Grant-Writing: Effective Strategies and Processes

Learning Objectives

• See grant writing as a holistic process

• Identify and understand processes to facilitate grant writing in your work

• Learn to use outcome-based program design tools, specifically for grant-writing purposes

ICEBREAKER

Context: Funders and Funding

• Economic environment

• Types of funders

• Sector trends

CHALLENGES IN GRANT-WRITINGWhat challenges do you face when writing grants?

Some Challenges We Identified:

• Lack of experience• Framing our message—using funder language• Finding the right ‘fit’• How to present our budget• Where to find funding sources

Funding Sources

Youth-led Funders:• Laidlaw Foundation: www.laidlawfdn.org • Youth Opportunities Fund: http://

www.otf.ca/en/applyForaGrant/Youth-Opportunities-Fund.asp

• United Way Peel Youth in Action: http://www.unitedwaypeel.org/act/youth-programs/youth-in-action-grants

Funding Sources

• Sign up for newslettersArtReach (at bottom of page): http://www.artreachtoronto.ca/about.html Grassroots Youth Collaborative: http://grassrootsyouth.tumblr.com/tagged/about • Imagine Canada: http://

www.imaginecanada.ca/resources-and-tools

STRATEGIES FOR GRANT-WRITING SUCCESS

Finding a Funder Fit

• How do we determine if the funder or funding program is right for us?

Finding a Funder Fit: Some Considerations

Know the funder-mission, values, what they represent-how they make selections

Know the grant program-eligibility criteria-who and what they funded in the past-size of the fund (amount they disburse)-what they fund: project, operations, capital?

Framework: Telling the Story

Ascending Action: Identify the

context, problem, characters…

Climax: Identify and explain the

solution

Descending Action: Identify what has been

learned, suggest follow-up actions

Ascending Action: Building a Case for Funding

Identify the context, problem, characters…

• In the context of grassroots organizations, what do context, problem, characters mean?

– This will also help you identify your funder fit!

Building a Case: Your Identity

Why: your mission/mandate, expertise

Who: ages of leadership and clientele (who are you and who do you serve?)

Where: what part of the world

When: timeframe (remember: funder’s timeframe may be different that you expect)

Building a Case: Your Identity II

What: what do you do

How: what activities, strategies do you use to achieve your mission

Building a Case: The External Situation

Amass evidence: Primary Data• Collect information, feedback, ideas from

youth, community etc…– Embed feedback collection in your work: surveys,

sticky notes, suggestion box, reach out to past clients, colleagues, and other organizations

• Host pilot projects (smaller versions of your idea) and measure success

Building a Case: The External Situation II

Amass evidence: Secondary Data• Review reports and use the data and language to

build your case– Stepping Up: http://

www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/topics/youthopportunities/steppingup/contents.aspx

• Use data and anecdotal explanationSpeak to the HEAD + HEART

Ascending Action: Building a Case for Funding

Using this information, build a rationale:1. Why this work/idea/issue?

2. Why you/your group/your organization?

3. Why now?

Climax: Making Your Ask

Activity: each group will have 10-15 minutes to put together a logic model

-try starting at the end first: what are you trying to achieve? What change do you

want to make?

Problem/Issue

Outcomes: positive impact

or change

ExampleResources Activities Outputs Outcomes

What do you need to do your work?

What are you offering to the community?

How much are you doing? How many people are attending?

What changes are you trying to make in your community?

Making Your Ask: Using a Program Design Tool

• Makes designing your project manageable• Gets everyone on the same page• Write down all the important elements• Gives structure and clarity• Identifies gaps• Refine your idea

Descending Action: Building an Evaluation

• Use your program design tool to build and evaluation

Activity: Using your program design tool, identify how you can measure the outcomes (indicators)

ExampleOutcomes Indicators (Measurements)

What changes are you trying to make in your community?

How can you measure those changes?

Indicators/Measurements

Be able to demonstrate to a funder that you have thought through how you are going to measure your impact

• Want to demonstrate change, which means you may have to collect data at the beginning of your project and throughout

Framework: Telling the Story

Build a case

Make your ask

Demonstrate the impact

Some additional tips…

• Ask someone who doesn’t know your work to review your application– To identify unclear requests– To identify unclear language – To give insight on what resonates with people

(data, stories)

ACTIVITY: USE YOUR LOGIC MODEL TO SHARE A BRIEF OUTLINE OF YOUR PROGRAM—WE WILL SHARE POTENTIAL FUNDERS OR FUNDING PROGRAMS

Want to stay in contact?

Christa Romaldi@C_RoInTOchristaromaldi@hotmail.com

THANK-YOU FOR PARTICIPATING!Please feel free to share your feedback—it’s important to us!