Developing a strong grants program
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The document provides guidance on developing a strong grants program, focusing on knowledge-based grant seeking and the integration of technology in grant writing. It highlights the importance of building compelling grant requests, utilizing reliable data, and fostering collaboration among organizations to enhance funding opportunities. Additionally, it introduces resources from GrantStation and Blackbaud to assist in grant research and proposal writing.
Developing a strong grants program
- 1. Developing a Strong Grants Program Tips, Trends, and Two Very Good Tools Cynthia M. Adams, CEO, Grantstation Jeffrey A. Sobers, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Blackbaud Financial Solutions
- 2. AGENDA Knowledge-based Grant Seeking Grant writing: Blending Trends Into Your Proposal How GrantStation and Blackbaud Can Help You
- 3. AGENDA Knowledge-based Grant Seeking Grant writing: Blending Trends Into Your Proposal How GrantStation and Blackbaud Can Help You
- 4. AGENDA Knowledge-based Grant Seeking Grant writing: Blending Trends Into Your Proposal How GrantStation and Blackbaud Can Help You
- 5. LEARNING OBJECTIVES 1. Build Leading Edge Grant Requests 2. Capture the Grantmaker’s Attention 3. Discover New Work Tools 5
- 7. TECHNOLOGY TRENDS Like all technology, social media is neutral but is best put to work in the service of building a better world. - Simon Mainwaring Social media – be it Facebook, blogs, Twitter, RSS feeds, You Tube or the multitude of other information sharing methods are a key element in doing research today!
- 8. TECHNOLOGY TRENDS New Music USA’s project grants will help our funded artists to promote themselves, and help us to promote all the projects we fund. Instead of filling out a grant application, you’ll create a simple project page on this site with all of your work samples and project information. Pages will remain invisible to the public through the course of the review and decision process. If your project is awarded, we will make your project page public on our website. Once that happens, you’ll be able to post updates as your project unfolds.
- 9. TECHNOLOGY TRENDS Someone who knows technology is now participating in the review process.
- 10. ATTITUDE Today we think of scale = big Tomorrow we will think Of scale = networked “. . . you can form consortiums and apply for grants as it is more attractive to go after these funds as a group. I have formed consortia as small as two districts and as large as 21 school districts. It works!” - Jane Erickson DEVO Consultants 10 /Detroit
- 12. ATTITUDE Integrate this thinking into your request The outcome of your project or program becomes a community asset.
- 13. ATTITUDE “Philanthropy is reinventing itself . . . to be bolder and more investment oriented.” Nancy Roob, President & CEO Edna McConnell Clark Foundation Evidence building is key! 13
- 14. DATA Markets for Good Financial SCAN Connect, align and accelerate Used by organizations & grantmakers. Up & running! PerformWell Strategy Landscape Identify & share common metrics. Up & successfully running! Mainly used by grantmakers. Still in development
- 15. DATA TIP You can become an expert at observing and illuminating what is happening in your community and learn to effectively share that information with grantmakers. Find the data Interrogate the data Visualize and “mash up” the data
- 16. AGENDA Knowledge-based Grant Seeking Grant writing: Blending Trends Into Your Proposal How GrantStation and Blackbaud Can Help You
- 17. DEFINING THE NEED Data will dictate what your next steps should be. Current conclusions will be examined allowing you to explore new solutions. Using reliable data speaks to your credibility, and the credibility of your proposal. If you survey stakeholders, b e sure to include at least one open ended question to unearth new issues.
- 18. DEFINING THE NEED This problem is just growing worse. We need support today. Data must be objective & compelling Your goal is to reach agreement that this is a true need. Is this need something we must address immediately?
- 19. DEFINING THE NEED Cast a wide data collection net Look at both internal and external data Run that data through a sieve Your statement of need is objective. Your project is the right response.
- 20. DEFINING THE NEED Get to know your data sources! Find good resources that deliver excellent data – and use them regularly. Consistency of use instills confidence in your writing. There are a number of high quality, peerreviewed subject directories on line.
- 21. DEFINING THE NEED INFOMINE is a comprehensive virtual library and reference tool for academic and scholarly Internet resources, including Web sites, databases Searchable by Author, Title, Key Word, Subject, and many other areas. INFOMINE offers an email alert service so if new data arrives you’ll be the first to know.
- 22. DEFINING THE NEED Stateline is an editorially independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit news service of the Pew Charitable Trusts that provides daily reporting and analysis on trends in state policy. Searchable by state, issue, and date. Stateline offers an RSS feed so you’re always getting the latest news coverage.
- 23. Find several resources that speak directly to your work. Use this data with the data development tools already discussed. DEFINING THE NEED Archives and distributes child abuse data sets to researchers.
