Grant Writing For Dummies, 5th Edition

Table of contents

1. 1. Introduction
      1. About This Book
      2. Foolish Assumptions
      3. Icons Used in This Book
      4. Beyond the Book
      5. Where to Go from Here
   2. Part I: Getting Started with Grant Writing
      1. Chapter 1: Grant Writing 101
         1. Getting Up to Speed on Grant-Seeking Basics
            1. Defining common terminology
            2. Investigating different grant types
            3. Determining who can apply for a grant
         2. Recognizing the Value of a Funding Development Plan
         3. Connecting to Public Sector Grant-Making Agencies
            1. Federal funding: Tapping into congressionally allocated dollars
            2. State and local government funding: Seeking public dollars closer to home
         4. Scoping Out Sources of Private Sector Grants
            1. Perusing foundations that award grants
            2. Scoping out corporations that award grants
         5. Understanding What Goes into a Submission
            1. Outlining the pieces of a grant application
            2. Looking at the feds’ application guidelines
            3. Getting your request in the door at foundations and corporations
         6. Checking All Requirements for Grant Submission
         7. Yes, No, Maybe: Tracking Submissions and Their Status
         8. Jumping for Joy or Starting All Over?
      2. Chapter 2: Thinking Strategically to Improve Your Odds of Success
         1. Building the All-Important Funding Plan
            1. Looking at the plan components
            2. Walking through an example
            3. Checking off the must-do’s
         2. Maximizing Your Chances for Success
            1. Looking at obvious and not-so-obvious sources
            2. Opening the door with a letter of inquiry
      3. Chapter 3: Arming Yourself with the Knowledge of What Funders Want
         1. Giving Funders the Critical Details They Expect
            1. Providing facts about your organization
            2. Writing about the project in need of funding
            3. Bringing the facts to life through storytelling
         2. Submitting Requested Attachments to Your Funding Request
   3. Part II: Digging Up Grant Funding Opportunities
      1. Chapter 4: Investigating the Government Options
         1. Looking for Money at Home First via State and Local Agencies
            1. Figuring out where the money is in your state
            2. Seeking local government re-granting dollars
         2. Examining the Types of Federal Grants
            1. Familiarizing yourself with direct grants
            2. Getting acquainted with pass-through grants
            3. Distinguishing between competitive and formula grants
         3. Using the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Correctly
            1. Knowing what info the CFDA provides
            2. Knowing what info the CDFA leaves out
         4. Getting to Know Grants.gov
         5. Making Politicians Work for You
      2. Chapter 5: Exploring Grants.gov
         1. Navigating Grants.gov
         2. Knowing Who’s Eligible to Submit a Grant Application
         3. Getting Registered on Grants.gov
            1. Registering as an organization
            2. Registering as an individual
         4. Downloading and Uploading Applications on Grants.gov
         5. Getting Familiar with Federal Grant Application Forms
            1. Budget information forms: SF-424A
            2. Disclosure of lobbying activity form: SF-LLL
      3. Chapter 6: Researching Potential Private Sector Funders
         1. Getting Started with Private Sector Grant Research
            1. Devoting time and building numbers
            2. Subscribing and making yourself known
         2. Wading Through the Best and the Rest of Private Funders
            1. Checking out the Foundation Center’s funding resources
            2. Accessing other online grant research databases
         3. Scanning a Funder’s Criteria
         4. Prioritizing Your Funding Sources
      4. Chapter 7: Finding Grant Monies for Individuals and Businesses
         1. Pointing Out Who Awards Grants to Individuals
         2. Locating Credible Grants for Your Start-Up Business
            1. Pitting your business plan against others for private funding
            2. Asking Uncle Sam to fund your business
         3. Seeking Business Expansion Monies
            1. Looking into federal expansion funding
            2. Tracking down other business expansion funding opportunities
      5. Chapter 8: Seeking Funds for International Projects
         1. Officially Acquiring NGO Status
         2. Finding Sources for International Funding
            1. The U.S. government
            2. The European Foundation Centre
            3. Imagine Canada
         3. Playing by International Rules
            1. Knowing about submission differences
            2. Submitting a source-relevant budget
   4. Part III: Maximizing Your Chances of Scoring a Grant Award
