Grant Savvy Books: Grant Writing: Strategies for Developing Winning Government Proposals

Grant Writing: Strategies for Developing

Winning Government Proposals
By Patrick W. Miller

There is no doubt that writing a government proposal takes a different approach than one to a family foundation. A skilled grant writer may struggle when first making the transition from traditional program proposals to government ones. I know this from personal experience.

It is the best of grant writers who can transition effortlessly between the two types of proposal writing. Practice makes perfect.

In Grant Writing: Strategies for Developing Winning Government Proposals, the author discusses in detail the RFP process and creating a budget for government funders. The book includes charts, exercises and planning tools for post submission processes. Revised in September 2008, this new edition includes the most updated information.

Patrick W. Miller and Associates is a Chicago-area business dedicated to providing textbooks and customized workshops and seminars for individuals or organizations interested in grant writing, academic assessment and evaluation, academic writing, research methods, and body language.

Courtesy of Patrick W. Miller and www.pwmilleronline.com.

~Cheers!

Where Does Grant Funding Go?

In a time when we are all competing for dollars that come from a smaller pot, a rejection letter or drop in funding amount is inevitable this year. However, as I have noted previously, foundations are still giving.

Where does the money go?

The easy way to figure this out is to look back at a funders 990s or grants award list, but what about the big bucks?

The Foundation Center does a stellar job of compiling statistics about which organizations receive the most funding. You can look up who received the most funding in your metro area, your state and the trends in subject area for at least the past five years.

Here is a sample listing of the Top 50 Recipients of Foundation Grants in the State of Indiana, circa 2007. Data is available for all fifty states and the District of Columbia.

This is a valuable tool for consultants who work across multiple states and for determining trends in regional giving. There is a wealth of information in the statistics area of their Find Funders section. Check it out!

~Cheers!

Grant Savvy Books: The Foundation

The Foundation: A Great American Secret

By Joel L. Fleishman

Review from Publishers Weekly

"In his first book, law professor and philanthropist Fleishman has created a thoughtful, engrossing, comprehensive guide to the origins, initiatives, successes and failures among the largely unsung 68,000 private foundations in America, which together grant over 32.2 billion tax-exempt dollars per year.

Tracing the history of this distinctly American institution, Fleishman considers the philanthropy of such financial titans as Andrew Carnegie, George Soros, Warren Buffett, Michael Milken and Bill Gates. Fleishman's view of the foundation is distinctly favorable: foundations serve a vital social function by providing seed funding to innovative initiatives, having led to such benefits as the 911 emergency response system, the development of the Pap smear, the alleviation of poverty in Bangladesh and the establishment of Johns Hopkins and Carnegie Mellon Universities.

Fleishman does not hestitate, however, to criticize foundations for arrogance, poor planning, unresponsiveness, waste and irresponsibility, using 12 case studies-Rockefeller's Population Council and the Children's Television Workshop among them-to set the stage for "Some Not So Modest Proposals," most of which involve increasing transparency and accountability. Fleishman's efforts prove an illuminating guide to a little-examined aspect of the American tradition.

Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition."

This book appear to give grant writers and those who work closely with foundations, an opportunity to gain knowledge about the inner-workings of this unique business model from an honest, witty and "tough love" perspective (as others have noted). I look forward to reading Fleishman's work and sharing thoughts with other Savvy readers.

~Cheers!

Proposal Budgeting Basics: Free Training

I've posted several pieces about proposal budgeting during the past few weeks and for those of you who are interested in more than my abridged version, there is a free (yes, FREE) online course hosted by The Foundation Center called Proposal Budgeting Basics.

"This online course is designed to help with the basics of developing a project budget, and it is geared for those who have general knowledge of proposal development. When you complete this course, you will know:

• The basic components of a project budget
  
• Different types of financial documents often required for proposals
  
• How overhead costs and fringe benefits may be incorporated within the budget
  
• How to access resources on the Web, which provide templates of project budgets"

Courtesy of The Foundation Center

It's an informative lesson that provides visuals to support the examples that are discussed. Also included is a section about additional documentation usually required by funders.

