Grantwriting for Growth: 10 Strategies for Successful Grantwriting From the Reviewers Eyes

1. Grantwriting for Growth: 10 Strategies for Successful Grantwriting From the Reviewers Eyes EW & Associates, Inc.

2. FACILITATOR Partial TA Client List: • The Ethiopian Community Development Corporation Arlington, VA • The COGIC Urban Initiatives Economic Development St. Louis, MO • Good Africa Coffee of Uganda, Africa • African Community Health Institute San Diego, CA • Somali African Parent Association, Minneapolis, MN • Women’s Employment Opportunity Project, Atlanta, GA • Atlanta Refugee Women’s Network Atlanta, GA • Philadelphia Development Partnership, Philadelphia, PA • Greater Newark Business Development Consortium, Newark, NJ • CHAMAL, Lynchburg, VA • The WORLD (Welcoming of Refugees for Lansing Development) Lansing, MI • Burmese Advocacy Center Fort Wayne, IN • Midwest Community Development Corporation Minneapolis, MN • Sustainable Rural Regenerative Enterprises for Families Atlanta, GA. Elizabeth Wilson President, EW & Associates Atlanta, GA Elizabeth is a true expert in low and moderate community economic development initiatives and policy. Her management portfolio exceeds over six million dollars to develop small businesses and includes initiatives funded by the eBay Foundation, Hewlett Packard Philanthropy and the Prudential Foundation. M. Wilson has a strong knowledge of urban, economic, and small business development. Since 1996, she has provided professional leadership and training in the development of nonprofit services and management including program design, project planning, development budgeting, staff recruitment, marketing and fundraising in her various positions. She is the author of business training curriculum and several books, including “When Life Gives You Lemons, Open a Lemonade Stand” and “Young, Gifted & Entrepreneurs” EW & Associates, Inc.

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4. Sources of Funding Other sources Program Income 3% 12% Federal Government 36% Private Sources 27% State Local Government Government 16% 6% Annually $307.65 Billion Given Source: Giving USA 2009, Giving USA Foundation, researched and written by the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University EW & Associates, Inc.

5. Strategiesfor Successful Proposals 1 3 2 Careless Preparation Nature of Project Competence of Applicant not shown Reasons for NOT receiving a grant* *Based on an analysis of more than 700 proposals rejected by the US Public health Services. Roy Meadot, Guidelines for Preparing Proposals, Chelsea: Lewis Publishers, Inc. EW & Associates, Inc.

6. 1 Follow the Directions Organize, Clarify and Structure EW & Associates, Inc.

7. Directions Matter! 35 – 50% of ALL federal and foundation proposals are rejected because they are poorly organized or don’t conform to the RFP guidelines. Read and analyze the RFP Research Read winning proposals Follow the outline laid out in the RFP EW & Associates, Inc.

8. Remember: • Every year, proposals are disqualified because the writer failed to follow general format directions regarding the number of pages, appendices, fonts, spacing etc.  • Reviewers rank proposals lower when writers fail to follow instructions regarding what content goes in which section of the proposal. EW & Associates, Inc.

9. 2 Independent eyes see better Organize, independent eyes and collaborate EW & Associates, Inc.

10. Types of Reviewers Mechanical – Lockheed Martin (50% rejection) Human – External – Intermediary organizations, paid reviewers Human – Internal – Foundation or Corporate Staff, volunteer stakeholders EW & Associates, Inc.

11. Mechanical • Review Team • Funder Team EW & Associates, Inc.

12. The Writer • Review Team • Content Reviewer EW & Associates, Inc.

13. Duties of Your Review Team • Review checklist • Spelling, grammar • Timelines • Research • RFP Outline • TTTT’s & iiiiiii • Did you answer the ??? • Review strategy & selling points • Cohesiveness • Jargon-free review • Goals clearly stated • Responses are strategic, feasible, realistic, logical • Competencies EW & Associates, Inc.

14. 3 Finish Early Timelines, checks and balances EW & Associates, Inc.

15. Submitting a proposal on the due date is late to a Reviewer. • Early proposals receive favorable consideration. • Late proposals, even if received, receive negative consideration from reviewers. • Online = Mechanical EW & Associates, Inc.

16. File 13 Proposals Faxed Handwritten Too many attachments, pages to read Obviously patched together from a variety of sources Templates EW & Associates, Inc.

17. Remember… • Proposal submission rules must apply to everyone. It is not up to the discretion of the program officer to grant you dispensation on deadlines. • Equipment failures, power outages, hurricanes and tornadoes, and even internal problems at your institution are not valid excuses. • Get your proposal in two or three days before the deadline. EW & Associates, Inc.