- 24. GENERATING A SENSE OF URGENCY You can incorporate one or more of these approaches. Discontent with the status quo Urgency of opportunity Every delay causes harm 24
- 25. GENERATING A SENSE OF URGENCY year the Jennifer Perkins Literacy Project Every Discontent with status quo Every delay causes harm works with hundreds of young people, ages 17 to 23, and their families in the inner city to promote literacy and the pursuit of knowledge. Every month we graduate several dozen young adults from this program – moving them into jobs throughout the community where recruitment of good workers continues to be a challenge for local employers. Every week the Literacy Project turns away 9 to 15 youth and their families who have asked for our help because we don’t have the staff to open our doors any wider. Every day is a challenge for the employers in our community who struggle to find welleducated workers to help build their businesses.
- 26. GENERATING A SENSE OF URGENCY Be selective in your use of writing techniques Scarcity of product or service Note genuine deadlines or emergencies 26 Establish a window of opportunity
- 27. AGENDA Knowledge-based Grant Seeking Grant writing: Blending Trends Into Your Proposal How GrantStation and Blackbaud Can Help You
- 28. APPLY A CONSISTENT RESEARCH METHOD Six specific, easy to do steps Look for government & private sources Review background materials Determine questions Create a script Unlock the door to the right grant makers Contact funder Build strategy
- 29. APPLY A CONSISTENT RESEARCH METHOD Check out all government funding Federal State Local government(s) Research private grantmakers Foundations (regional, national, global) Family Trusts, Community Foundations Corporations (local business, regional, national, global) Religious grantmakers (cross denominations) Associations and clubs (local, statewide, national)
- 30. APPLY A CONSISTENT RESEARCH METHOD Review and eliminate First Cut Deadline date(s) Average grant award Geographic focus Areas of interest Types of support Second Cut Who have they given to in the past year? Have they funded a project similar to ours? Develop questions • Can they share with you the review process? • Should the proposal be written for reviewers with technical or non-technical backgrounds? • As a first time applicant, should you ask for a less amount then average? • Can they tell you the probable award announcement date? • Are there unannounced programs or unsolicited funds available to support your project?
- 31. APPLY A CONSISTENT RESEARCH METHOD Create a script Engage the grantmaker Let the funder know, right up front, that you have done your homework Contact via email or phone Don’t go off script! Don't ask questions that are already answered in their published materials. Do introduce yourself, your role, and one or two sentences about your organization. Don’t give them a lot of information about your organization or project at this juncture. If you are writing an email, make it short and easy for them to answer specific questions. If you are calling, tell them exactly how much time you need (5 minutes, 10 minutes, etc.) and stick to it.
- 32. Here’s what we offer to help you in your good work! Comprehensive, searc hable databases of private and public sector funding in the U.S. and throughout the world. On-going, on-line education to help in every aspect of grants research, grant writing, and grants management. GrantStation is a terrific "one-stop" for comprehensive information about grant opportunities... Federal, State and Foundation. I have found it to be a better resource than any of the other "directories." Dr. Mary C. Hoke Non-Profit Administrator and University Faculty Jewish Family & Children’s Service St. Louis, MO 32
- 34. ABOUT BLACKBAUD Serving the nonprofit and education sectors for 30 years, Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB) combines technology and expertise to help organizations achieve their missions. Blackbaud works with more than 28,000 customers in over 60 countries that support higher education, healthcare, human services, arts and culture, faith, the environment, independent K-12 education, animal welfare, and other charitable causes. The company offers a full spectrum of cloud-based and on-premise software solutions and related services for organizations of all sizes including: fundraising, eMarketing, social media, advocacy, constituent relationship management (CRM), analytics, financial management, and vertical-specific solutions. Using Blackbaud technology, these organizations raise more than $100 billion each year. Recognized as a top company by Forbes, InformationWeek, and Software Magazine and honored by Best Places to Work, Blackbaud is headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, and has operations in the United States, Australia, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
- 36. The #1 reason you lose your funding is inefficiency
- 37. What should you do about it? 37
- 38. THE FINANCIAL EDGE FOR GRANT FUNDED ORGANIZATIONS 38
- 39. CYNTHIA ADAMS cadams@grantstation.com @GrantsCEO For more information, resources, and conversations, visit: GrantStation.com
- 40. JEFF SOBERS Jeff.Sobers@blackbaud.com @jeffsobers For more information, resources, and conversations, visit: npEngage.com Blackbaud.com/fund-accounting/financial-edge
- 41. Save the Date! October 6 – 8, 2014, Gaylord Nashville, TN