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Sponsored by: On Today’s Menu Your Successful Grant Proposal Dalya Massachi October 23, 2013 Twitter Hashtag - #4Glearn Part Of:

On Today's Menu: Your Successful Grant Proposal

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How can you whip up a successful grant proposal? You’ll need just the right proportions of research, planning, drafting, and editing. And don’t forget to garnish with tasty feedback and a dash of good timing! Foundations and corporate funders are always looking for ways to make good investments in your community. To partner with them, you have to show exactly how you can help make that happen! Webinar participants will get a special discount on Dalya’s award-winning book, “Writing to Make a Difference: 25 Powerful Techniques to Boost Your Community Impact.” Who should attend: This webinar is ideal for: nonprofit directors, staff, board, volunteers, and consultants who help raise money from foundations and corporations; jobseekers are also welcome.

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Page 1: On Today's Menu: Your Successful Grant Proposal

Sponsored by:

On Today’s Menu Your Successful Grant Proposal

Dalya Massachi October 23, 2013

Twitter Hashtag - #4Glearn

Part

Of:

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Sponsored by:

Advising nonprofits in:

• Strategy

• Planning

• Organizational Development

www.synthesispartnership.com

(617) 969-1881

[email protected]

INTEGRATED PLANNING

Part

Of:

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Sponsored by: Part

Of:

Coming Soon

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Sponsored by:

Today’s Speaker

Dalya Massachi Founder

Writing for Community Success

Assisting with chat questions: Jamie Maloney, 4Good

Founding Director of Nonprofit Webinars and Host:

Sam Frank, Synthesis Partnership

Part

Of:

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WritingToMakeADifference.com

ON TODAY’S MENU:

YOUR SUCCESSFUL

GRANT PROPOSAL 5

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WritingToMakeADifference.com

OUTLINE

I. Introductions

II. The life cycle of a grant proposal

III. 2P2R Planning System: 4 easy steps

IV. A few powerful writing techniques

V. What’s next?

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MY BACKGROUND

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• Nonprofit writer, speaker,

coach: 20+ years

• Authored host of

proposals, articles,

websites

• Trained/coached thousands

& co-founded

Edited/

Contributed to

8 books

2000-2004: Founding

Director of BAIDO

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ARE YOU READY?

Do you have: 501 (c)(3) or fiscal sponsor Financial accounting system Strategic plan/case for support Solid board Logic Model Time/resources for grantseeking

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POLL

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Are you missing any of these critical components?

1. 501 (c)(3) or fiscal sponsor 2. Financial accounting system 3. Strategic plan/case for support 4. Solid board 5. Logic Model 6. Time/resources for grantseeking 7. We have them all!

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LIFE CYCLE

OF A GRANT PROPOSAL (6-12 months)

You research foundations

You begin relationships

You submit an LOI or proposal

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Program Officer reviews your proposal

You answer any outstanding questions

Program Officer advocates for you

Board votes on your proposal

You rejoice OR learn why you lost

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Page 13: On Today's Menu: Your Successful Grant Proposal

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2P2R PLANNING SYSTEM™

1. Understand your

Purposes

2. Define your

Priorities

3. Know your

Readers

4. Refine your messages

“Good writing does

not come from fancy

word processors or

expensive typewriters

or special pencils or

hand-crafted quill

pens. Good writing

comes from good

thinking.”

– Ann Loring

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1. UNDERSTAND YOUR SPECIFIC

WRITING PURPOSES

Inspire the funder with unique ideas Encourage the view of your org as a good investment

Explain your pressing issue Show that you share goals and values Instill trust in your ability to get the job done

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YOUR UNIQUENESS: So powerful that it cuts through inertia, gets noticed

Under-served clients, location, etc.

Outstanding credentials or experience

Extensive collaborations

Unusual point of view or approach

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Beyond Breast Cancer is different from other breast cancer organizations in that we focus on quality of life. We acknowledge the challenges and limitations of living with breast cancer, and we believe that focusing on activities that our clients are able to enjoy cultivates a higher quality of life than might otherwise be possible.

EXAMPLE: Beyond Breast Cancer

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WRITING WORKOUT

What’s 1 unique value

that your org/program adds to the community?

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2. DEFINE YOUR PRIORITIES

Facts and figures (context, 5 W’s)

Importance of the issue

(current need; why should I care?)

Results you envision

(output, outcome; measurable benefits)

Solution you propose (program details; why chosen)

Track record (testimonials, history)

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RESULTS:

What does your work mean for the clients/community?