For those who are new to the field, The Foundation Center offers several free courses, including a Proposal Writing Short Course and a Proposal Writing Basics webinar.

The webinar is a tool that can be used to train others in your organization about proposal creation. This type of professional development is effective to share with a team of people who aren't famililar with grant writing, but will be part of the proposal process.

~Cheers!

Grant Savvy Books: Seeing Through a Donor's Eyes

Seeing Through A Donor's Eyes:

How to Make a Persuasive Case for Everything from

Your Annual Drive to Your Planned Giving Program

By Tom Ahern

This week's Savvy Book is recommended by The Chronicle of Philanthropy. The book focuses on the importance of writing a strong, persuasive case statement--something that seamlessly transfers into proposal writing.

Tom Ahern will tell you what materials you need, who to talk to and how to write in all down. This is definitely one of the next books to sit on my nightstand!

If any Savvy readers have read this book, please share your thoughts!

Also, if you think you've seen the name Ahern before, you have in a previous posting for Grant Savvy Books.

~Cheers

Charitable Giving Fell Last Year, But...

Guess what? Foundations are still giving money! While it was reported on NPR yesterday that giving did decline in 2008 (really?), it didn't take nearly the nose dive that was expected. Actually, charitable giving reached $300 billion for the second year in a row. How's that for a little motivation to put in your bucket?

Take the time to read and listen to NPR's Morning Edition article:

Charitable Giving Fell Last Year, But Didn't Dive by Pam Fessler.

~Cheers!

Grant Savvy Humor

"Seeking fish until I receive funds for angling lessons"

Credit: Chronicle of Philanthropy

~Cheers!

Creating a Proposal Budget: Part 3

How Much Should I Ask For?

Through experience I have learned that the budget is one of the first things that a funder reads, regardless of it's location in the proposal packet. They like to see a where you are taking them.

Knowing how much to ask for in a proposal has a fairly common-sense answer, but the actual "asking" part requires some finesse.

It's hopefully obvious that when you underestimate your costs, you increase your chance for failure. Likewise, when you overestimate your costs, you decrease your chance of building a dependable reputation with your funder.

So, how much should you ask for? A whole project's worth of funding? Or just a piece of the pie? Well, it depends. (classic fundraising mantra...ohmmm) It's about finding your fit.

• Does your funder like being the only supporter?
• Do they like to have reign over possible naming opportunities?
• Do they want to anchor your partnership?
• Has your potential funder taken on entire projects with other organizations?
• Can you provide your potential funder an opportunity to make a multi-year pledge to fulfill a larger gift?

If the answer is "yes", then you can probably be safe approaching them for full funding. Keep in mind, you need to stay in their giving guidelines and have a solid plan for sustainability after a few years of their support. Don't be foolish to ask for $150,000 when their largest gift in the last five years was $15,000. Remember to do your research.

On the flip side, it is more common to find funders who want to be part of your project, but shy away from being the only major funder. It's less risky to know that a particular foundation won't break your project if they cannot come through with funding.

• Has your potential funder noted that they like collaboration?
• Can you make your potential funder a partner in project development?
• Can you connect your potential funder with others who are supporting you?
• Can you find a way to leverage funding from a company's foundation and corporate marketing budget?

Nine times out of ten, I have a question on the grant proposal that asks if and who is also funding the proposed project. Below is an example taken directly from the Minnesota Common Grant:

Additional funders. List names of corporations and foundations from which you are requesting funds, with dollar amounts, indicating which sources are committed or pending.

Be reasonable in your request. Decide what you need to fund and what can be funded elsewhere. Respect the mission of the foundation/funder and don't take advantage of their ability to fund you. Funders are smart folks, they know how the game is played.

As noted in "The Only Grant Writing Book You'll Ever Need", "...they are looking for a budget that's not too high, not too low, but just right." Goldilocks knows her stuff!

