Community Gardening

SMALL GRANT RESEARCH AND WRITING COMMUNITY GARDENING AND FOOD ACCESS SUMMIT Kent Hornberger Director of Grants – RankenTechnical College

February 19, 2011

OBJECTIVES 

How to search for small grants to support your garden

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How to cut through the clutter and find the grant that is right for you

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Basic grant writing do’s and don’ts

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Importance of record keeping and grant reporting

SUCCESSFUL GRANTS • 80% research and cultivation • 20% putting “pen to paper”

THE PROCESS – PLAN AHEAD 9-12 months before $$ needed • DEFINE THE PROBLEM • Mission Driven • Research Statistics • Define Need

THE PROCESS – PLAN AHEAD • IDENTIFY SOLUTION/REFINE PRODUCT • Clients Served • Project Description • Staff, space, equipment requirements • Activities • General Goals • Cost Estimates

THE PROCESS – PLAN AHEAD 9-12 months before $ needed • RESEARCH BEGINS • Identify Funders with interest in project

• CONTACT FUNDER

THE PROCESS – PLAN AHEAD 3-6 months before $ needed • APPLY • Follow Funders’ guidelines & DEADLINES • Show that you are THE Agency to complete the project

TYPES OF GRANT MAKERS Private Foundation 

Funds from a single source such as individual or family



Administered/managed by trustees or directors

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Grants for social, educational, religious or other charitable activities serving the common welfare

TYPES OF GRANT MAKERS (CONTINUED)

Corporate Foundation (Company-Sponsored)   

Assets usually from a for-profit business Independent entity (may have ties to parent company) Different from corporate giving programs

Corporate Giving Program   

Grant making program established & administered within a for-profit company Often administered by marketing or community/public relations department Grants from the company – usually focusing on its community & the business of the company

TYPES OF GRANT MAKERS (CONTINUED)

Federal Government   

Opportunities published in Federal Register On-line at the Federal Agency’s website Deadlines generally 60 days from publication

State Local Governments Other such as United Way

PROSPECTING TOOLS RESEARCH  

Google www.Guidestar.org

Foundation 990’s Foundation Center on-line www.foundationcenter.org Foundation Center Cooperating Collections  St. Louis Public Libraries  Kirkwood Public Library  St. Charles City-County Library District 

 

THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS 

Know whom to contact

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The Foundation’s general interests

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How to submit the application

DEVELOP A DIALOGUE WITH THE “KEY PEOPLE” 

Similar Interests?

 Agency

Mission

• Program/proposal • Foundation Focus 

Is it a good fit, if so call and speak with Foundation staff…

DEVELOP A DIALOGUE WITH THE “KEY PEOPLE” 

Know your project • • • •

25 word elevator speech Cost Results you will achieve Ask if this sounds interesting to the Foundation • Give a more detailed description

DEVELOP A DIALOGUE WITH THE “KEY PEOPLE” 

THEN LISTEN Foundation staff say that they want to work with applicants.

Saves time for Foundation and applicant.

GET PERSONAL A Picture Is Worth 1,000 Words!

Invite the Foundation for Site Visit 

Key organizational personnel present • Tell the Story

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See what the organization is about • Not an empty building • Consumers engaged in programs

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Written thank you for making the visit

Successful grant proposals tell your story in an understandable and compelling manner, conveying who will be benefitted; why we need to do the program; what the project will accomplish; why our work is important (i.e. why we are the agency to successfully address the problem.)

ANATOMY OF A GRANT PROPOSAL 

Cover Letter – Summary (write these last)

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Problem Statement (what is the problem you intend to address with funding)

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Objectives (what do you plan to achieve)

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Approach (how do you plan to achieve it)

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Personnel (who will be doing the work and why are they qualified)

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Evaluation (how will you know that you have achieved your objectives)

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Future Funding (how will you sustain your efforts once the funds are exhausted)

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Budget (how much and why)

ELEMENTS OF PROPOSAL A.

COVER LETTER Addressed to specific person  On Agency letterhead  Includes proposal summary and amount requested  Address the interests and specific priorities of the Foundation  Reference any linkages to Foundation  Include contact information for person most able to answer proposal questions  Signed by Executive Director or Board President (Usually the last piece of the proposal written) 

ELEMENTS OF PROPOSAL

(CONTINUED)

B.

NARRATIVE (If funder requests specific format or order – that’s what must be used!)

1. Agency Information • • •

Brief overview of the agency (history and purpose) Mission Brief description of current programs, activities and accomplishments

(Build your organization’s credibility)

ELEMENTS OF PROPOSAL

(CONTINUED)

2. Needs Assessment/Problem Statement • • • •

Need clearly related to mission Of reasonable dimensions that are solvable Client description and how they will benefit State in terms of the needs of clients (not the Agency) •

Example • Agency-focused: “In order for our agency to better serve the community, we need a new gym.”