      1. Chapter 9: Assessing Federal Grant Opportunities for Your Agency
         1. Walking Through a Federal Grant-Funding Announcement
            1. Determining your grant applicant eligibility
            2. Looking for red or green flags to make a “go” or “no-go” decision
            3. Familiarizing yourself with standard terminology
         2. Examining the Review Criteria Section
         3. Finding the Right Partners
            1. Seeing the value of working with collaborative partners
            2. Squaring away your arrangement
      2. Chapter 10: Peering into the Peer Review Process
         1. Getting Past the Technical Review
         2. Digesting the Peer Review Process
            1. Using the points to outline your writing
            2. Scoring extra points by meeting the funding priority
         3. Writing What Peer Reviewers Want to Read — And Fund
            1. Crafting a compelling statement of need with demographics and case studies
            2. Laying out your strategy in the program design
            3. Measuring the program’s accountability with an evaluation plan
            4. Highlighting your organization’s abilities in the project management statement
            5. Supporting your budget request
         4. Scouting Out Info on Your Topic
         5. Asking Third-Party Evaluators for Help
         6. Becoming a Peer Reviewer
      3. Chapter 11: Selling Your Grant Application with Storytelling
         1. Putting Life into Your Case Statement
            1. Step 1: Describe who, what, and where
            2. Step 2: Explain the problem
            3. Step 3: Use a thesaurus
         2. Using Proven Techniques in Your Application
            1. Utilizing groups of three
            2. Writing about soft cash assets
            3. Hitting the target with emotion
            4. Keeping the reader focused
         3. Scoring Big with a Dynamic Program Design
            1. Start with power-packed words to describe your program
            2. Strengthen your case with solid goals and measurable objectives
            3. Close the deal by focusing on the future
   5. Part IV: Writing to Win
      1. Chapter 12: Providing Supporting Documentation
         1. Knowing Who Wants What: Preliminary Documents
         2. Writing an Attention-Grabbing Cover Letter
         3. Filling In Common Application Forms
         4. Filling In the Mandatory Federal Cover Form (SF-424)
         5. Getting to the Point in the Abstract or Executive Summary
         6. Developing the Table of Contents
      2. Chapter 13: Documenting Your Organization's History and Capabilities
         1. Reviewing the Funding Source’s Writing Instructions
         2. Presenting Your Organization’s Background and Successes
            1. Beginning with basic facts
            2. Moving on to milestones
            3. Changing your approach for government grants
         3. Writing about Your Programs and Activities
         4. Presenting Your Target Population
         5. Using Partners to Boost Your Credibility
      3. Chapter 14: Building a Strong Statement of Need
         1. Developing a Convincing Statement of Need
            1. Researching like a pro
            2. Peppering your story withcompelling tidbits
            3. Including a comprehensive case study
         2. Turning to the Power of Visuals
            1. Edging out the competition by adding informative graphics
            2. Making the most of visual elements
      4. Chapter 15: Presenting the Program Design Section: The Core of Your Application
         1. Surveying the Components of a Good Program Design Section
         2. Reminding the Grant Maker Why You Need Its Money: The Purpose Statement
         3. Designing Your Goals and Measurable Objectives
            1. Recognizing the difference between goals and objectives
            2. Writing goals that grant makers want to fund
            3. Familiarizing yourself with the three types of objectives
         4. Compiling the Implementation Plan
         5. Using a Logic Model to Tell the Complete Story
         6. Connecting the Evaluation Plan to Your Program Design
            1. Getting a grip on evaluation plan terminology
            2. Conducting an evaluation with in-house resources
            3. Opting for the third-party evaluation route
            4. Writing the evaluation plan
      5. Chapter 16: Managing the Management and Assets
         1. Profiling Project Personnel
         2. Writing the Personnel Narrative
            1. The basic profile
            2. The profile with page limitations
            3. The profile for personnel paid by cash match
         3. Acknowledging Accountability and Responsibility
            1. Writing the management plan
            2. Affirming your fiscal responsibility
         4. Drawing Attention to Cash and In-Kind Resources for Government Grants
         5. Demonstrating Federal Compliance in Personnel Selection
      6. Chapter 17: Connecting the Solutions to the Budget Request Line Items
