Non Profit Grant Blog

By Robert P. Stewart

As a non-profit grant consultant, I’m often asked, “What is your success rate?” People want to know my ratio of grant proposals submitted to grants funded – either by number submitted or by total amount requested. It’s a natural to want to gauge a grant writer’s success, but this question really doesn’t get at the information needed to assess a grant consultant’s performance.

It’s also tempting to ask how much money has been secured. For one client, my consulting company wrote grant applications to local foundations in the first half of 2008 that resulted in definite commitments of over $2.5 million. Grant requests prepared in the same period for a second client resulted in over $1 million in commitments from local foundations. For another seeking grants for the first time, so far $60,000 has been committed. Of the eight grants received by Dallas area organizations between 2001-2007 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I prepared all aspects of four of the successful grant applications, for a total of $7.62 million in funding – 64.4% of all SAMHSA funding in Dallas during these years. Between January and May 2008, we prepared four Federal grant requests ranging in size from $1.2 million to $9 million over the grant period.

So yes, we’ve been able to help a number of organizations secure large grants. However, appropriately addressing the “success rate” question requires a more comprehensive response. Grant funding is highly competitive. “Success” in obtaining a grant is a function of the degree to which a grant request matches the particular interests and objectives of a particular foundation at a particular point in time. The persuasiveness of the fit is much more important than the language and attractiveness of the grant application.

But the definition of grant funding success is not the same for all non-profits. The mission or purpose of some organizations is simply more compelling to the public and to funders. The focus of interests of a foundation may shift significantly over time and even from one year to the next. So the more fundamental question to ask would be, “Is the non-profit organization attuned to the funding interests of foundations and is it developing its grant pursuit plan accordingly?”

Success must be defined for each organization individually, in part by considering how appealing its organizational mission is by current public or foundation standards. More importantly, success is measured by whether or not the organization is building relationships and program credibility with funders and achieving incremental increases in grant funding revenues. Since we do not charge by the foundation grant application or by the hour, the rate (ratio of funding to requests submitted) is almost irrelevant; increased funding and relationship building is the true measure of success.

There are eight key indicators in achieving success in this more robust sense:

1. Timing, Fit, and Public Interest – Because timing, fit and public interest profoundly influence foundation response, the organization must stay abreast of trends and adjust its grant funding strategies and approaches accordingly.

2. Annual Review – The grant pursuit strategy should include annual identification and review of the complete set of prospective corporate and private foundations, emphasizing discovery of new foundations and increasing the scope of grant pursuit.

3. Advance Contact – When feasible, advance personal contact with foundation staff helps to determine degree of interest in the particular funding need, improve the targeting of the grant request, and enhance receptivity to the application.

4. Existing Relationships – It is important to maximize existing personal relationships between the organization’s staff or Board members and foundation staff or Trustees. Such relationships can pave the way for informal contacts in support of the request.

5. Request the Right Amount – Determining just the right dollar amount for the “ask” is important: most non-profits underestimate how much they should request. Foundations never give more than you request.

6. Continuous Improvement – Evidence of ongoing efforts to improve program effectiveness, particularly as demonstrated by objective outcomes, is indispensable for program credibility and fundability.

7. Staff Visibility – Visibility of key organization staff in the community builds recognition.

8. Compelling, Clear Case – The grant request must be written with clarity, in the format required by the foundation, and make a compelling case that sets the application apart from that of others competing for scarce grant funds.

So the next time you want to ask a grant writer the question, “what is your success rate?” resist the temptation and instead ask, “can you give me an example of how you have helped an organization develop and pursue a grant funding plan attuned to foundation funding interests?” The answer will reveal whether the grant writer just writes grant proposals or helps organizations realize their grant funding potential.

Robert P. Stewart is President of Community Service Builders in Dallas, Texas. Community Service Builders enhances the capacity of non-profit organizations to serve the community through strategic grant pursuit planning and management utilizing the FunderFitTM grant research database and expert grant writing services. Bob can be reached at rstewart@communityservicebuilders.com Please visit the website at http://communityservicebuilders.com

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Technorati Tags: grant proposals, Grants, Non-profit organization, Philanthropy, Writer, writing

Mostly on-the-job.

Let’s start by assuming that you have good writing skills, the capacity to think logically, a bit of ability at persuasion, and proper business comportment. Those are your initial qualifications.

Successful grant-writing involves knowing who offers grants for your client, then approaching those grant sources to ask for guidelines for applicants, and finally following those guidelines to the letter. Establishing yourself as a successful grant-writer, networking with the officers in charge of grant approval, and knowing specific ‘buzz words’ that can enhance your application’s chances are advanced skills.

There are grant-writing workshops out there, if you want to pay for one. I would not bother with seeking out specific college degrees–grant-writing is a field where your success rate is all that matters.

