Transcript Writing Successful Grant Applications

Writing Successful
Grant Applications
Delivered by
Derek O’Reilly,
Training & Support Services Manager
Golden Rule 1
Grant Makers don’t invest
in
Products, they invest in
People
Golden Rule 2
Understand what your key
strengths are and seek out
opportunities to build on
those strengths
Golden Rule 3
Provide the Grant
Maker with Change
they can Believe in!
(Outputs and
Outcomes)
What are your outputs and outcomes?
• Outputs: What and how much gets produced or
delivered (usually expressed in quantitative measures)
• Outcomes: The difference made. What are the short and
long term benefits of the activity?
Example: The Youth Project
The aim of the project is to reduce criminal activity by
offering support and group work to young people
Inputs: staff, budget, venue, advertising
Outputs: One-to-one support sessions, outings, group work
Outcomes: After the project young people will be more
confident, aware of alternatives to crime and training
Long term change: Less social exclusion and less criminal
activity
Golden Rule 4
Know why you need
the money, why you
need it now and why
you can be trusted to
spend it
What the grant giver thinks!
“A thoughtful and honest application always stands out in the
crowd!... (it) isn’t a hurried and last minute dash to meet our
deadlines with something dreamed up overnight. It is a
serious and sincere attempt by your organisation to use its
experience and skill to make a positive difference where it is
needed”.
Children in Need Grant Guidelines 1998/99
Practical Steps to Writing Grant Applications
1. Be able to prove that the need or problem in your grant
proposal is significant
2. Ensure your application delivers an answer to the
stated need or a solution to the problem. Your
experience and ability should be apparent in the
application
3. Your proposal should convey solid planning and
research
Practical Steps to Writing Grant Applications
4. Research the grant makers. Identify their priorities and
applicant eligibility
5. Ensure that your aims and those of the grant makers are
compatible
6. Before completing the application, re-check the
guidelines
Practical Steps to Writing Grant Applications
8. Ensure your proposal is complete, is an appropriate
length and includes all required attachments
9. Ensure that your organisation’s needs and objectives are
clearly and concisely written
Practical Steps to Writing Grant Applications
10. Cover all important criteria: project purpose, feasibility,
community need, funds needed, applicant accountability
and competence
11. Answer the key questions on the proposal checklist
(typically provided with grant application forms)
12. Demonstrate project logic and outcomes, impact of
funds and community support
Determining your Needs – Generate a Needs
Statement
1. Identify some of the issues/needs you might present to
funders
2. How would you go about researching these problems and
needs? Where will you find relevant information?
Monitoring and Evaluation of the Project
1. What information will you collect in respect of activities
and outputs (measurable)
2. How will you measure progress towards meeting aims
and outcomes
3. How often will you formally evaluate the project
4. Who will conduct the evaluations
5. How will you use the evaluation results
Project Budget
• Group budget headings under common themes
• Headings should mirror project plans
• There should be a basis for all the figures
- Remember that funders have a good grasp of costs!
Style and Presentation Matters
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Write in shorter sentences
Avoid jargon
Avoid unsubstantiated superlatives e.g. unique
Avoid the “everybody knows” syndrome
Make it clear and logical
Write for the reader – are they an expert or a novice?
Be neat, tidy and positive!
Why applications fail
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Applicant organisation is not eligible
Target group is not eligible
Poorly planned project
Applicant does not present the project clearly
Applicant fails to demonstrate they meet the criteria
No monitoring or evaluation
Why applications fail
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Problematic budget/unconvincing financial management
Applicant misses the deadline
Incomplete/illegible application
Incomplete/inaccurate supporting documents
Duplication of existing projects
GRASSROOTS GRANTS SCHEME
APPLICATION CRITERIA
• Types of projects we fund:
• Ethnic Minorities:
• Assisting the building of networks and structures for ethnic
minorities, with a particular emphasis on Integration
The Grassroots Grants Scheme seeks to:
 Support areas of work that are currently not well funded by the
state
 Target areas of work where a small grant can create a new
opportunity or make an obvious addition
 Be relevant to urban and rural areas
 Applications must be from community and voluntary groups that
possess charitable aims and are not for profit
 A commitment to equal opportunities must be demonstrated
 A willingness to share learning with others if necessary
 Multiple applications may be made, provided they are for
separate projects
 For larger grants the piece of work must be sustainable beyond
a three-year period or the project must be completed within this
time
 Commitment to working in partnership with other organisations
must be demonstrated
 Proposals must include clear, detailed, realistic costs and
timescales
 We will consider all requests fairly and will do our best to take
any particular need into account
The things we do not normally give grants for are

