The document outlines steps for writing a successful grant proposal, including understanding your organization's purposes and priorities, knowing your readers at funding organizations, and refining your messages to appeal to readers. It also provides tips for grant writing such as telling impactful stories, engaging readers emotionally, and focusing on clarity and conciseness. The presentation aims to help non-profits strengthen their grant proposals.

1. On Today’s Menu
Your Successful Grant Proposal
Dalya Massachi
October 23, 2013
Twitter Hashtag - #4Glearn
Part
Of:
Sponsored by:

2. INTEGRATED PLANNING
Advising nonprofits in:
• Strategy
• Planning
• Organizational Development
Part
Of:
www.synthesispartnership.com
(617) 969-1881
info@synthesispartnership.com
Sponsored by:

3. Coming Soon
Part
Of:
Sponsored by:

4. Today’s Speaker
Dalya Massachi
Founder
Writing for Community Success
Assisting with chat questions:
Jamie Maloney, 4Good
Part
Of:
Founding Director of Nonprofit Webinars and Host:
Sam Frank, Synthesis Partnership
Sponsored by:

5. ON TODAY’S MENU:
YOUR SUCCESSFUL
GRANT PROPOSAL
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6. OUTLINE
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
Introductions
The life cycle of a grant proposal
2P2R Planning System: 4 easy steps
A few powerful writing techniques
What’s next?
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7. MY BACKGROUND
• Nonprofit writer, speaker,
coach: 20+ years
• Authored host of
proposals, articles,
websites
• Trained/coached thousands
& co-founded
Edited/
Contributed to
8 books
2000-2004: Founding
Director of BAIDO
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8. ARE YOU READY?
Do you have:
501 (c)(3) or fiscal sponsor
Financial accounting system
Strategic plan/case for support
Solid board
Logic Model
Time/resources for grantseeking
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9. POLL
Are you missing any of these
critical components?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
501 (c)(3) or fiscal sponsor
Financial accounting system
Strategic plan/case for support
Solid board
Logic Model
Time/resources for grantseeking
We have them all!
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10. LIFE CYCLE
OF A GRANT PROPOSAL
(6-12 months)
You research foundations
You begin relationships
You submit an LOI or proposal
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11. Program Officer reviews your proposal
You answer any outstanding questions
Program Officer advocates for you
Board votes on your proposal
You rejoice OR learn why you lost
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12. Copyright 2013
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13. 2P2R PLANNING SYSTEM™
1. Understand your
Purposes
2. Define your
Priorities
3. Know your
Readers
“Good writing does
not come from fancy
word processors or
expensive typewriters
or special pencils or
hand-crafted quill
pens. Good writing
comes from good
thinking.”
– Ann Loring
4. Refine your
messages
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14. 1. UNDERSTAND YOUR SPECIFIC
WRITING PURPOSES
Inspire the funder with unique ideas
Encourage the view of your org as a good investment
Explain your pressing issue
Show that you share goals and values
Instill trust in your ability to get the job done
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15. YOUR UNIQUENESS:
So powerful that it cuts through
inertia, gets noticed




Under-served clients, location, etc.
Outstanding credentials or experience
Extensive collaborations
Unusual point of view or approach
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16. EXAMPLE: Beyond Breast Cancer
Beyond Breast Cancer is different from
other breast cancer organizations in that
we focus on quality of life. We
acknowledge the challenges and
limitations of living with breast cancer,
and we believe that focusing on activities
that our clients are able to enjoy
cultivates a higher quality of life than
might otherwise be possible.
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17. WRITING WORKOUT
What’s 1 unique value
that your org/program
adds to the community?
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18. 2. DEFINE YOUR PRIORITIES
Facts and figures
(context, 5 W’s)
Importance of the issue
(current need; why should I care?)
Results you envision
(output, outcome; measurable benefits)
Solution you propose
(program details; why chosen)
Track record
(testimonials, history)
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19. RESULTS:

What does your work mean for the
clients/community?

“So what?” How does your work lead to something
better for the community?

