The recipe to funding community initiatives….

Hello

Angela Morris

Kent ISD Grant Writer

Write large, initiative-level grants for education.

Contact me at 616-365-2273

Is your approach to funding kinda like this?

What Do We Know About Grants?

They are good for some things:•Stuff (like equipment)• Things that stay (like professional development)• Things that get you to sustainability (like capacity building)

They aren’t good for :•Ongoing annual costs•Salary

What is a Grant?

• A mutually-beneficial transaction between the grantor and the grantee!• “Problems” should be seen as opportunities.• Grant funding is not a charity, but rather an investment in the future.

Types of Grants

• Government• Foundation• Corporation

Getting to “yes” when first it was “no”

• Volunteers• Employee Matching Gift• Access to their

Employee Giving Program

• Product Donations• Sponsorships• Cause marketing

Finding the Money

• My Grants Handout• My e-newsletter• Grand Rapids Public

Library• Don’t overlook

awards & contests

Angie’s Tips for Grant Writing

• Start local• Make sure it fits• Document need; have

data• Is your proposal logical?• Create a committee and

use template grants to increase your odds

Other Places to Look for Money

Understanding the tools in your toolbox

Random Acts of KindnessOnline “donate” button

Face-to-face solicitation

As a result of press coverage

Word of mouth

Point of Collection containers or programs

Second collection during an event

What it takes to make this effective. High profile in community and compelling “story” that will resonate with large public.

The Kindness of StrangersPayroll Giving

United Way Campaign designee

Special Collection in a church

Percent donated by business during a designated time

Funds from a club (not by grant process)

What it takes to be effective. Access.

To HonorIn Memoriam

Honoriaum

Gifts

Legacies

Naming Rights

Adopt or Sponsor

Endowments & Bequests (planned giving)

What it takes to be effective. Giving opportunities that include meaningful “products.” Planned giving program in place.

You Get Something; We Get Something

Lotteries, raffles, auctions

Sales – social entrepreneur Merchandise (you get your hands on)Products (you create)Services (you provide)Selling can be sporadic like a garage sale or ongoing like a charity store or on ebay.

Special events as attendee and through sponsorships

Membership fees

Annual Appeal

You want cultivate these one-time donors you have found and convert them into loyal, annual donors.

You can make your appeal by:

Direct mail

Email

Phone

In membership packet

At a special event

Large Gift or Capital Campaign

Once you have a pool of regular donors and other friends who are familiar with your program, you can start to build a database of likely donors that could be approached to support a capital campaign or provide larger gifts.

All board members will play a key role in this very visible and time limited activity.

A capital campaign can include an Endowment Fund that will provide an ongoing source of interest income for the organization.

Understanding Trends in Fundraising

Create Connections

• Volunteer• On an Advisory

Committee• Service learning sites• Offer tours

Radical Retail

• Otherwise known as social enterprise

• Think about what is consistent or would reinforce your organization’s mission

Examples of Radical Retail

• Girl Scout Cookies• Goodwill’s Thrift Stores• Habitat for Humanity’s

ReStores• Museums hold Antique

Roadshow or valuation workshops

• PTAs hold bookfairs

Go Green Recycle:• metal/jewelry• electronics• printer cartridgesSell or Rent:• Halloween costumes• Prom dresses• Sports equipment• Video games/videos

Crowd Sourced

• Rent your space• Mom-to-mom sale• Craft Fair• Health Fair• Green School Vendor

Fair

Expertise to cover Expenses

• Mobile apps include “Gig Finder” and “Urban Art Guide” for travelers

• Family Technology Night• Rent-A-Mentor• Sports Clinic• Local coffee shop holds

classes on how to brew coffee and make espressos and lattes

Selling Service

• Leaf raking and other home services

• Singing-grams• Dog washing as

opposed to car washing

Freedom from other people’s junki.e. make your own products…

• Drop Cards http://www.dropcards.com/home/

• Art Vending http://www.artomat.org/home.html

• Local grown vegetables/herbs

Freedom cont.

• Tours• Worms• Art Stamps

https://www.artstamps.com/

• “Seed bomb” vendinghttp://greenaid.co/pages/Greenaid-Vending-.html

For more help

• Grant Writing Workshops• Fundraising Workshops• E-newsletter• Grant Research• Grant Review• Collaborate on large grants• Contact me 365-2273 or

angelamorris@kentisd.org