GRANT WRITING TELLING YOUR STORY IN A WAY THAT PAYS OFF Justin Sorg Planning and Exercise Manager MARC
A LITTLE BACKGROUND Never thought of myself as a grant writer. Over the past 11 years, we have applied for, received, and had to report on a variety of grants totaling over $100 million. I did what I knew and when I knew better, I did better.
THINGS TO HAVE ON HAND BEFORE EVEN THINKING ABOUT THE GRANT LEPC Plan Read it, use it make sure it s current. Know your community risk and hazard analysis. Know your own program. Be able to describe who you serve and how many you serve. What will you need to mobilize the plan? Examples: Trained responders Equipment Updated contact information
APPROACH RESEARCH ORIENTATION AND ALIGNMENT APPLICATION WRITING INTEGRATION
TARGETED RESEARCH Funding sources Government Foundations Corporations Organizations or associations Individuals (generalize characteristics)
UNDERSTAND A GRANT IS NOT A DONATION Your proposal has to meet the granting agency s objectives. You don t get to decide what is eligible.
PROCESS Define project. Develop outcomes based evaluations. Think in terms of : INPUTS ACTIVITIES OUTPUTS OUTCOMES
PROCESS, CONTINUED What is the projected outcome? How will you know you are successful how will you evaluate the project? Identify potential funding prospects/sources. Write a proposal for targeted funding prospect. Cultivate relationship with funder, considering how your project will fulfill their needs.
BUILD THE CASE Begin outlining an organizational brief, that identifies: Identity vision, mission, strategy and goals Service area History Structure Programs and Financial overview Qualifications Letters of Support or explanation of collaboration SWOT analysis, Industry analysis, Market analysis and Position are helpful tools for defining organization
YOU ARE WRITING FOR REVIEWERS Don t leave a question unanswered. Try to address the questions in the same order they are asked. Use language in the application. Don t exceed character limits or number of pages allowed. And if you get an opportunity to be a grant reviewer do it!
THE BUDGET Eligibility Match
THAT S THE BASICS. NOW HOW DO YOU MAKE YOUR APPLICATION STAND OUT? Make it personal Explain why it s different Need to connect fast Cite local sources of research When possible, tie past successes to proposal
IT REALLY IS ABOUT FOLLOWING THE DIRECTIONS Understand the nuances. Make them want to know you. Assume the reviewer knows nothing. Reasonable does not apply do not assume. No acronyms. Write in a consistent voice and verb tense.
GRANT WRITING Understand that it is a process that may require refinement and multiple passes and seeking multiple opportunities. Submit, track, follow up, execute Draft, edit, refine Identify funding targets Research, build relationships Evaluate and classify
COMPLETE THE PROCESS Negotiation and acceptance of proposal. Follow-up and feedback. Work to create a continuing relationship for possible future opportunities.
PERFORMANCE Ability to get grants in the future will be strongly based on how you perform. Don t ask for more than you can handle. Develop realistic milestones and timelines Don t commit to more than you can deliver. Build a track record.
EXTRA CREDIT Alignment with funder intrests is key. Many funders like to see collaborations. Research may include contacting past grantee, reviewer, program officer to gather greater understanding of compatibility and fit. Consider an inquiry letter to introduce your project and request feedback.
RECOMMENDED READING Getting Funded: The Complete Guide to Writing Grant Proposals, Hall and Howlett Grassroots Grants: An Activist's Guide to Grantseeking, Robinson Winning Grants Step by Step, Carlson Proposal Planning and Writing, Miner and Miner Demystifying Grant Seeking, Brown and Brown Grantwriting: Strategies for Developing Winning Proposals, Miller
ONLINE RESOURCES www.grants.gov online resource for all federal grants www.kansas.gov/grants online resource for KS state grants Kansas Grants Clearinghouse foundationcenter.org online resource for foundations Goolge grant writing a variety of presentations available
Questions? Thank you Contact Justin Sorg jsorg@marc.org 816 701-8293 Erin Lynch elynch@marc.org 816-701-8390 Happy to serve as a sounding board or review materials