• Client-focused: “For hundreds of school age youth in our community, unsafe neighborhoods and empty homes await the each evening. With a new gym, our organization can offer expanded activities that meet not only the hcild care concerns of parents, but also offer physically and mentally-challening opportunities for positive youth development.”

REMINDER • Organizations have no needs • Communities have needs to satisfy • People have needs and problems • Organizations have solutions, answers and capabilities

REMINDER • Must support needs statement with statistical evidence • AVOID jargon and acronyms • Make it interesting to read • Make it easy to read • Plenty of “white space” on page • Legible/easy to read font and font size • Conversational tone

ELEMENTS OF PROPOSAL

(CONTINUED)

3. Purpose of Grant • Goals and Objectives •

Goals are outcomes which state the end result of the project in the broadest terms • Who? When? How? What Actions? What will happen?

• Relate goals to Needs Statement

Objectives are outcomes that are measurable and time specific.

They must be clear with strategies for achievement (Tangible, Specific, Concrete, Measurable, Achievable)

• • • • •

State your objectives in quantifiable terms State your objectives in terms of outcomes, not process Objectives should specify the result of an activity Objectives should identify the target audience being served Objectives need to be realistic and capable of being accomplished within the grant period Focus on the client benefit/outcome – NOT the activities

ELEMENTS OF PROPOSAL

(CONTINUED)

4. Description of program activities to accomplish goals.

• • • • •

Methodology (Step-by-step plan of action) Is this new or on-going program Time frame Clients and client selection process Who will do what?

• •

•

Staff Credentials

Collaborations/Other Organizations participating (if any) • •

Credentials Roles

ELEMENTS OF PROPOSAL

(CONTINUED)

C.

EVALUATION • • • • •

Measurement Ask the question – How will I know I have been successful?

What will convince others?

What is the impact on the audiences you serve and the measurable outcomes of your grant project An information collection plan prescribes • • •

What kinds of information should be collected in order to address each objective Where will you get the information How will you get the information

Grant makers view a healthy evaluation plan as evidence of a well-run organization

ELEMENTS OF PROPOSAL

(CONTINUED)

D.

BUDGET – Expenses and Revenue for Project •

Revenue • • •

Show other funders committed to project Will the project result in revenue (memberships, ticket sales, etc.)

What amount will agency contribute • Financial • In-kind, such as space

ELEMENTS OF PROPOSAL

(CONTINUED)

D.

BUDGET – Expenses and Revenue for Project •

Expenses tie to the Program Description •

•

Personnel • Staff (existing and new) • Percent of time on the project • Salary & benefits • Consultants (if applicable) Non-Personnel • Supplies (Program and Office) • Utilities • Space rental • Travel • Training • Equipment • Printing • Outreach • Evaluation • Other (This should be clearly identified in Budget Narrative)

ELEMENTS OF PROPOSAL

(CONTINUED)

BUDGET – Expenses XYZ Foundation Salaries Fringe Benefits Utilities Travel Training Supplies Printing Evaluation Other TOTAL

Other Funds

In-Kind

ELEMENTS OF PROPOSAL

(CONTINUED)

D.

BUDGET (continued) •

Budget Narrative •

Use when costs are not straightforward

•

Explains unusual line items in budget

•

Explains “Other”

ELEMENTS OF PROPOSAL

(CONTINUED)

E.

PLANS FOR SUSTAINABILITY • • • •

How will the project continue after this grant has ended?

Will the project make your organization attractive to other funders in the future?

Sustainability increases chances for a successful grant proposal Plan needed unless • •

Project is finite (with start-up and ending dates) Capacity building (that it will contribute to the future self-sufficiency of your agency and/or enable it to expand services that might generate revenue)

LETTER PROPOSAL 

Letter of Intent

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For Simpler Projects

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Usually no more than 3 pages in length

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Concise, well articulated, easy to read

LETTER PROPOSAL (CONTINUED)  Remember • • • • • • • • • •

Address the letter to specific person Ask for a specific amount/gift Describe the need – client benefit Explain what you will do Include agency data, mission and brief description of programs, number of people served, achievements Strong concluding statement Contact information for questions Thank you for your consideration Attach additional information as required Signed by person in charge

8 WAYS TO EARN A QUICK REJECTION 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

You fail to ask for a specific amount You direct proposal to wrong person or “Dear Friend�

You fail to show how others are committed to the project You offer poorly written proposal with budget that does NOT match narrative There is no plan for evaluation or sustainability Your goal is unrealistic You describe the problem but not the solution You ignore eligibility criteria and deadlines

SOURCES

www.america-the-beautiful.org www.captainplanetfdn.org

SOURCES http://www.schoolgrants.org/tips.htm http://www.for-wild.org/seedmony.htm

Fundraising tips

http://www.communitygarden.org/rebeltomato

http://www.communitygarden.org/rebelto mato/roots/fundraising.php

Tool Kit

http://extension.missouri.edu/explorepdf /miscpubs/mp0906.pdf

Contact Information

Kent Hornberger, Director of Grants  Ranken Technical College  khornberger@ranken.edu  314-791-2831 