Finding & Securing Finding & Securing Funding: Sustaining Your Funding: Sustaining Your SuccessSuccess
OACHE Winter Retreat 02.19.09
Dr. Pollyanne S. Frantz Development ConsultantAppalachian Higher Education NetworkAppalachian Regional Commission
Today’s agenda:Today’s agenda:
Funding opportunity databases
Awards information
Electronic publications
Hands-on searching practice
Letters of inquiry overview
Hands-on LOI writing practice
Information sharing: what we plan to
do
Funding opportunity Funding opportunity databasesdatabases Broadest in scope (includes federal/state/private funders):
◦ Community of Science (subscription) ◦ Sponsored Programs Information Network (subscription) ◦ GrantsNet (free)◦ FundSource (free)
Federal funding only: ◦ Grants.gov◦ Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Private funders (foundations) only:◦ Foundation Directory Online (subscription) ◦ Foundation Center’s Foundation Finder (free)◦ Foundation Center’s 990PF (free)
Other valuable resources: ◦ Appalachian Regional Commission (free)◦ GuideStar (free & subscription)
Looking at awards madeLooking at awards made
Agency databases: NSF, NIH, DoED
Agency web sites: NEH, NEA
Research.gov
Individual foundation web sites
Foundation Center
◦Foundation Finder & 990 Finder (FREE)
Selected Electronic PublicationsSelected Electronic Publications
Agency-specific:◦ MyNSF (National Science Foundation)
◦ EDInfo. (U.S. Dept. of Education)
◦ NIH TOC (National Institutes of Health)
◦ NEH Connect! (National Endowment for the
Humanities)
RFP Bulletin (Foundation Center)Grants.gov email notification subscription
(federal)Rural Assistance Center Health Update (mix)GrantsNet Funding News (RSS format)
Searching StrategiesSearching StrategiesDefine your project & create a list of
related keywords & terms Think broadly on initial searchesRefine & limit searches based on initial
resultsUse different keywords & phrases in
search results to launch additional searches
Don’t rely on just one database
Learning more about the Learning more about the funderfunder
PeopleAreas of interestGiving trends (awards history)Giving amountsMethod of approach
Interpreting Guidelines Interpreting Guidelines Part 1Part 1Read (and re-read) guidelines:
◦ Are you eligible?◦ What will be funded?◦ What is the agency really looking to fund?◦ What is the format?◦ What information is required?◦ Are these the most current guidelines?◦ When is the deadline?◦ How many awards will be made?
Interpreting Guidelines Interpreting Guidelines Part 2Part 2Pay close attention to:
◦ Words◦ Concepts ◦ Phrasing◦ Themes ◦ Review criteria
Further sleuthing includes:◦ Perusing agency’s web site for additional
information◦ Searching awards databases◦ Talking to program officers◦ Talking to funded and unfunded PIs
The “look into your head & heart The “look into your head & heart for answers” questions:for answers” questions:
Do we want to do this?
Can we do it?
Can we compete?
The Letter of InquiryThe Letter of Inquiry
The first step toward cultivating a relationship
with a funder.
What it should beWhat it should beBrief & written with clarityA description of you & why you
are seeking fundingEvident that you have researched
the funder and its prioritiesIn compliance with formatting
requirements specified by funder
What it should look likeWhat it should look like
Printed on finest quality stationeryBoard members’ names listed on
leftProper formatting & lengthAppropriate use of
◦ Headings◦ Bullets◦ Page numbers◦ White space
The 10 elements of The 10 elements of contentcontent Title
Project overview
Statement of problem
The 10 elements of The 10 elements of contentcontent Project aims & objectives
Target population
Experience & qualifications
Evaluation plan
The 10 elements of The 10 elements of contentcontent Support from other sources &
sustainability plan
Budget
Letter author’s contact information
How it should readHow it should read
Opening paragraphProject overviewStatement of problemProject aims and objectivesTarget populationExperience & qualificationsEvaluation planSupport from other sourcesSustainability planBudgetClosing paragraph with contact information
The timeline: what happens The timeline: what happens next?next?Don’t pester funder for response
– allow time for reviewStatus update:
Approved Rejected More information requested:
Regardless of outcome, write thank you letter