Grant Writing for small college and con ed

Grant Writing Grant Writing Strategies forStrategies for

Con Ed Con Ed

Trenton Hightower Virginia Community College System

NCCET 2010

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• Polling questions will be displayed on your screen throughout today’s presentation.

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• A link to the webinar will be available within the next 24 hours on Augusoft’s website.

Grant Partners

College Grant Writers

Land Grant Writers

RFP Grant Writing

Gather Your Team

• Make it easy for your team to participate Everyone gets the RFP Personalize each copy

• Create a work plan Benchmarks, internal deadlines,

check in points, and tasks Be aware of demands on team

members’ time Pad deadlines for staff who

procrastinate

• Grant Planning Committee• Determine membership,

purpose, and guidelines

Poll Question 1

#@$%^ ZONK ^%$#1,000,000,000

• Grants for Green DOE• Grants for Jobs DOL• Grants for Manufacturing ARRA• Grants for Technology

• Ford• Gates• NSF

Local Grant Writers Prep List• The Five Key Criteria

Areas of interest Geographic limitation Do they accept

“unsolicited” proposals? Range of grants made How much WIFTC

• Be prepared to do some writing

Grant Prep

Project Overview Worksheet Project Overview Need for Project Research Sources Amount Needed Special Circumstances Evaluation Methods Grant Match Rubric Develop a needs statement

Hone Your Writing Skills• Find your voice

Be clear, brief, supply the information requested

Extraneous information uses space that you need

Watch for emotional language, marketing messages, sound bites

Use expository writing Appropriate use of client stories

• Make your words work Choose powerful, active words Use active voice

• Write for your reader Recognize and avoid jargon Look for assumptions

Statistical Data Are Needed To: Help prove your need for the project,

particularly in your locale; Help refine the approach to the

need; Document the degree to which your

organization has previously been successful;

Illustrate that you know what is going on locally and nationally

***Funders will want sufficient data included, to answer questions which any sensible reviewer will ask, but they don’t want to be bombarded

with pages of charts and graphs***

Poll Question 2

Web Site Ideas

http://www.ncs.urban.orghttp://www.info.gov

http://www.fedstats.gov http://www.census.gov http://www.fedstats.gov

Sources of Data

Local & State Economic Development

Professional or Trade AssociationsUse the LibraryElected Officials

The Virginia Model

Virginia Tech

Local Workforce Development

Virginia Community College

The Virginia Model

Pathways out of Poverty 4M

ARRA 3.8M

DOL 2M

Two Planning MeetingsTwo Virtual Meetings

CC VT

Business Partners

Application Meeting

AgendaBenchmarks

Internal deadlinesCheck-in points

RolesTasks

Everyone gets the RFP Personalize each copy

RFP Your Grant Writers Model

Advertise Interview (3 months)

$2000 for small grants$3500 for mid sized grants$6000 for large grants

ApprovedYou can offer them bonus!

Poll Question 3

Basic Parts of a Proposal

Needs Assessment - a concise demonstration of the specific situation, opportunity, problem, issue, need, and the community your proposal addresses;

Program Goals and Objectives - a succinct description of the proposed project/program's outcome and accomplishments in measurable terms, and how it matches the funder's interests;

Methodology - a rational, direct, chronological description of the proposed project and the process used to achieve the outcome and accomplishments;

Evaluation - the plan for meeting performance and producing the program/project;

Budget/Funding Requirements - a realistic budget with a detailed explanation of the funding request, committed matching funds, evidence of sound fiscal management, and long term funding plan;

Qualifications - your organization's background, its funding history, board involvement and staff qualifications, and its capacity to carry out your proposal;

Conclusion - a brief, concise summary of your proposal;Appendices - additional attachments required by the funder, such as

proof of tax-exempt status, organizational and financial documents, staff/board lists, support/commitment letters.

Grants for Software• Use grants to purchase Lumens and other software/IT

• DOL, DOE, ARRA

• Record keeping to automate tasks and increase business

• Increase efficiencies, reduce errors, less staff needed

• Often can get more money for equipment than staff

• Tracking processes to illustrate outcomes of programs

Resources and References Loretta Holland, CFRE

[email protected] http://meankitty.wordpress.com

Poll Question 4

Wrap Up and Review

Thank You For AttendingTrenton HightowerVirginia Community College [email protected]