| 7712 Grant and Proposal Writing | ||||||
| Syllabus | ||||||
The focus of the course is the process of researching, planning, and writing
grant proposals. Essentially you have a semester long project that I have
separated into steps. The first step is to identify an organization that you
will write a grant for and to research that organization. The organization
may be a not-for-profit organization or a government agency. Remember that
federal grants are more involved and detailed than those from private funding
sources.
You can use several research methods to gain information: library, internet, local office of the organization, interviews with volunteers or employees and supervisors, your own experiences, and observation. If you are choosing an organization that you have not had much contact with, please visit the offices or center and look and listen to what activities are taking place.
Questions to guide your research:
What is the mission or goals of the organization?
What role does the organization play in the community? Whom do they serve (audience/client)?
How is the business or group organized? Who has decision making powers?
What roles do the various individuals play? How are those roles defined?
What is the culture of the organization? How do people operate within the culture; what is the atmosphere, environment of the office or center, etc.?
What projects are going on now?
What projects does the organization have planned for the future? Which are long term and which short term?
Ideally, what project or program would most benefit the organization and its clients/employees, etc.?
What additional projects would you see a value in?
What grants has the organization received? What projects or programs were funded? Is there a possibility of additional funding from the same source?
These questions should give you a place to start. I would expect you to
come up with additional questions based on the answers you get to your initial
questions. Some of these questions may not be appropriate to your organization,
but others might. Be sure you learn:
name of organization, location
description of group and its mission, goals, etc.
audience/clients
its organization (president or leader, other levels of management, etc.
(you might include a flow chart)
current programs, projects;
culture of the office/center;
place in community and any other information appropriate to the organization
During this session you will write several informal reports to let the instructor
know your progress on the grant application.
Format: Use a memo format. These reports will be 1-2 pp. Please remember that ALL documents should have an introduction and conclusion! As you write these reports, take into consideration all activities necessary to complete the grant application.
Each of the tasks I have asked you to complete (the specific project,
seeking funding sources, etc.) should be reported on in detail. For example,
progress report #1 will discuss organizations you are interested in and the
one you have chosen, and #2 will discuss the project you are seeking funding
for. I encourage you to discuss problems you are having; others may have
the same problems and together perhaps we can find a solution.
Body of the report should include:
Information required: see below for required information
for each progress report.
Work you have completed
Work you have remaining (be specific; this is NOT simply
a list of class assignments and deadlines.)
The following topics are as the focus of the various reports.
Progress report 1: organization you
have decided to work with, or choices you have
Progress report 2: description of specific project, rationale--why would
a funding agency
be interested--and keywords you can use to research for
funding
Progress report 3: research on funding, list of 15
completed, short list of agencies, and rationale. How do these fit your project
and how does your
project fit the agencies' funding requirements.
Progress report 4: agency chosen, what the grant application looks like,
budgeting and
schedule
Progress report 5: describe your progress toward drafting the letter proposal
or project description and rationale sections of the application
The sample progress reports are provided to show you ONLY the proper format,
style and tone of the progress report. These samples were written in conjunction
with other reports, therefore the subject material of your reports will differ
somewhat.
Sample progress report A (not available)
Sample progress report B (not available)
What if you aren't ready to write about a specific topic when the progress
report is due? For example, what if you haven't made a decision about
the organization when progress report #1 is due?
In this case, you should write the progress report, explain that the inforamtion
is not available, and discuss what you have accomplished. Then in progress
report #2, you can write about both the organization and the specific project.
But this also means you are starting late and you may not have adequate time
to write a proper proposal.
Time and project management are key issues for this class. Make that your
mantra.
Project management is important! Use time wisely! Meet deadlines!
The next step in our grant writing process is to decide which project to
focus on for grant funding. Please note that funding agencies generally want
to fund a SPECIFIC PROJECT, not a staff member or the organization in general.
Some agencies will fund specific equipment purchases, such as technology.
Now that you have researched the organization, you need to look specifically at the projects that they are interested in funding. You should look closely at the goals and objectives or mission of the agency and match these goals with a project or program. (Obviously, the next step will be finding the funding sources to match the project.)
Determine the best project. Once you have "brainstorm"ed the various projects, determine the specific one for grant funding.
A WORD TO THE WISE: I cannot stress enough the importance of having a specific project outlined. Most funding agencies are not in the business of funding office staff or building facilities. They want to know that the monies they spend will meet a specific need. You can incorporate money for a project director position into the budget, for example, but you probably will not be funded if you ask only for money for an executive director's salary. "Bricks and mortar" grants are available, but they are less common. If you really need support for building or renovation, you'll have to look for historic preservation grants and others types of grants that are directed to spending money in this manner.
In other words, read the information about the funding agencies carefully.
Make certain your project meets an agency's priorities.
The next step in our grant writing process is to find grant sources appropriate
to the project.
You will search to find 15 appropriate funding sources. "Appropriate" means that the criteria for evaluating the application fits your project, i.e. if the granting agency funds programs addressing health and safety issues, then make certain your program fits that requirement. This means you must read carefully what the books and/or web sites say about the granting agency. Check out the Foundation Center http://fdncenter.org/ and there is a list of websites at the back of the text. This resource, available by subscription, does have a limited 7-day trial--access only when ready to do serious searching--http://www.grantselect.com/.
identify 15 possible sources for grant monies
identify 5 possible sources that are appropriate
for your project
identify and justify the grant that you will apply
for (be sure this grant is named in each of the previous lists).
Write a draft of a letter proposal or project description and rationale
(depends on type of application.). You may send it to me and to your reviewers
(which I will assign) via email or provide a hard copy. Attach a cover memo
for the reviewers that provides an overview of the grant application (audience,
requirements, etc.).
For letter proposals, follow the model in Chapter 5 of the Miner text. This chapter includes a step-by-step process of researching, planning, and writing the letter.
Also check the OSP website for additional help with budget preparation. Remember: budgets and schedules for federal grants are generally more detailed and extensive than those for private funds. Ask for help.
Each draft application will have 3 reviews: 2 peer reviewers (from the class), and instructor or another outside reviewer. You may also ask an individual from the organization to do a review (please notify me with that information).
Peer review: you will review the grant applications of 2 of your classmates
and make suggestions for improving, strengthening, and revising the grant.
Send your comments to the writer and a copy to the instructor. Consider appropriateness
of the project and amount to the agency, quality and specificity of
the content, persuasiveness, and tone and style of the proposal. Use the
guidelines for writing the letter proposal in chapter 5 to help you evaluate
the applications.
When writing the final version, consider the comments made by your reviewers
and incorporate their suggestions as you choose. Follow the instructions
on the grant application. If the arrangement or order of the proposal's content
differs from what is suggested in Chapter 5, defer to the funding agency's
order. You may have to do some additional research or make further contact
with the funding agency. Feel free to contact me for additional help.
Due December 7
Last revised: 8.23.05