18. Remember… Don’t Bore the Reviewer EW & Associates, Inc.

19. 4 Prove It Back up your facts, edit, and tie in to other data EW & Associates, Inc.

20. Remember… • Format and brevity are important: Do not feel that your proposal is rated based on its wordiness. • Proposals are meant as convincing documents, not reports or research. • State your case, make your main points early and stay organized. EW & Associates, Inc.

21. Remember… • Reviewers hate being challenged to read densely prepared text or to read obtusely prepared materials. • Take pity on the reviewers. Make your proposal a pleasant reading experience that puts important concepts up front and makes them clear. Use figures appropriately to make and clarify points, but not as filler. EW & Associates, Inc.

22. 5 Tell A Story Beginning, Middle & End EW & Associates, Inc.

23. Remember… • Address the big picture. • As you are writing, convey your passion and enthusiasm for the project, so that reviewers become excited as they read your proposal. • Describe why your project is exciting and distinct from others. EW & Associates, Inc.

24. 6 Develop a writing process Detail your facts, edit, and tie in to other data EW & Associates, Inc.

25. Step 1-Prewriting Step 2-Drafting Step 3-Revising Step 4-Editing Step 5 - Final EW & Associates, Inc.

26. Where's the Beef? Present a clear path from data to interpretation to theory to result. EW & Associates, Inc.

27. What sets your Proposal Apart? What’s New and Different? EW & Associates, Inc.

28. 7 InnovateBest Practices Create, Expand, Go Beyond EW & Associates, Inc.

29. What’s Better? What’s New? What’s Innovative? What’s Hot? What’s New? New Services? What’s New? New Use of Technology? New Markets? Efficient? What’s New? Problem Solved? What’s Different? What’s New? What’s New? Who’s New? What’s New? What’s New? EW & Associates, Inc.

30. 8 3 C’s Capacity, Competence & Capabilities Tell Your Story, Why Your Team, Meet The Need EW & Associates, Inc.

31. Remember… • Make sure the proposal shows that your team has both the background and expertise to carry out the project. • Know your organizations areas of expertise, what are your strengths and what are your weaknesses. Play to your strengths, not to your weaknesses. • Establish your credentials and expertise in a subject area. Your track record does count. EW & Associates, Inc.

32. 9 Focuson Needs Know Their Story, Relate to the RFP, Meet Their Need EW & Associates, Inc.

33. Remember the Funders Needs: Ask "what can WE do for the corporation/funder/organization rather than what the corporation/funder/organization can do for US".  EW & Associates, Inc.

34. Remember… • Know the funding source from which you seek support. • Never submit a proposal to a funder if you are not certain that it is the correct source to support your work. • Don’t waste your time writing a proposal that has no chance of success ...unless EW & Associates, Inc.

35. Unless… • You want to receive feedback from national reviewers • You want to begin to build relationships with a new funder • You want to develop a portfolio of ideas • You have a concept and want it vetted EW & Associates, Inc.

36. Know your Community’s Needs: • Community Assessments • Focus Groups • Surveys • Requests • Complaints • Empty areas EW & Associates, Inc.

37. Know your Organizations Needs: • Strategic Plans • Complaints • Skill sets & abilities • Board & Leadership Vision • Uniqueness   • Natural affinity EW & Associates, Inc.

38. 10 Relationships…Matter! Know Who, What and Why Before You Ask ! EW & Associates, Inc.

39. Build Relationships • Make contacts through your networks • Memberships in organizations that facilitate networking • Know what the Funder is doing in your community/their footprint • Develop the Capacity to quickly publicize your organizations activities EW & Associates, Inc.

40. Build Relationships • Facebook, LinkedIn, Social Media • Online Newsletters, website • Blogs, webinars, trainings • Client testimonials • Media opportunities • Provide opportunities to collaborate on Board of Directors, Loan Committees, Advisor Boards, Volunteers, Memberships, community organizations • Fraternal organizations EW & Associates, Inc.

41. 10 Strategies Checklist Follow Directions Independent Eyes Finish Early Prove It Tell A Story Writing Process Innovate The 3 C's Focus on Needs Build Relationships EW & Associates, Inc.

42. Resources and Tools • 10 Strategies for Successful Grant Writing PowerPoint • Foundation Center Corporate Giving Resource List PDF • Writing Winning Proposal by Shipley Nordic • Requests for Proposals – Feb 2012 EW & Associates, Inc.

43. QUESTIONS? EW & Associates, Inc.

44. Follow up Contact Information: Elizabeth Wilson – biznow@aol.com404-344-2601 www.elizabethwwilson.com EW & Associates, Inc.