Non-charitable activities

Sponsorship and fundraising events

Capital projects
(including building,
refurbishment
equipment costs)

Core or ongoing costs (including salaries)

Work that has already taken place

Individuals

Overseas Travel
and
 Promotion of religious causes
 Statutory organisations or a direct replacement of statutory
funding
 Sports without an identifiable charitable element
 Animal charities / work which only benefits animals
 Medical research, equipment or treatment
 Political activities
• Applicant organisations should have an annual income of
not more than €1,000,000. Documentary evidence may be
requested
Reporting Requirements
• Organisations in receipt of a grant will be required to provide
Outcome Reports (after six months), updates and newsletters.
• The Foundation will also require the mention of the grant in
annual reports, accounts and any appropriate publications.
We are always pleased to receive good quality digital
photographs if possible.
• The Grants staff undertake Evaluation visits to grantees on an
annual basis. Your co-operation is requested, should you be
selected for such a visit.
Outcome Report Guidelines
 How many people benefited (directly or indirectly) from this grant?
 What is different in peoples’ lives as a result?
 Please provide a breakdown of the costs, including all expenses incurred.
(Please enclose receipts for expenditure exceeding €1,000)
 Have you encountered any difficulties in running the project (not related to funding) that
you did not envisage, and how were they overcome?
 What were the highlights?
Outcome Report Guidelines
 What were the key lessons learned?
 Please include any other information that you feel is relevant
 Please supply any good quality digital photographs/ video that you may have.
 Please supply any copies of reports, booklets etc produced if relevant
Case Study: DCG
• Welcome to Dublin Community Growers
• For a vibrant green Dublin and a healthy garden movement.
Changing the city one root at a time.
• Dublin Community Growers is a network of community
gardeners who meet monthly within central Dublin. An open
group, they meet to discuss community gardening projects,
and the issues faced by these projects. Dublin Community
Growers also organise events to promote community gardens
as amenities to be valued. The core ethos of Dublin
Community Growers are represented by social inclusion, and
environmental responsibility.
Case Study: DCG
• COMMUNITY GROWERS FUND – Revised CRITERIA
• Groups wishing to engage unemployed people in community
gardening
• Must have a committee structure
• N.B. Applicants must involve local people who are presently
unemployed.
• A survey of the local residents allowing them to make
suggestions is desirable.
• A budget must accompany the application.
Case Study: DCG
• Dublin Community Growers Forum 2012:
• Date: 9th June
• DCG and Dublin Co-op GIY will hold a joint seed and plant
swap on June 9th at 11am at the Dublin Food Co-op,
Newmarket Square, D8.
This will be followed from 1pm to 3pm by a workshop titled
‘How to Start a Cooperative’ and from 3pm to 5pm by a
workshop on ‘How to Start a Community Garden’. DCG have
recieved funding from the Community Foundation to hold
these workshops. To register for this free event please email
[email protected]
Case Study: DCG
• Grant aid from Community Foundation, combined with a lot of
volunteer effort, can go a long way.
• I think the important points about applying for grants is to
read the criteria carefully and have a project ready to
implement that your group is really keen to run, and will make
a DIFFERENCE.
Grant Updates
• Check out the following sources regularly:
- www.activelink.ie
- www.wheel.ie
- www.communityfoundation.ie
The Carmichael Centre Twitter updates!
http://twitter.com/CCVoluntaryOrgs