Tech Data Webinar

Grant Basics

Statistics on Grants

• Technology grants represent 0.5% of all grants

• Average Technology Grant Award amount is $230,000

• Median Technology Grant Award is $45,000

• Higher percentage of technology grants awarded in the West, Midwest, Northeast and then the South

AMERICAN GRANT WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION

• AGWA is a professional association of grant researchers and writers, but does not, itself, write any grants. AGWA provides expert training in the grant writing process, credentials members by examination as Certified Grant Writers™ and establishes industry Professional Standards, Code of Ethics and Best Practices.

• AGWA has appx 1,000 members, with appx 300 as Certified Grant Writers™ (CGW).

NATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPERS, INC.

• NBD is a Business Member of AGWA and provides grant services by Certified Grant Writers™. NBD also provides other related services including, but not limited to, Business Plan and Strategic Plan Development, 501(c)3 applications and applications for government contracts.

About Grants

• Grants are most productive when part of a long term strategy.

• Grant money is not a loan. It is a gift or an award.

• Just because you need money is not a reason that you deserve grant money.

• Funders are looking to solve a problem rather than simply give money.

About Grants

• Not all grant applications get funded. Actually, less than 10% of all grant applications get funded. This is the main reason to apply to multiple funders.

• Using a multiple grant application strategy greatly increases your odds of securing grant funding.

• You can apply to as many funders as you want, however, you can only keep the amount that funds a project for the given year. Excess funds cannot be accepted.

About Grants

• It is not about the percentage of grant applications that get funded, instead it is about getting enough grant money to fund your project.

• There are NO guarantees that any one proposal will get funded.

• Nearly all funding opportunities are highly competitive.

Foundation vs Government Grants

• Item Foundation Government

• Research Time 1 day Throughout year

• Writing Time 20-60 hours 100-150 hours

• Award Amount $5,000 - $250,000 $125,000 to $millions

• Award Time after 2 – 6 months 6 – 12 months

Services

• Grant Writing• Grant Coaching• Grant Education• Grant Review• Grant Association

Grant Writing

• Research funding opportunities• Review and analyze available RFPs and NOFAs• Consult with your staff on your Project Design• Write grant proposal narrative and attachments, meeting

all requirements and deadlines• Consult with your staff on Budget Development• Final Review of all documentation• Electronic or Paper Submission prior to Deadline Date

Grant Coaching

• This is designed for those clients that want to try to apply for grants on their own, but would like to have a Certified Grant Writer™ looking over their shoulder, giving them advice whenever they need it.

• Coaching will occur via email or online chat. Having questions and conversation in writing is the preferred method and allows the communication to be more easily assembled into the documents.

Grant Education

• AGWA provides an intensive 5-day training to become a “Certified Grant Writer” (CGW), covering all aspects of grant researching, writing and review. Participants may choose to take the CGW exam following the course to receive the CGW credential.

Grant Review

• We will review any grant proposal not written by one of our grant writers at our hourly rate.

Individually AssignedGrant Consultant

• Get to know your business

• Provide consulting on how best to approach clients and project design

• Manage a long-term grant strategy looking for multiple ongoing grants

How to Coach Prospects

• Start developing your project and funding strategies now

• Develop necessary community relationships and collaborative partners

• Develop a strong performance capacity

What to look for in a Grant Writer

• Experience. • Education.  • Membership in a Professional Association.  • Adherence to Professional Standards and

Ethics. • Rate of Success.  • Areas of Expertise.

Advantages of using an AGWA Certified Grant Writer™

• Knowledge – have intensive training in both foundation and government grant applications.

• Proven ability to obtain grants; most Certified Grant Writers™ have several years of experience.

• Relationships with funders. Over time, professional grant writers get to know the program officers making the funding decisions.

Grant Writers Association

• To become a member of the

American Grant Writers Association

go to www.agwa.us