide adequate description of PI’s relevant past description of PI’s relevant past experience or performanceexperience or performance

• Demonstrate that work begins Demonstrate that work begins or is completed before the grant or is completed before the grant is to be awarded. is to be awarded.

Remember, Funders Remember, Funders Are Partners!Are Partners!

• Build a relationshipBuild a relationship• Be courteousBe courteous• Respect their timeRespect their time• Know their interestsKnow their interests• Discuss opportunitiesDiscuss opportunities• Follow upFollow up

What if You Don’t What if You Don’t Get the Grant?Get the Grant?

Follow up – ask:Follow up – ask:– Any hints to increase success next time?Any hints to increase success next time?– Any other funders recommended?Any other funders recommended?

You got the Grant!!!You got the Grant!!!