Getting Started in Library Grant Writing An Infopeople Workshop Instructor: Holly Hinman [email protected] March-April 2005 Workshop Overview The world of grantsmanship Planning to write Anatomy of.
Download ReportTranscript Getting Started in Library Grant Writing An Infopeople Workshop Instructor: Holly Hinman [email protected] March-April 2005 Workshop Overview The world of grantsmanship Planning to write Anatomy of.
Getting Started in Library Grant Writing An Infopeople Workshop Instructor: Holly Hinman [email protected] March-April 2005 Workshop Overview The world of grantsmanship Planning to write Anatomy of a grant proposal – Need – Goals, objectives/outcomes – Evaluation – Budget Finding a funder Quick Grant Quiz True or false You can get grants to make up for budget cuts. You can pay for personnel from grants. Grants are “free money” – no strings attached. Grants must be for something totally new. It’s important to establish a personal relationship with the funding source. After you take this workshop you will be 100% successful in your quests for grant funding. Sources for Grants Government – Federal – State – Local Foundations – Private – Community Corporations Grant Seeking vs. Fundraising Written application Standard format Formal Relatively high level of effort If you need only a small amount of money, fundraising may be a better way to go! What Makes a Good Proposal? Matches funder’s interests and priorities Demonstrates strong need Offers something new or creative Offers a model that can be replicated Has tangible outcomes or products Has a reasonable, defensible budgets Can be accomplished in finite timeframe Follows directions and is well written! Getting Ready to Write Grant resource file – library fact sheet, org chart – latest guidelines/info from funding source – sample successful proposals Internal planning/writing team Advisory group including end users Needs assessment involving end users Personal contact with funding source General Advice for Grant Writers Develop a personal relationship with your funding source Read and follow directions! Write so “grandma” can understand Be kind to the grant reviewers – Use 12-point, clear font – Number pages Find out how your proposal will be evaluated Group Questions Now that we’ve discussed some criteria for successful grant proposals, do you think the idea that you came with would be successful or not? What could you change to make your grant concept stronger? Anatomy of a Grant Proposal Summary Introduction Needs assessment Goals and objectives Plan of action Evaluation Budget Project Summary Appears first Written last Important because: – it’s used for screening – may be only section read Do not exceed space limit Can cut-and-paste from other sections Introduction Basic info about applicant May be separate section Often part of narrative (needs or plan of action) Boilerplate OK here Not needed for state LSTA A Good Needs Assessment Provides the foundation for the rest of the proposal Is written from the users’ perspective Involves the users in identification of need Is supported by evidence – hard data – soft data If the Need Is for a “Thing”….. Reevaluate!!! Weak: The Large County Library needs a bookmobile. Stronger: Residents of rural areas in Large County need access to library materials …. The 5 W’s of Needs Assessment Who are the people with the need? Where are they located? What is their problem or need? When does the problem or need occur? Why does the problem or need occur? More Needs Assessment Questions How does the need relate to: – Funder’s mission and current priorities – Library’s mission, programs, and priorities? Who else is interested? What will be the community impact? Rewrite These Needs Statements: We need more computers. The school library needs more books. Anytown PL needs a community meeting room Poor County Library needs a literacy program. Main Library needs a book security system. Anatomy of a Grant Proposal Summary Introduction Needs assessment Goals and objectives Plan of action Evaluation Budget Goals Broad, long-range, general Not measurable Related to mission May not be attained Example: The goal of this project is to provide free and convenient access to library resources to all people in Large County. Objectives Measurable Time-specific Reflect change in target group Relate to needs – Should show improvement Can be evaluated and should be attained When agencies fund your project, they are actually buying your objectives. When evaluators evaluate your project, they are measuring whether you accomplished what you said you were going to do in your program objectives. -- Stanley Levenson, How to Get Grants and Gifts for the Public Schools, 2002. Developing Good Objectives Start from needs assessment Select measurement indicators Set performance standards Determine time frame Write the objective Evaluate the objective Objectives Answer Questions Who is going to