AN INFORMAL AND INCOMPLETE INTRODUCTION

JUST ONE MORE INSTANCE OF SOMEONE GIVING YOU TOO MUCH INFORMATION AND THEN TELLING YOU THERE’S WAY, WAY MORE INFORMATION OUT THERE

YOU PROBABLY SHOULD KNOW

Grant Writing for Libraries

Overview

I. Getting Started

II. Components of a Grant Proposal

III. Writing the Proposal

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU START TO WRITE

I. Getting Started

What Types of Library Projects Receive Grant Funding?

New ProjectsNew AudiencesSustainable ProjectsProjects that Address a Particular,

Demonstrable, and Local Need

What Things UsuallyDo Not Receive Grant Funding?

Basic Operating CostsOld ProjectsLow Priority Projects

Types of Grants

Specific Purpose Grants• Request for Proposals (RFP)• See the Library Grants Blog

Cooperative GrantsResearch GrantsGrantee-Initiated

Sources of Grant Funds

Governmental Grant Programs e.g., IMLS, LSTA, NHPRC, NEH

Quasi-Government Agencies e.g., Library Systems

Academic / University GrantsFoundations

Private / Family Foundations Private / Independent Foundations Community Foundations Corporate Foundations

THIS IS GOING TO TAKE SOME WORK

Find Funders Whose Goals and Objectives Match Yours

Know Your Goals and Objectives

Goals and Objectives: Not the Same Thing Goals define overall purpose of program

“The goal of this project is to explore oral language as a door to literacy by actively engaging children in grades K-6 and their parents and/or caregivers in talking about stories and literature through library sponsored programming.”

Know Your Goals and Objectives

Goals and Objectives: Not the Same Thing Objectives are the measurable changes expected as a

result of the program “100% of participating libraries will attend at least

85% of the grant-funded training sessions learning family literacy programming techniques for school-age children and their families.”

Have a Well-Developed Plan

Relate project to Mission and long-range plan of organization

Draft Timeline Planning Research Proposal Writing Intended Project Start Date

Anticipate Outcomes, Think about Evaluation Strategies, Draft Outline of your Budget

Grants Research Resources

Grants Library Grants Collection Databases Seminars

Grants Research Resources

Grants Library Grants Collection Databases Seminars

Online Resources Grants Library Website

Grants Research Resources

Grants Library Grants Collection Databases Seminars

Online Resources Grants Library Website Library Grants Blog

Grants Research Resources

Grants Library Grants Collection Databases Seminars

Online Resources Grants Library Website Library Grants Blog Grants.gov

Grants Research Resources

Grants Library Grants Collection Databases Seminars

Online Resources Grants Library Website Library Grants Blog Grants.gov Foundation Center

Grants Research Resources

Grants Library Grants Collection Databases Seminars

Online Resources Grants Library Website Library Grants Blog Grants.gov Foundation Center Research and Sponsored Programs (RSP)

Grants Research Resources

Grants Library Grants Collection Databases Seminars

Online Resources Grants Library Website Library Grants Blog Grants.gov Foundation Center Research and Sponsored Programs (RSP) Grant Space

Grant Writing Resources

Writing Center Main Center is only two floors up Satellite Locations Online at writing.wisc.edu

Analyze Request for Proposal

EligibilityRelevanceFeasibilityProbability

Get in touch with Funders

Ask QuestionsMake a ContactLetter of Intent?Previously funded ProjectsSamples of Successful ProposalsAverage AwardBudgetary Constraints?Due DatesApplication Details

Get Organized

Especially true if you’re applying to multiple funders at once

Create a spreadsheet with: Due Dates Required Documents Contact Information of Project Officers Funder Mission Statements

GENERALLY SPEAKING

II. Components of a Grant Proposal

Letter Proposals

Some funders require only a short letter, not a full proposal Ask for the gift Describe the Need Explain the Project Provide Information About Your Organization Indicate Total Cost and Appropriate Budget Data Conclusion

Long Proposal

Follow Exact Funder GuidelinesGeneral Components

Cover Letter Table of Contents Executive Summary Needs Statement Project Description Evaluation Budget (& Budget Narrative) Organization Information Conclusion

Cover Letter

First Paragraph: Why is project a good match for funder?

Second Paragraph: Summary of project and request for funding amount

Third Paragraph: Enthusiasm, closing.

Executive Summary

Statement of your case and summary of entire proposal Problem Solution Funding Requirements Overview of Organization

Needs Statement

Defines problem or issue the grant application addresses.

Overview Problem Description: Who, What, Where? Problem Recognition: Why is it a Problem? Problem Implications Problem Challenges Problem Urgency Human Interest Story

Needs Statement Pitfalls

Problem is Insufficiently Documented Support your claim with statistics, research Information in Needs Statement should be substantial,

substantiated, and up-to-dateProblem Is (or seems) Insurmountable

Are the project goals achievable?Project Does Not Seem to Match Problem

Make sure your project addresses the actual needCircular Reasoning

The problem is NOT the absence of your project

Sample Needs Statement #1

“Libraryfield is an economically depressed community with many people out of work. With many industries moving out there is a large segment of the population who need help, including a population of teen mothers living in poverty. The library can help them by providing services. The library will expand their family services collection by 1,500 titles dealing with pregnancy needs. The library will also offer eight programs over the grant year dealing with such pregnancy topics as: breastfeeding, prenatal care, post-partum depression and more. The addition of a grant- funded staff member to coordinate efforts with the local medical field will make the project a success.”