         1. Breaking Down the Basic Budget Sections
            1. Personnel
            2. Travel
            3. Equipment
            4. Supplies
            5. Contractual
            6. Construction
            7. Other
            8. Distinguishing between direct and indirect costs
            9. Entire budget summary
         2. Uncovering Matching Funds
            1. In-kind contributions (soft cash match)
            2. Cash match (money on hand allocated for cash matching funds)
         3. Generating the Numbers Ethically
            1. Gathering accurate cost figures
            2. Including all possible program income
            3. Managing expenditures to the penny
         4. Projecting Multiyear Costs
         5. Building Credibility When You’re a New Nonprofit
   6. Part V: Submitting Your Application and Navigating What Comes Next
      1. Chapter 18: Checking the Checklist and the Content
         1. Adhering to Your Checklist
            1. Cover materials
            2. Organization history and capability
            3. Statement of need
            4. Program design
            5. Evaluation and dissemination
            6. Management plan, assets, and your equity statement
            7. Budget summary and narrative detail
         2. Avoiding Editing Red Flags
         3. Assembling the Proper Attachments in the Right Order
            1. Capability-related documents
            2. Financial documents
            3. Supporting documentation
         4. Meeting Submission Requirements
            1. Paying attention to submission protocol
            2. Sending in applications on time
            3. Clicking Submit without panicking
      2. Chapter 19: Taking the Necessary Steps after Applying
         1. Keeping Accessible Copies of Electronic Files
         2. Staying Connected to Your Stakeholders
            1. Providing updates on what’s been completed and what to expect next
            2. Keeping your partners in the additional-information loop
         3. Tracking the Status of Your Submitted Application
            1. Following up on government grant requests
            2. Following up on foundation and corporate grant requests
      3. Chapter 20: Moving Forward after a Win or a Rejection
         1. Knowing What Comes Next after You Receive a Grant Award Notification
            1. Accepting the award
            2. Drafting a resolution
            3. Tackling the grant management process
            4. Reviewing post-award guidelines for help with financial reporting
         2. Handling Multiple Grant Awards
         3. Failing to Get a Grant Award
            1. Requesting peer review comments when your government application is rejected
            2. Acting fast to reuse a failed government request
            3. Dealing with failed foundation or corporate funding requests
      4. Chapter 21: Securing Matching Funds and Other Goodies from Corporations
         1. Recognizing What Corporations Are Willing to Fund
         2. Taking the Necessary Steps before Making Your Request
         3. Winning with the Corporate Request Letter Format
         4. Following Up with Potential Corporate Funders
   7. Part VI: The Part of Tens
      1. Chapter 22: Ten Reputation-Building Tricks
         1. Pre-Qualify Your Grant-Funding Opportunity
         2. Line Up the Right Partners
         3. Speak with Previous Grantees
         4. Attend Funder Pre-Deadline Webinars and Meetings
         5. Collect Relevant Demographics
         6. Tell a Story in Your Statement of Need
         7. Research Relevant Best Practices
         8. Embed Accountability
         9. Incorporate Relevant Graphics
         10. Detail the Budget
      2. Chapter 23: Ten Ways to Prove You're an Ethical Grant Writer
         1. Don’t Accept Contingency Work
         2. Stick to Current Demographics
         3. Make Promises the Organization Can Keep
         4. Craft an Original Narrative, Not a Reused One
         5. Be Truthful about Key Personnel
         6. Never Embellish the Grant Applicant’s Capability
         7. Keep Your Fees/Salary out of the Grant Budget Request
         8. Never Hide Administrative Overhead Costs in the Budget
         9. Don’t Overprice Line-Item Expenses
         10. Keep the Application to Yourself until It’s Ready for Submission
      3. Chapter 24: Ten Ways to Secure Peer Review Opportunities
         1. Call Your Congressional Contacts
         2. Get in Touch with Federal Grant Makers
         3. Contact State Grant-making Agencies
         4. Reach Out to Your Municipal Grant Makers
         5. Polish Your Résumé with the Right Credentials
         6. E-mail Your Credentials to Key Contacts Monthly
         7. Enhance Your Credibility as a Thorough Reviewer
         8. Get in the Door with Smaller Grant Makers
         9. Attend Technical Assistance Workshops
         10. Network with Decision Makers
   8. About the Author
   9. Cheat Sheet
   10. More Dummies Products