“What’s in it for us?”
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20. EXAMPLE: HOMELESS SHELTER
PROGRAMS: soup kitchen, warm beds
restrooms, child care, job & housing placement
RESULTS/BENEFITS:






Higher level of nutrition and stability
Higher level of employment
Fewer families living in cars or on streets
Less desperation, often leading to crime, drug abuse, etc.
The sense of being a community that cares for everyone
Lower long-term financial cost to local area
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21. 3. KNOW YOUR READERS
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22. PROGRAM OFFICERS
•
Foundation gatekeepers
• Have background, concern
BUT may be unfamiliar with
your particular slant/niche
• Are time-pressed
• Want to be inspired
• Have been around, frequently talk to others
• Are people too (with hearts, minds)
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23. WHAT INFO IS OF MOST
INTEREST?
 True match with your goals and priorities
 Program is a high priority for you
 High chance of success: realistic, specific plan
 Clear, measurable impact on a vital community need
(local/national) ̶ NOW
New/innovative idea
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24. WHAT INFO IS OF MOST
INTEREST?
 Beneficiary involvement
 Strong evaluation plan
 Strategic collaborations/unique role in the field
 Replicable model
 Community support
& in-kind
 Funded by others
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25. DATA YOU NEED TO
GATHER
 Values, hopes, giving philosophy
 Why they care about your issue
 What they already know/believe
 How you can help them solve probs
 Information they need to fund you
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26. HOW? RESEARCH!

Read their publications,
websites, grant guidelines

Find out what they have
previously supported
(Is there enough similarity with your project,
yet uniqueness in your specific approach?)

Call or email to clarify
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27. 4. REFINE YOUR MESSAGES
Match your READERS’
interests with your
PRIORITIES
(this takes time!)
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28. WRITING WORKOUT:
FOLLOW-UP
Practice refining your messages!
1) Jot down some FIRST priorities (talking points)
about your org/project (see slide 15)
2) Ask someone OUTSIDE YOUR ORG to play the
role of “grantmaker” (see slides #19-21).
Engage in a 3-minute phone conversation to
introduce your org.
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29. A FEW POWERFUL
WRITING TECHNIQUES
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30. FOCUS ON CLARITY
“The most powerful factors in the world are
clear ideas in the minds of energetic
men [and women] of good will.”— J. Arthur Thomson
 You know all about your program, but
your readers don’t; explain everything!
 Avoid vagueness; talk specifics
 Use examples
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31. EXAMPLE
Original: The tutoring program was very
successful last year.
Suggested Revision: Last year, the program’s 20 volunteer
tutors boosted the performance of 60 young readers.
[go on to explain how they did this….]
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32. ENGAGE BOTH THE
HEART & HEAD
Your readers will remember
how you make them feel
more than anything else you say or do
Even we left-brained people
need an emotional clue
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33. TELL STORIES

Talk about how people have
benefited: results they have seen
and importance to them

What are some components of great stories?
 A beginning, middle and end (before/after)
 Memorable characters
 Compelling plot or conflict resolution
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34. TAKE CUES FROM THE FUNDER
 Remember to answer all of the funder’s
questions with detailed answers
 Use the funder’s language
 Use headings and sub-headings with chunks
accessible at a glance
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35. AVOID JARGON AND
UNEXPLAINED ACRONYMS
 Would your readers use
the term themselves?
 Does the term mean the same thing
to them as it does to you?
(e.g., “supportive community”)
 If you must use technical terms or
acronyms, explain them the first time
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36. Reprinted with permission from CompassPoint Nonprofit Services.
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37. CULTIVATE CONCISENESS:
LESS IS MORE
“I didn't have time to write a short letter,
so I wrote a long one instead.” —Mark Twain
 Sentences: 14-20 words max.
 No freeloading words
 KISSS: Keep It Short, Simple, Skimmable
 Average LOI:1-3 pp.; full proposal: 5-10 pp.
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38. WHAT’S NEXT?
CHECK YOUR EMAIL!
Spot the Weaknesses Summary
Sample Grant Format
Recommended Resources
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39. • FREE feedback & advice by conference call
• Often with Special Guests
• Covers a range of writing-related topics
More info:
WritingToMakeADifference.com
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40. BOOK DISCOUNT
20% off a Paperback Copy
WritingtoMakeADifference.com/discount
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41. EXPERT GRANT PROPOSAL
REVIEW
30% off
Thru 12/15/13
Get the detailed feedback you need to succeed
within 2 business days
WritingtoMakeADifference.com/special-offer
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42. WRAP-UP QUESTION
What is the most
valuable thing you are
taking away from
today? And how will
you use that info?