Grant Writing for Social Impact: Tips for Winning Proposals
Transcript of Grant Writing for Social Impact: Tips for Winning Proposals
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Presenter Dan PraterSenior Managing [email protected]
• Overview of Nonprofit Sector
• Trends in Giving
• Nuts & Bolts of Effective Proposals
What We’ll Talk About
Fees for services/goods,Private sources 47.5%
Fees for services/goods,Gov’t. sources 24.5 %
PrivateContributions
13.3%
Gov’t. grants 8.0 %
Other income 1.9 %Investment income 4.8 %
Nonprofit Sector in Brief 2017, the Urban Institute
Revenue Sources for Nonprofits
Individuals75.6%
source: Giving USA 2019
Which CausesAre Funded?
Religion 29%
Education 14%
Human Services 12%Gifts to
Foundations 12%
Health 10%
Public & Societal Benefit 7%
Arts, Culture 5%
International 5%
Environmental, Animals 5%
To Individuals 2%
Unallocated 2%
source: Giving USA 2019
Independent foundations
Community foundations
Operating foundations
Foundation Giving2018
86,203 grantmaking foundations
$62.8 billion 2015
42% increase 2005–2015
Urban Institute 2018
Foundation Giving2005–2015
COVID-19 Response
Funders are responding to the pandemic by supporting local agencies. Contributions to community/local foundations have increased
https://inrc.law.uiowa.edu/covid-19-nonprofit-resourcesUniversity of Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center:
https://www.desmoinesfoundation.org/Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines
http://iowacounciloffoundations.org/Iowa Council of Foundations (ICoF)
Image: https://www.newsweek.com/why-coronavirus-pandemic-philanthropys-big-moment-1500496
Crisis Giving
COVID-19 Response
$8.3 billion
Image: https://www.newsweek.com/why-coronavirus-pandemic-philanthropys-big-moment-1500496
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation – $50 millionUnited Health – $50 millionPepsiCo Foundation – $45 millionLilly Endowment – $48.5 millionVisa – $70 million Sony Global Relief Fund – $100 millionWilliam Penn Foundation – $11.6 millionJohn S. and James L. Knight Foundation – $10.3 millionBank of America – $10 million
Crisis Giving
COVID-19
Foundations
Major donors
Small donors
Earned revenue
Crisis Giving
https://www.philanthropy.com/article/Nonprofits-That-Rely-on/248945
We have a resource page with some very helpful articles, webinars, & guides to assist you
CARES Act – PPP, EID, tax information, webinars, loan forgiveness, etc.
https://www.bkd.com/covid-19-resource-center
Crisis Resource
Impact investing
Investments into organizations or companies with the goalof generating positive, measurable impact & a financial return
•Health care•Education•Energy, especially clean & renewable energy•Agriculture
https://donortracker.org/insights/impact-investing-missing-link-sustainable-development-finance
Giving Trends
Innovation & Emerging Technologies
Funders have a heightened interest in supporting organizations thatembrace technology to address social & environmental issues
https://donortracker.org/insights/impact-investing-missing-link-sustainable-development-finance
Giving Trends
Racial Equity & Inclusion
Funders are willing to invest into programs that promote equity & inclusion
https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/tools-resources/why-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-matter-nonprofits
Giving Trends
Demographic Shifts– Hispanic, other races increase– Transfer of wealth from Boomers
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Government Involvement– Restrictions, more oversight
Increase in major donor involvement
Philanthropist demands– Donors want more involvement– Demand results– Major donors now impact public policy
Four External Realities
https://thenewipocom.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/seismic-shift.jpg?w=676
More nonprofits are shifting from “serving” to “solving”
Focus is now on solving long-term
problems, not just putting a
bandage on it
Shifting from house building to system-level change through advocacy & long-term projects
Seismic Shift
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcRmpI_9wwvYzA6wseU1ykxqwRME9nacSaysnYKxbbgNyIx7fJ6e&usqp=CAU
Limited Available Resources
Ever-increased Demand for Services
Growing Competition (CSR, L3C)
Nonprofit Reality
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=T7kD%2faeV&id=0398198919AA35B9F554A1C6C1A4C3381A9754C5&thid=OIP.T7kD_aeV7YmLr4fW12ChgwHaE7&mediaurl=https%3a%2f%2fwww.goodleadership.com%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2f2014%2f08%2fstretched-thin.best_.jpg&exph=2704&expw=4064&q=stretched&simid=608014399441209497&ck=F69DAD0CFB10AA97A08E0B5D7F57EA6B&selectedIndex=4&ajaxhist=0
Why submit a grant proposal?