“So what?” How does your work lead to something

better for the community?

“What’s in it for us?”

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EXAMPLE: HOMELESS SHELTER

PROGRAMS: soup kitchen, warm beds

restrooms, child care, job & housing placement

RESULTS/BENEFITS: Higher level of nutrition and stability

Higher level of employment

Fewer families living in cars or on streets

Less desperation, often leading to crime, drug abuse, etc.

The sense of being a community that cares for everyone

Lower long-term financial cost to local area

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3. KNOW YOUR READERS

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PROGRAM OFFICERS

• Foundation gatekeepers

• Have background, concern BUT may be unfamiliar with your particular slant/niche

• Are time-pressed

• Want to be inspired

• Have been around, frequently talk to others

• Are people too (with hearts, minds)

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WHAT INFO IS OF MOST

INTEREST?

True match with your goals and priorities

Program is a high priority for you

High chance of success: realistic, specific plan

Clear, measurable impact on a vital community need (local/national) ̶ NOW New/innovative idea

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WHAT INFO IS OF MOST

INTEREST?

Beneficiary involvement

Strong evaluation plan

Strategic collaborations/unique role in the field Replicable model

Community support & in-kind

Funded by others

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DATA YOU NEED TO

GATHER

Values, hopes, giving philosophy

Why they care about your issue

What they already know/believe

How you can help them solve probs

Information they need to fund you

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HOW? RESEARCH!

Read their publications, websites, grant guidelines Find out what they have previously supported (Is there enough similarity with your project,

yet uniqueness in your specific approach?)

Call or email to clarify

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4. REFINE YOUR MESSAGES

Match your READERS’ interests with your PRIORITIES (this takes time!)

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WRITING WORKOUT:

FOLLOW-UP

Practice refining your messages!

1) Jot down some FIRST priorities (talking points) about your org/project (see slide 15)

2) Ask someone OUTSIDE YOUR ORG to play the

role of “grantmaker” (see slides #19-21). Engage in a 3-minute phone conversation to introduce your org.

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A FEW POWERFUL

WRITING TECHNIQUES

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FOCUS ON CLARITY

“The most powerful factors in the world are clear ideas in the minds of energetic men [and women] of good will.”— J. Arthur Thomson

You know all about your program, but your readers don’t; explain everything!

Avoid vagueness; talk specifics

Use examples

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EXAMPLE

Original: The tutoring program was very successful last year.

Suggested Revision: Last year, the program’s 20 volunteer tutors boosted the performance of 60 young readers. [go on to explain how they did this….]

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ENGAGE BOTH THE

HEART & HEAD

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Your readers will remember

how you make them feel more than anything else you say or do Even we left-brained people need an emotional clue

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TELL STORIES

Talk about how people have benefited: results they have seen and importance to them

What are some components of great stories?

A beginning, middle and end (before/after) Memorable characters Compelling plot or conflict resolution

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TAKE CUES FROM THE FUNDER

Remember to answer all of the funder’s questions with detailed answers

Use the funder’s language

Use headings and sub-headings with chunks

accessible at a glance 34

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AVOID JARGON AND

UNEXPLAINED ACRONYMS

Would your readers use the term themselves?

Does the term mean the same thing to them as it does to you? (e.g., “supportive community”)

If you must use technical terms or acronyms, explain them the first time

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WritingToMakeADifference.com

Reprinted with permission from CompassPoint Nonprofit Services.

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CULTIVATE CONCISENESS:

LESS IS MORE

“I didn't have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead.” —Mark Twain

Sentences: 14-20 words max.

No freeloading words

KISSS: Keep It Short, Simple, Skimmable

Average LOI:1-3 pp.; full proposal: 5-10 pp.

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WHAT’S NEXT?

CHECK YOUR EMAIL!

Spot the Weaknesses Summary

Sample Grant Format

Recommended Resources

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More info: WritingToMakeADifference.com

• FREE feedback & advice by conference call • Often with Special Guests • Covers a range of writing-related topics

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BOOK DISCOUNT

20% off a Paperback Copy WritingtoMakeADifference.com/discount

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41

EXPERT GRANT PROPOSAL

REVIEW

30% off

Thru 12/15/13

Get the detailed feedback you need to succeed within 2 business days

WritingtoMakeADifference.com/special-offer

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WRAP-UP QUESTION

What is the most valuable thing you are taking away from today? And how will you use that info?