grant writing. insider trade secrets

Grant Writingmyth busting + insider trade secrets

Although I’d been successful in gaining some grants…it took me years of

hitting my head against a brick wall to really get it

Here’s some of my long held beliefs + myths about grants

MYTH # 1“the government is giving out free money”

MYTH # 2“I’ve paid lots of tax. They owe me.”

MYTH # 3“Someone will help me pay

my operational costs”

MYTH # 4“They’re a muli-national with lots of money”

MYTH # 5“My project is important + unique”

BUSTED!

EVERYONE THINKS THEIR PROJECT IS IMPORTANT + UNIQUE.

WHY WOULD SOMEONE PAY TO RUN YOUR BUSINESS?

NO ONE OWES YOU ANYTHING.

THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS FREE MONEY.

A GRANT PROVIDER NEEDS A RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT….

Think of your grant application as an investment prospectus

….with real, measurable outcomes

MOST COMMON REASON A GRANT APPLICATION IS REJECTED?

TOO MANY APPLICATIONS.

NOT ENOUGH MONEY.

YOU NEED TO STAND OUT!

Think of your grant application as a job application

Why are you the best person for the job?

in 2012 a grant provider received

385 requests

383 were rejected

2 were accepted

WHY?

Many were worthy causes, but had a poor fit with the grant provider’s objectives

They didn’t want to hear about someone else’s project, they wanted to know how the project fitted with their needs

MOST IMPORTANT

WHAT DO THEY WANT?

WHAT ARE YOU OFFERING THEM?

NO ONE’S GOING TO PAY FOR YOUR RUNNING COSTS.

THEY MAY ASSIST WITH NEW, INNOVATIVE PROJECTS.

BREAK YOUR PROJECT INTO PHASES WITH MEASURABLE OUTCOMES, TIMING & BUDGETS.

WHERE DO I FIND GRANTS?

....the usual suspects

LOCAL

STATE

FEDERAL

GOVERNMENT

www.teq.com.au/tad (tourism assistance database)

www.grantslink.gov.au

www.ausindustry.gov.au

www.philanthorpy.org.au

www.australia.gov.au

www.rda.gov.au

www.community.grantready.com.au

- Subscribe to e-newsletters. - Local, State & Federal member announcements. - Ask the experts (where did they get their grants from?)

- Search their annual reports/websites.

THERE’S A LOT OF POTENTIAL FUNDING OUT THERE.

DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME AND SCATTERGUN.

FOCUS YOUR GRANT SEARCH.

HINT….ASK YOURSELF THESE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

why where you created?

why do you exist?

understanding why you were created and why you exist helps you focus your grant search and

find new funding sources

EXAMPLE: AUSTRALIAN-ITALIAN FESTIVAL

INGHAM . NORTH QUEENSLAND . AUSTRALIA

WE EXISTED TO

ATTRACT NEW VISITORS, MORE MONEY + CREATE JOBS IN OUR TOWN.

WE TARGETED TOURISM, EVENT, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDING.

EXAMPLE: AUSTRALIAN-ITALIAN FESTIVAL

INGHAM . NORTH QUEENSLAND . AUSTRALIA

WHY WERE WE CREATED?

WHY AN ITALIAN & NOT AN AUSTRALIAN FESTIVAL?

OUR ITALIAN COMMUNITY…. IT’S WHAT MADE US DIFFERENT.

SO WE THEN TARGETTED MULTI-CULTURAL, ITALIAN AND ARTS FUNDING.

WE WERE MORE SUCCESSFUL FOCUSING IN THESE AREAS.

Establish if you are eligible to apply?

Make direct contact with the grant provider. Ask questions. Listen..

QUESTION

Describe in 10 words or less the project you are applying for?

TYPICAL ANSWER

The development of wharf infrastructure for Port Arthur.

ATTENTION GRABING ANSWER

Anchor@Port Arthur. Improving global cruise market access.

Get the concept right……first impressions count!

IS YOUR NEED SHARED BY OTHER PEOPLE?

“Sometimes you need a helicopter view”

COULD YOU APPLY AS A GROUP TO SOLVE A COMMON PROBLEM?

FINALLY, ASK MOST GRANT PROVIDERS WHAT MAKES A GOOD APPLICATION AND HERE’S WHAT THEY SAY…..

What Makes A Good Application?…straight from the horse’s mouth

1. What’s the need?

2. Does it meet our objectives?

3. Can they measure their results?

4. Can they deliver?

THANK YOUTHANK YOU

www.kristahauritz.com.au