• Money, of course
• Recognition of your organization
• Partnerships with other groups
• Awareness of the problem/issue
Benefits of Proposals
Communityproblem or
issue
NPO formed tosolve/helpproblem
Communityproblem
solved or helped
PublicSupport
Begin with the end in mind
One of the worst things that can happen to an organization is to be funded for a program & that it then discovers it does not have the ability to implement …
Or worse yet, a project that does not meet the need identified
CurrentProblem
FutureCondition
Where to Start
SierraClub
O’Reilly: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcSv1SAGadywy9KgBE5H40EeqbCmQH7VNqkEv_kejfrLBP4jtbHF&usqp=CAU
Walmart: https://www.google.com/search?q=walmart+logo&tbm=isch&chips=q:walmart+logo,g_1:transparent:y-jTnlIZ4Us%3D&rlz=1C1GCEB_enUS888US888&hl=en&ved=2ahUKEwjWkc-Z7vLpAhUGNK0KHTgLANgQ4lYoAHoECAEQFQ&biw=1238&bih=839
Bass Pro: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcTOFONPjhu5ShmxwRhHPhbDomvh8PXB756uqjQWnLeJlvjIA0fl&usqp=CAU
DNR: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcRFUTXFyAt0rI5QMEOxWxxcMae6jKvxEb9By6TdbMs5PslyF082&usqp=CAU
Alignment
Sears: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b1/25/4e/b1254ea8501dac13d80ff9e8443e743e.jpgKum: https://assets1.csnews.com/files/styles/content_sm/s3/2019-11/Kum%20%26%20Go%20Logo_Sm_111919.jpg?itok=h54riH88Barnes: https://fontmeme.com/images/Barnes-Noble-Logo.jpgLowes: https://logodix.com/logo/942260.jpg
Alignment
LiteracyCouncil
1. Cover letter
2. Executive Summary
3. Need Statement
4. Goals
5. Objectives
6. Methods/Strategies
7. Evaluation
8. Sustainability
9. Organizational Background
10. Budget
Major Componentsof a Grant Proposal
Must clearly explain the problem by answering the 5 WsWho is in need?
What is the social condition, issue or need?
Why does this problem exist? (root, not symptom)
Where is it occurring? (certain part of city or region)
When is the need most evident? (summer breaks or after school)
Problem or Needs Statement
Address a need that is local (assuming your goals are not national)
Have a direct connection with your organization’s mission
Be a good match for the grant maker
Be supported by credible information from a variety of sources
Facts & Figures
News Stories
StatisticsExpert Testimonies
ExamplesStudies
Problem or Needs Statement
An objective is a step toward the goal; something you will need to do to reach the goal …
– 75% of low-income children increase their school attendance in one year– 85% of first-time parents can read & will have appropriate books in their
home within a year– All students in kindergarten that are diagnosed with asthma will decrease
incidents of severe attacks by 15% in first quarter of school year
Where goals are broad, objectives are specific
Objectives
Goals are statements of the ultimate outcome or purpose of the program … a “hoped for” state of change
– Eliminate child abuse
– Prevent teen drug use
Goals are broad, a general direction or aim
The goals must be tied in directly to the need or problem statement
Goals
GOALS OBJECTIVES
Long Term Short Term
Cannot Be Measured
Can Be Measured
Generic Specific
Broad Narrow
Specific – Use exact language & quantifiable numbers in describing what you will accomplish
Measurable – Precisely what changed? To what degree?
Attainable – Make sure you can actually do it
Relevant – Does the idea still work today? For this demographic?
Timely – Provide a time frame in which you will meet your objectives
SMART
Objectives
1. Based on the Problem statement, what is (are) the key area(s) your organization is seeking to change?
2. Who (segment of population) will be involved in the change?
3. To what degree are you seeking to change (# or %)?
4. When will this change take place?
Objectives should answer four basic questions
Objectives
GOAL
METHODS STRATEGIES
METHODS STRATEGIES
METHODS STRATEGIES
METHODS STRATEGIES
METHODS STRATEGIES
METHODS STRATEGIES
1. What steps/actions need to occur to meet the objectives?2. Who will be responsible for this?3. What are the start/end dates4. What resources are needed?
