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Evaluating Grant Funding Opportunities

EIU CTE 3402

Career and Technical Education

February 23, 2006

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Overview

• Basics

• Proposal development

• Researching funding sources

• Where to start looking

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Basics to consider

• It takes time to obtain funding support

• Submit proposals that:– are a priority for your organization– fit the interests of the grantmaker

• Researching funders and writing the proposal are only pieces in the overall process

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What is a grant?

• Monetary aid from external sources made with certain expectations– Restricted use of funds– Defined project plan (scope of work)– Stated objectives and outcomes– Timeline for performance– Accountability (reporting

requirements)

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Why get a grant?

• Build organizational capacity or infrastructure

• Create new resources or form of expression

• Conduct research to develop new knowledge

• Extend services to more people

• Provide a new service

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Why make a grant?

• Address an important need

• Solve a problem

• Demonstrate an idea/test a theory

• Enhance public relations

• Obtain product or outcome

• Advance the grant-giver’s mission

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Proposal Development

It’s a Planning Process

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Strategic Process

Your Organization’s Mission

Strategic Plan: Priorities

Program Concept

Strategic funding plan

Implement other funding strategies

Implement grant research process

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Funding QuestResearch Potential Sources of Funding

Make contact, enter proposal process

Understand the opportunity

Identify needs & resources, develop

the proposal

Submit the proposal

Advance the relationship with the

funding agency

Respond to result:grant or rejection

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Parts of a Proposal

• Abstract/Introduction• Problem/Needs Statement• Goal(s)• Objectives• Methods/Activities• Evaluation• Personnel• Budget

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Problemor Need

ObjectivesEvaluation

Methods

What is it? What will it be? How will you get there? What results are anticipated?

}ConceptualCompetencies

Program Planning Elements

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IntroductionFuture

Funding

Budget Summary

Are you credible? Do you know what you’re doing? Can you sustain it?

Marketing Elements

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Researching Funding Sources

Making Connections

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Who makes grants?

• Government

• Foundations

• Public charities

• Professional associations

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Independent Foundations• Independent “Private” Foundations

– large/regional– usually no family connections

anymore– independent, self-sustaining

Examples: Ford Foundation, Kellogg Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation

– Operating foundations, use resources to run their own charitable programsExamples: Getty Trust, Carnegie Endowment for Peace

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Corporate Foundations

• Corporate Foundations– private foundation funded by a for-

profit company or corporation– most give where they have facilities– want to keep their communities happy,

usually limit their interests to communities they serve

Examples: Home Depot Foundation, R.R. Donnelley Foundation, Toys “R” Us Foundation

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Community Foundations

• Community Foundations– defined geographic scope– often publicly controlled– multiple donors

Examples: Charleston Community Foundation, Olney Arts Council, Dayton Foundation

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Special Purpose Foundations

• public foundations that focus on specific area of interest, such as a disease-related research

Examples: American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Bikes Belong Coalition

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Family Foundations

• source of funds from single family

• family-run

• focus on people they know

• usually concentrate on giving locally

• proposals are like “junk mail” to themExamples: Lumpkin Foundation, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Silas & Ruth Claypool Foundation

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Public Charities

• often referred to as public foundations

• may engage in grant-making or function as a supporting foundation to other organizations

Examples: Humane Society, Catholic Charities

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Develop an “A” List

Geography

Your “A” List

InterestAreas Type of

Money

An overlap of key factors

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Questions to askabout a potential funding source

• Who can apply?• When is it due?• What costs/activities are supported?• Are special requirements or

competitive priorities involved?• How many awards will be made?• Is cost-sharing required?• What is the earliest date funding

would be available?

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More questions to ask

• Do your interests match?

• What is the funder’s pattern of giving?– Geographic limitations– Average size of award– Types of grantees– Nature of projects supported

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Making Contact

• Telephone Contact

• Email

• Written communication

• Networking

• Appointments

Handout: Questions to ask a program officer

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Before you call

• Read the guidelines• Learn about the funding agency’s culture• Prepare basic information about your

interests or organization– what need or problem is addressed?– who will be affected?– how will the project be carried out?– what will result?– what organization will handle the money?

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Where to start looking

Free Information Sources

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Internet resources

• Tips and Resources for Writing Successful Proposalswww.geocities.com/wantagrant

• Foundationshttp://fdncenter.org/

• Government grantshttp://www.grants.gov

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More Information

Molly Daniel

Grants Specialist

Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center

1000 Health Center Drive

Mattoon, IL 61938

mdaniel@sblhs.org

217-258-2195