be impacted or changed? What is going to happen? When will it happen? How much change will take place? How will change be measured? Standard Objective Format To <action verb and statement of results and measurement indicator> by <degree of change> by <deadline> Example: To increase by at least one grade level the reading skills of 75% of the children who complete the Reading Enrichment Program. Verbs Used in Objectives increase decrease improve reduce expand eliminate enhance diminish augment add lessen maximize minimize access Fix the Objective To implement a public computer training program. To train library staff in MS Word. To digitize 10,000 photographs from the local history collection. Common Problems Confuse methods with objective Write in terms of the institution instead of the user Fail to quantify Set unrealistic degree of change Anatomy of a Grant Proposal Summary Introduction Needs assessment Goals and objectives Plan of action Evaluation Budget Plan of Action Narrative Often has page limits Includes: Personnel Timeline Publicity Key Questions Who will be involved in the project? – target group – project staff – consultants What activities will take place? – connect to objective – provide detail When will each step take place? – include timeline Why is this approach being used? – describe alternatives Graphics/Attachments Timeline Organization chart Resumes Sample materials, products RFP’s Anatomy of a Grant Proposal Summary Introduction Needs assessment Goals and objectives Plan of action Evaluation Budget Evaluation Will your project make a difference? Program evaluation serves 2 purposes: 1. To determine if the project has met objectives. 2. To gather information to improve the project. Types of Evaluation Process evaluation Summative evaluation Outcomes measurement Outcomes Measurement Outcome = Impact on end user Impact = changes in: • • • • • Behavior Attitude Skills Knowledge Condition/state -- Rhea Rubin, So What? Using Outcomes Measurement to Assess the Impact of Library Programs, 2005 Evaluation Plan Results you expect Data you will collect Data collection techniques What records will be kept Who is responsible When evaluation will take place Anatomy of a Grant Proposal Summary Introduction Needs assessment Goals and objectives Plan of action Evaluation Budget The Bottom Line: Your Budget Budgeting is simply the process of translating the project plan into fiscal terms. ---Mary Hall, Getting Funded: A Complete Guide to Proposal Writing Budget Basics: Steps to Take Review funder’s guidelines and requirements Follow your organization’s budget practices Identify every cost element in plan of action Create a budget worksheet Put calculations into required format Basic Budget Terms Direct costs Indirect costs Matching funds In-kind contributions Personnel Non-personnel Anatomy of a Grant Proposal Summary Introduction Needs assessment Goals and objectives Plan of action Evaluation Budget Finding a Funder If your project: Start with: Focuses on local needs Can be a model for other libraries in the state Can be a model for programs in other states Affects a multistate area Local foundations and corporations State programs and state foundations Federal programs and national foundations Federal or state programs & national foundations Resources for Government Grants Federal – Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) (available online) – Federal Register (available online) – Agency mailing lists State – State agency websites – State agency mailing lists Local – Personal contacts Resources for Private Grants – Foundations and Corporations What the CFDA is to researching federal grants, the Foundation Center and its publications are to researching foundation grants. www.fdncenter.org Foundation Center Libraries – San Francisco – 22 Cooperating Collections in CA Key publications – Foundation Directory • also available online – Foundation Grants Index Tips for Finding Foundation Funding Location, location, location Check eligibility – 501(c)3 status Types of support Purpose/areas of interest Contact before submitting Getting Corporate Funding Start with corporations in your community or area – Corporations “give where they live” Make a personal connection Find out how the corporation handles giving Show how company or employees will benefit Library-Friendly Funding Sources State LSTA programs Other library-specific state programs IMLS (Institute of Museum and Library Services) NEH (National Endowment for the Humanities) ALA Community Foundations Local corporations (Target, Walmart) Post-Submission Don’t call or email the funder If you are funded: Celebrate ! Then: – – – – Notify appropriate officials/staff Send out a press release Begin preliminary activities Thank the funder If You’re Not Funded Ask for a copy of the reviewers’ comments Strategize a new approach – revise and resubmit – revise and submit to another source Don’t give up!