Sample Needs Statement #2

“A 1999 report from the New York State Department of Health showed that the Town of Libraryfield ranked among the worst in the state over a 3-year average for infant mortality, low birth weight and premature births, late entry into prenatal care, unmarried parents, teen pregnancies and poverty. An Everywhere County Prenatal Focus Group report revealed that communication by families and doctors is generally poor. There is a need for information on: childbirth education opportunities, support services, childbirth preparation, breastfeeding, sibling preparation for new baby, and post-partum depression. The focus group indicated that the public library could be helpful in directing new parents to resources and materials. In order to meet this need, the library proposes a grant program to expand collections and programs by linking for the first time with family practitioners and the Libraryfield Memorial Hospital to reach expectant and post-partum mothers and their children.”

Project Description

ObjectivesMethodsStaffing / AdministrationEvaluationOther Funding / Sustainability

Objectives

Must be specific, tangible, measurable, concrete, and achievable in a specific time period “Help children read better” “Assist 50 children in improving their reading scores

by one grade level as demonstrated by standardized reading tests administered after participating in the program for six months.”

Must be realistic

Objectives

Questions to answer: Who is the target audience, and how will you involve

them in the activity? How many people do you intend to serve? What are you going to do? What project planning has already taken place?

Methods

Description of the specific activities that will take place to achieve the objectives

Questions to answer: How will the activity be organized and implemented? When will the activity take place?

Might be appropriate to include a timeline Where will the activity take place?

Staffing / Administration

Discuss the number of staff who will work on the project, their qualifications, and specific assignments

Question to answer: Who is going to do the work and what are their

credentials?

Evaluation

Measure Impact and OutcomesQuestions to answer:

How will evaluation information be collected? How will data be analyzed? Who will be responsible for evaluation?

Other Funding / Sustainability

Describe other sources of fundingDescribe how project fits into long-term plans

for organizationQuestions to answer:

Will you continue the project after the grant period? How?

Budget

Financial Description of ProjectRequirements varyUse Funder’s form or categories if specifiedGeneral Categories:

Personnel Salaries, fringe benefits

Non-Personnel Travel, printing, space, equipment, supplies, insurance,

etc. Indirect costs (Overhead)

Utilities, rent, etc.

Budgeting

Plenty of Budget Builders Out There

Budgeting

Plenty of Budget Builders Out ThereProject Expenses as Accurately as Possible

If you don’t know something, find someone who does! Use a Calculator! Use RSP website for calculating salaries, fringe

benefits (on campus only)

Show Calculations

Budgeting

Make sure your budget is realisticDo not put a substantial amount

under “other” or “miscellaneous” or “beverages”

Provide information about other sources of revenue

Pay attention to indirect costsHave someone look over your budget

Organization Information

History and governing structure of the organization

Primary activities, audiences, and services

Cite organization’s expertise

Conclusion

Summary of Proposal’s Main PointsFinal Appeal

PLAN TO WRITE MANY, MANY DRAFTS

Writing the Proposal

Plan to Write Many, Many Drafts

Plan AheadWriting Center!

Read Entire Grant Application Carefully

Qualifications Evaluation CriteriaDue DatesPage LengthsSection RequirementsFOLLOW ALL DIRECTIONS EXACTLY

Style

Rhetorical Position: You must persuade someone to give you money

You deserve funding for your project You deserve their funding in particular You won’t waste the funding

Style

Think About the Funder’s Position: What Are They Looking For?

Style

Organization whose goals and mission match their own SO: Borrow language from their mission statement SO: Customize your proposal for each funder

Style

Organization who will work well with the funder

Organization who has community supportOrganization who can partner with other

organizations working on same problem SO: Emphasize partnerships and collaboration SO: Show community involvement, support for project SO: Consider partnering with other organizations,

such as schools, museums, hospitals, nonprofits

Style

Organization who is capable, competent SO: Show confidence – don’t apologize about asking

for money SO: Write as though the proposal WILL BE

SUCCESSFUL Use active, declarative verbs rather than conditional

verbs SO: Be specific, straightforward, clear, concise

Short is always better Avoid empty adjectives

SEVEN THINGS TO MAKE SURE YOU DO,FOLLOWED BY THE THIRD SHAMELESS

PLUG FOR THE WRITING CENTER.

Recap

A FLAWLESS GRANT APPLICATION IS WORTHLESS IF YOU SUBMIT IT TO A

FUNDER WHOSE MISSION DOESN’T ALIGN

WITH YOURS.

Submit to a Funder Whose Goals and Objectives Match

Yours

SERIOUSLY. FOLLOW DIRECTIONS.

Follow Direction, Follow Directions, Follow

Directions

MAKE A CONTACT. ASK INTELLIGENT QUESTIONS.

Contact Program Officer

TYPOS LOOK SOLPPY.

Edit Carefully

AND MAKE SURE YOUR NUMBERS ADD UP.

Request a Reasonable Amount

READ THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS CAREFULLY.

Don’t Ask for Something a Funder Won’t Give

STUFF HAPPENS. GIVE YOURSELF ENOUGH TIME TO DEAL WITH MAYHEM.

Meet the Deadline

Come to the Writing Center

6171 HELEN C. WHITE HALL608 .263 .1992

WRITING.WISC.EDU

Come to the Writing Center