GRANT WRITING 101 Arkansas Library Association October 26, 2009 Hot Springs Judith Gibbons
GRANT WRITING 101 “If you want money: ask for advice.” “If you want advice: ask for money.”
GRANT WRITING 101 Goals • Learn the basics of grant writing • Plan to research grants • Make a commitment to write a grant
GRANT WRITING 101 Let’s Talk About Grants!
GRANT WRITING 101 Thinking about grants • Does it support the library mission? • Does it fill a community need? • Can you sustain the program?
GRANT WRITING 101 Who writes grants? • Professional grant writers • Volunteers • You
GRANT WRITING 101 Follow your Strategic Plan, Vision and Mission
GRANT WRITING 101 Think SWOT Analysis • Strengths • Weaknesses • Opportunities • Threats
GRANT WRITING 101 The grant supports • Library goals • Library objectives • Library activities
GRANT WRITING 101 “The more thoroughly you conduct your research, ask smart questions and cultivate foundation contacts, the more your organization will stand out from the crowd.” Andy Robinson
GRANT WRITING 101 Credibility of Library • Leadership • Money Management • Donor Base
GRANT WRITING 101 Potential Funders • Individuals • Government • Business • Foundations • Non-Profit Organizations
GRANT WRITING 101 Arkansas Funders • The Walton Family Foundation • Walmart Foundation • J.E. & L.E. Mabee Foundation
GRANT WRITING 101 Government funders • Grants.gov • Library Service and Technology Act • Arkansas State Government
GRANT WRITING 101 Your research • Match the foundation interest area • Match the foundation guidelines
GRANT WRITING 101 Review • Due date • Technical requirements • Impact on library
GRANT WRITING 101 Letter of inquiry • Introduction of institution • Outline your plan • Talk money • Ask for assistance • Be positive
GRANT WRITING 101 Types of Grants • Block • Capital • Challenge • Matching • Program • Start-up • Technology • Operating
GRANT WRITING 101 Foundation Center • 324,000 grants • 352,000 donors • 3,900 links to grant-makers • 2,200 links to corporate web sites
GRANT WRITING 101 Arkansas Core Collections • Fayetteville Public Library • University of Arkansas – Fort Smith • Central Arkansas Library System • Charles A. Frueauff Foundation • Arkansas State University
GRANT WRITING 101 Partnerships Benefits Versus Deterrents
GRANT WRITING 101 Community Partnerships • Increased resources • More staff/supporters • Heightened visibility
GRANT WRITING 101 Community Partnerships • Common goals • Shared responsibilities • Benefits for community • Open communication
GRANT WRITING 101 Project Name • Traveler • One Book, One City • Finding the Writer Within • Late Bloomers
GRANT WRITING 101 Combine Stories & Data
GRANT WRITING 101 Stories • Transformation of Lives • Improve Communities
GRANT WRITING 101 Data • Realistic • Accurate • Targeted
GRANT WRITING 101 Outline • Who • What • Why • When • Where • How
GRANT WRITING 101 Work SMART • Specific • Measurable • Achievable • Realistic • Time-related
GRANT WRITING 101 Outputs • Your deliverables • Your products
GRANT WRITING 101 Outcomes • Change in behavior, attitude or knowledge • Long-term impact • Benefits
GRANT WRITING 101 Outcomes • Inform • Educate • Engage • Succeed
GRANT WRITING 101 Starting Out • Divide up the application • Research • Brainstorm • Discuss • Outline • Write first draft
GRANT WRITING 101 Write for Real People • No jargon • Create pictures with words • Use explanations • Give examples
GRANT WRITING 101 Preliminaries • Opportunity for draft review • Screening criteria • Opportunities for telephone advice • Chance to view winning applications • Second round possibilities
GRANT WRITING 101 Simplified Proposal • Summary • Need • Solution • Logistics • Evaluation • Sustainability
GRANT WRITING 101 Format • Library letterhead • 12 point type • Inch to inch-and-a-half margins • White or beige paper • Electronic submission
GRANT WRITING 101 Style • Consistent • Correct • Comprehensive
GRANT WRITING 101 Team • Leadership • Coordinators • Stakeholders • Researchers • Writers • Implementation team
GRANT WRITING 101 Collaboration • Set intermediate deadlines • Write separately • Schedule frequent meetings • Circulate one copy of final draft • One individual writes manuscript
GRANT WRITING 101 Checklist • Followed instructions • Included necessary documents • Math and spelling is correct • Secured appropriate signatures • Met the deadline
GRANT WRITING 101 Follow-up • Follow instructions • Track funds • Meet deadlines • Keep funder informed • Express thanks
GRANT WRITING 101 Some Reasons for Rejection • Outside funder priority area • Request doesn’t follow guidelines • Application is poorly written • Weak or non-existent evaluation • Lacks potential for self-sufficiency
GRANT WRITING 101 Other Reasons for Rejection • Similar project recently completed • Old concept • Project too ambitious • Obvious cut and paste job
GRANT WRITING 101 Other Reasons for Rejection • Similar project recently completed • Old concept • Project too ambitious • Obvious cut and paste job
GRANT WRITING 101 “We are going to approach philanthropy with the same lack of reverence we gave to the traditional methods of the retail business when we started out.” Sam Walton