OBJECTIVE OBJECTIVE OBJECTIVE
Methods
Objective J F M A M J J A S O N D#1 – Recruit & Train 100 new child advocatesDevelop new Print & Broadcast materials X XConduct Speaker’s Training X X X XSend “ask” letter to groups X XWrite Press Releases & editorials X X X X X X X X X X XTutoring Begins X XSet up Display booth at area shows X X X X X X X XConduct Child Advocate Training X X X X X X
Evaluation Report X X X
Timeline
Was the program a success?
Did we accomplish what we promised?
What was the clear change or impact on the problem/need we identified?
What didn’t work as we thought? What adjustments did we have to make?
The “Objectives” represent the promise
The “Evaluation” provides evidence the promise was fulfilled
Evaluation
Objective Person(s) Measure
June 2020 teachers will implement & deliver new course materials, then test for student learning
Project Director 1. Distribute/collect surveys to collect responses & degree of change
2. Give pre- & post-test in class3. Follow-up individually with each
student to determine next step
1. Determine what you want/need to prove (look at earlier sections)
2. Create questions & measurable outcomes
3. Determine who you need to evaluate or monitor
4. Develop methods to gain this information (quantitative & qualitative)
Evaluation
Inputs (Resources)
Activities Output Short-termoutcomes
Long-termoutcomes
UltimateImpact
In order to accomplish our set of activities
we will need these resources
What we do with resources;
activities that deliver outputs
Who we reach & how they
participate:Servicesdelivered,
workshops & trainings,
documents & publications
We expect that if completed or ongoing these activities will lead to the following changes
immediately to 1 year
We expect that if completed or ongoing these activities will lead to the following
changes in 4–6 years
We expect that if completed these
activities will lead to the following
changes in7–10 years
Two Pillars of Outcome MeasurementLogic Model & a Theory of Change
Be Clear About Your Work
Theoryof
Change
Identify your ultimate, long-term goal (Vision)
IF then IF then IF then IF then IF then
Paint a picture of how change occursShow pathways to success
Goal
Objectives
Methods
Objectives Objectives
Methods Methods
Methods Methods Methods
Methods Methods Methods
Budget
What we want to
do
How wewill do it
Money it will take to do it
The budget translates the
“methods” section into
dollars
1.
2.
3.
Direct Personnel (with benefits)TravelEquipmentSupplies
Indirect AKA “Administrative” or “overhead” costs
Executive Director’s salary (%)Building costsInsuranceUtilitiesOther services
Listed as “indirect” if Ex. Director is not significant part of program, other than to provide occasional support
Types of Project Costs
A simple formula: take on average, 15% of your total funding source revenue & budget that amount for indirect cost
Most federal grants have a special format & the indirect rate established is adjusted & reviewed annually by a special federal department
How Much Can We Keep to Cover “Overhead” Costs?
Justification or Budget NarrativeProvide a rationale for your expenses, how you arrived at this figure
Salaries, supplies, etc. all need to show a quantity, cost per unit, & show how each ties into a specific method or activity you plan to carry out
1. Capture Attention & Imagination
Make sure your application stands out by focusing on developing a succinct & powerful description of the problem, model, & impact
https://www.123rf.com/photo_18976380_glowing-yellow-light-bulb.html
Summary
2. There is no magic formula
Grant writing rules can help, but not all will work in every setting
https://depositphotos.com/vector-images/magic-wand.html
Summary
3. Relationships matter
The more they know & trust you, the better chance you have of receiving support
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcT8vaXauKomH2pdoNg-wTSJyB--SJ7tEGgOdU-wNM9Ru3jYMAhJ&usqp=CAU
Summary
4. Develop a Seamless Proposal
Everything must connect & support
NO MISTAKES! Proof three times, let others proof
Summary
Follow the guidelines – little things make a BIG difference
Emotion is good, but logic is better
Be clear & concise, avoid industry jargon & don’t try to write a novel
Taylor fit your proposal – one size does not fit all
Summary
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