To get started, I’d suggest contacting local charities that you like, and asking them if you can volunteer to help with grant-writing. Eventually one will hook you up with whoever they currently employ, and you can start to learn the ropes and hone your skills there. After you get credit for helping with some successful grants for several charities, you can start to consider volunteering to be the lead grant-writer on some applications. Once you have a solid record of success, you are ready to start applying for paying jobs.

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Technorati Tags: Charitable organization, Grant, grant training, Philanthropy, Skill, Volunteer, Writer

By Kim Rogers

Copywriting and internet marketing techniques work hand in hand to create a quick, intense, straight to the point document to stir the reader to action with as few un-necessary words as possible, and in the shortest amount of time.

A person marketing a product or service on the Internet realizes they have about three and a half seconds to get and keep your attention before you click off their site, maybe even forever!

Since capturing your attention is the paramount first step to keeping your attention, copy writers are worth their weight in gold.

What do they know about getting money that you don’t?

1. How to get to the point Right Away!

The longer you’ve worked for the government, the more times you should underline this sentence! I knew I’d worked for the government too long when I realized I could understand, read, and write, “bureau-babble” fluently. I’d become part of the “Establishment”. Remember when you were in high school and you vowed never to become part of the Establishment . . .

When you’ve gotten your proposal to the point where you’re reviewing the almost final draft, edit out at least 20% of the words! That’s Right. We as bureaucrats tend to over-write a subject sometimes. This exercise will eliminate un-necessary vocabulary, and force you to make a valid point, or eliminate the excessive sentence altogether.

2. Define your project and its predominant benefits

Refine it and refine it until it can be expressed in twenty words or less, and presented in about thirty seconds!

3. How to create more projects with less effort and increase program dollars

Ninety-nine per cent (99%) of the grants written today are written because we have an idea or project, and we’re looking for money. We look for funds for an existing project or idea, instead of finding a pool of available money first, and then creating a project around it. In essence, we cut our own funding opportunities by 50% because we lack creativity. It’s a whole lot easier creating a project for money that begs to be given away!

4. How to get Publicity!

Get your name, your department, or your company out there in the public eye as often as possible! Write and submit articles, reviews, opinions, and the occasional “blurb” in newsletters, trade publications, and other magazines pertaining to your specific field.

Writing on a regular basis will refine your communication skills, present your vision and project ideas to a like-minded community, and establish you as an expert in your field, so that your names becomes recognized, and your reputation precedes you.

When your name then appears in connection with a grant application, it will be recognized and respected. As quiet as its kept, funders will want to fund your project because it will be like funding a celebrity.

5. Your USP (Unique Selling Position) – Know what it means, and know what it is!

Your USP is your “unique selling position;” that thing which makes you different, better, and worth funding! This is that definition that you’ve refined (#2), and can present in twenty words or less, and thirty seconds or less, because you never know when you will have the opportunity to do so. If you’re smart, you’ll be prepared.

6. Do you have a “Killer App”?

A “killer app” is defined by the Tech community as a “product or service that changes the method of delivery,” like WORD Perfect. When Bill Gates developed WORD Perfect and made it available for all computer applications, he created a killer app.

Even though this is a description of a killer (tech) app, a killer app can be developed in any area there’s a need for a better solution to a problem that effects a specific group or community, provided it’s a solution that will set a precedent for future solutions.

7. Why you should Write Your Own Copy!

Why pay for something you can do yourself? No one can sell you ideas or proposals the way you can if you truly believe in your product or service.

Furthermore, I don’t know about you, but I’ve always been offended paying consultants to write proposals created with information they’ve gleaned from my staff. I’ve never understood why companies and organizations subsidize consultants to produce work with their existing staff that they’re paying a salary to already.

Also, consultants swap secrets and shop talk, so if you have a project that going to be funded on creativity or originality, it’s in your own best interest to write it yourself.

Lastly, consultants have no vested interest in your project. They get paid whether your project gets funded or not.

8. Change your titles and sub-titles into HEADLINES!

Everywhere you have a title, sub-title, heading, sub-heading, write a headline that calls attention to some benefit being provided by your proposal.

Just a hint here, brainstorm 20 or so headlines on a separate sheet of paper covering every benefit you can think of. Some of them you’ll use, and some you won’t, but plug them in wherever you get a change. A basic headline formula is this one:

Greatest Problem x Greatest Benefit

9. Write in an “Over 40″ Font!

If you’re not 40 yet, just take my advice here; if you know someone over 40 whose job it is to read and write for a living, get a second opinion if you like. Nevertheless, submit your proposal in fonts sized 11 or larger. Omit all the pretty scroll and cursives!

Ariel, Tahoma, Verdana, good ole’ Times New Roman – just make sure it can be comfortably read!

About the Author

She has over 25 years experience working for serveral branches of the government.

Her passion however is sales and marketing of which she has over 20 years experience.

You may visit her websites at the following url’s:

www.KimRogersOnline.com www.101TheKRCoChristianPublishers.com www.SoundSmarterNow.com

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Technorati Tags: non profit grant, Proposal, Writer