~Cheers

Grant Savvy Books: Giving-How Each of Us Can Change the World

Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World

by Bill Clinton

All political commentary aside, this is a good book to add to your mental library and even your bookshelves. It's a personal account of the global issues related to giving, philanthropy and the evolution of nonprofit organizations.

It includes inspiring stories and background about some of the largest foundations in the world. "Giving" is an easy read and complements any type of technical book you may have read on the subject. Don't let your politics keep you away. I've been in awe, welled up with tears and let out a giggle or two when reading this book.

While it is written from the author's perspective and published before our current economic doom and gloom, it's a brilliant time table for the birth of contemporary philanthropy. It's honest and wise. I recommend it wholeheartedly to my Savvy readers.

~Cheers

Working With a Freelance Grant Writer

I am thrilled to share with you a great article, "Working With a Freelance Grant Writer", from the May/June 2009 issue of AFP's Advancing Philanthropy!

Writer, Sarah S. Perkins, CFRE, puts the work of the freelance grant writer in a positive and realistic light and explains how organizations should take a team approach to including this person. A fantastic article for new grant writers, writers who are venturing into the freelance world and organizatons looking to hire a freelance writer.

"Think of grant writers as any other trade professionals, such as plumbers or electricians. They are experts in their field and can spot problems--and opportunities--much better than someone who does not know the business."

"Good grant writers are like matchmakers--it is their job to know not only the foundations in a particular funding area, but also how to match those foundations to the work of an organization."

Sarah S. Perkins, CFRE

Whether you are working as a freelance writer on contract or as an integrated member of the team, this article is a must-read. Enjoy!

If you would like more information about becoming a member of AFP and receiving your own subscription to Advancing Philanthropy, visit AFP online. It is one of the best investments you can make to support your career in fundraising.

~Cheers!

Grant Savvy Books: The Foundation Center's Guide to Proposal Writing

The Foundation Center's Guide to Proposal Writing, 5th Edition

This guide includes more than forty examples of successful proposals and/or portions of winning proposals to a variety of funders. It is a strong example of what really works, not just the ideas behind grant writing.

According the the Foundation Center's website: Author Jane C. Geever is founder and chairman of the development consulting firm, J.C. Geever, Inc., established in 1975 as the first woman-led fund raising company admitted into membership in the American Association of Fund Raising Counsel (AAFRC). Ms. Geever is a nationally recognized author and lecturer who has created successful proposals to foundations for more than 35 years.

This reading is also recommended in the GPCI Literature Review.

Enjoy!

~Cheers!

Creating a Proposal Budget: Part 2

Budget Narrative

A budget narrative is included with your budget to explain in words what your numbers really mean.

How did you reach your numbers? What is important for the grant funder to understand that your numbers can't fully explain?

Sometimes this document is included on a different page or on the bottom of the budget sheet. It doesn't need to be lengthy, but should be precise and accurate.

It is also a good idea to include an 'introduction' or preface to your budget. Sometimes, this is within the body of the proposal (if called for by the funder's format) or can be at the top of the budget sheet.

Sample excerpt for budget narrative:

'The total cost of running Basic Youth Program is $xx,xxx, and includes personnel costs, nonpersonnel costs, and indirect costs. The full amount is requested from ABC Foundation.

Three YouthOne employees and two consultants are the personnel required for the program. It is estimated that the program director, whose salary is $xx,xxx, will spend 20% of his time in the next year running the program, for a total of $x,xxx.'

The narrative will continue to explain your line items and refer to important points for your funder. Pay attention to any specific questions you need to answer about the budget from your funder's guidelines.

Work closely with your program staff and finance department to get an accurate explanation of how your budget will be spent. Make sure your funder can understand what you are saying and don't assume that they know finance jargon.

Special thanks to Webster's New World Grant Writing Handbook by Sara Deming Wason for the narrative excerpt.

~Cheers!