What does it take to find a funding source and write a successful grant proposal? A little preparation goes a long way when looking for funders that match up with your project. Preparing a successful written grant proposal requires an organized, systematic approach to effectively convey your story. During this session Kathryn Brockmeier, the NLC's Research Analyst / Special Projects Associate, will provide you with tools to find sources for funding and to navigate the application process. NCompass Live - October 7, 2009.

1. Seeking Grant Funds and Writing Winning Proposals: An Introduction NCompass Live – October 7, 2009

2. About the presenter Research Analyst Special Projects Associate Grant writer Evaluator Kathryn.Brockmeier@Nebraska.gov 402.471.4002

3. About you Your role Library Director Trustee Friends/Foundation Board Grantwriting-session-participant-cum-grantwriter? Your credentials

4. About you, cont’d

5. About the applicant organization Nonprofit Organization Friends/Foundation School Government agency Association 501(c)(3) status IRS Letter of Determination or Need for a lead partner Prospect Worksheet

6. Why search for grant funds? Nosce te ipsum

7. Hoovers.com/free Grantstation.com Seeking grant funds Grants.gov Fundsnetservices.com http://delicious.com/NLC_Reference/ncompasslive+grantsintro

8. Seeking grant funds, cont’d Foundation Directory Online fconline.foundationcenter.org Butler Memorial Library, Cambridge Hastings Public Library UNL Love Library Omaha Public Library Chambers of Commerce? Also available in print… ILL from NLC

9. Potential grantmakers Governmental source Corporate giving program Foundation Umbrella organization 990-PF, grants given 501(c)(3) Board members Grants officer/contact http://foundationcenter.org/findfunders/990finder/

11. Grantmaker guidelines Limitations Purpose and activities (priorities) Fields of interest Geographic focus Types of support Initial approach Deadlines Previous grants

12. Guidelines, cont’d Limitations: Examples Giving primarily in _____ Emphasis on ______ No grants to individuals Must be 501(c)(3) No grants for administration, travel, endowments, advertising Applications not accepted (discretionary) Purpose & Activities History Their story Priorities

13. Guidelines, cont’d Fields of Interest Arts Children/youth, services Community development Education Foundations (community) Human services Humanities Leadership development Libraries Fields of Interest, cont’d Mental health, services Rural development Youth development Geographic Focus Giving primarily in _____ With emphasis in _____

14. Guidelines, cont’d Types of Support Annual campaigns Capital campaigns Equipment General/operating support Management development/Capacity building Matching/challenge support Types of Support, cont’d Program development Program evaluation Project support Rural development Scholarship funds Scholarships to individuals Seed money Technical assistance

15. Guidelines, cont’d Initial Approach Phone E-mail In person Fax Completed application By invitation only Letter of approach Proposal Deadlines/Timelines Application deadlines Board meeting dates Final notification Previous Grants 990-PF foundationcenter.org/ findfunders/990finder/

16. The application Cover page Proposal narrative Proposal budget Budget narrative Evaluation Attachments

17. Cover page Date of application Legal name of organization, full address, name of executive director IRS 501(c)(3) status; if not, fiscal agent Contact name and title of person completing the proposal or application Phone/fax/e-mail for contact person Amount requested

18. Cover page, cont’d Organization’s mission statement Program/project summary Goal of program/project (“To provide…”) Target population, geography Board of Directors Total number of volunteers for organization, especially those working on project Total number of staff working with project

19. Cover page, cont’d Annual organizational budget, most recent fiscal year Project or capital budget, confirmed, requested and pending Granting period; annual, multi-year Acknowledge past support from funder

20. Proposal narrative Maximum 10 pages Summary of organization’s history, goals, and key achievements Overview of organization’s structure and programs, including board, staff and volunteer involvement Description of organization’s constituents for project

21. Narrative, cont’d Needs or challenges; or, problem statement Level and nature of involvement of the community-at-large Description of the specific request that include goals and objectives. (If it’s a project request, provide a profile of the project.)

22. Narrative, cont’d Organizational profile and request If requesting operating support, provide information about your organization’s overall programs and activities. If requesting project or capital support, please provide information for that specific project or capital request. Description of the specific activities and timetable for meeting your stated objectives.

23. Narrative, cont’d Description of future plan for sustaining this effort and strategy for building your funding base Identification of program staff and volunteers, by name or title, and describe their qualifications. If applicable, identification of organizations that you collaborate with to address the issue(s) in this proposal

24. Budget summary

25. Budget narrative Project budget time period. This may be stated in fiscal year, calendar year or school year, depending on funder requirements. Revenue Section: Provide a line item revenue statement for all applicable budget categories. Include funding from grants (Federal, State, local and private foundation funding) and contracts applicable to the project budget. Include other earned income from donations, sales of products, or from fee-based programming

26. Budget narrative, cont’d Expense Section: Provide a line item expense budget, with narrative footnotes for those applicable items which need further explanation.

27. Proposal expense budget

28. Budget narrative, cont’d In-Kind Support Section: Provide information about services of other organizations that will be provided to the project without direct charge to grant. Examples: building facilities used for project, materials or equipment that will be used for the project that will not be purchased by grant funds.

29. Evaluation All funders will require an evaluation of funded projects. Include the following when addressing the evaluation of the proposed project. If your project will require an external evaluator, include information about the evaluator, including curriculum vitae.

30. Evaluation, cont’d Define your criteria for success for the organization, project, or capital campaign. State how you will measure your success in the short-term and in the long-term. What tool(s) will be used to evaluate your program or organization? What is your strategy for implementing the evaluation process?

31. Attachments Important ! Refer to each funder’s guidelines to see if additional attachments, such as diversity forms, IRS Form 990, or résumés are required. IRS letter confirming tax-exempt status – 501(c) (3) and 509(a) Current board list with relevant background, affiliations, town residence, and number of times a year it meets

32. Other attachments Board approved organizational budget for the fiscal year(s) Most recent independent audit or account review (as required by law), or IRS Form 990 (Part I, lines 9 or 12?, 17, 18 and 21) Year-to-date financial statement for the current fiscal year List of companies and foundations being approached to fund this proposal, with dollar amounts indicating which sources are committed, pending, or anticipated

33. Resources Foundation Center foundationcenter.org The Grantsmanship Center www.tgci.com Free Management Library managementhelp.org Non-profit Guides www.npguides.org NebraskAccess links list nebraskaccess.ne.gov/grants.asp

34. More resources Associated Grant Makers agmconnect.org Grantmaking for Economic Impact Video* www2.gotomeeting.com/ register/318062299 * Registration required; free Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance www.cfda.gov Print Versions: The Foundation Center Directory The Foundation Center’s Guide to Proposal Writing Grant Writing for Dummies Nebraska Foundation Directory

35. Questions? CE credits Evaluation

36. Upcoming sessions Grants Information Session – Nov. 12 Continuing Education & Training Grants Library Improvement Grants Writing Winning Proposals, Part II?