10 tips for successful grant proposals
DESCRIPTION
Tired of spinning your wheels because you’re not sure what foundations are really looking for? Learn to “sell” your work to funders with a well-crafted grant proposal! We’ll focus on their interests and how best to tell them your story. This webinar is ideal for new grantwriters and features important reminders for the more seasoned among us.TRANSCRIPT
10 Tips for Successful Grant Proposals
Dalya Massachi
Use Twitter Hashtag #npweb
Special Thanks To Our Sponsors
Helping ordinary people raise extraordinary amounts for nonprofits is all we do, and we love it.
A Proud Sponsor of NonprofitWebinars.com
Today’s Speaker
Hosting: Sam Frank, Synthesis Partnership
Assisting with chat questions: April Hunt, Nonprofit Webinars
Dalya MassachiWriting for Community Success
10 TIPS FOR SUCCESSUL
GRANT
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
SUCCESSUL GRANT
PROPO$AL$ Presenter: Dalya F. Massachi
4
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
Reprinted with permission from CompassPoint Nonprofit Services.
5
OUTLINE
I. The life cycle of a grant proposal
II. 2P2R Planning System: 4 easy steps
III. Powerful writing techniques
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
III. Powerful writing techniques
IV. Spot the weaknesses
V. Bonus handouts (follow-up)
6
1. KNOW THE LIFE CYCLE OF A GRANT PROPOSAL
(6-12 months)
You research foundations
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
You research foundations
You begin relationships
You submit an LOI or proposal
7
Program Officer reviews your proposal
You answer any outstanding questions
Program Officer advocates for you
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
Program Officer advocates for you
Board votes on your proposal
You rejoice OR learn why you lost
8
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net 9
2. USE THE 2P2R SYSTEM
1. Understand your
Purposes.
2. Define your
Priority info.
“Good writing does
not come from fancy
word processors or
expensive typewriters
or special pencils or
hand-crafted quill
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
Priority info.
3. Know your
Readers.
4. Refine your messages.
hand-crafted quill
pens. Good writing
comes from good
thinking.”
–Ann Loring
10
UNDERSTAND YOUR SPECIFIC WRITING PURPOSES.
� Inspire the funder with your unique ideas.
� Encourage the view of your organization as a
solid investment.
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
solid investment.
� Explain your pressing issue.
� Show that you share goals and values.
� Instill trust in your ability to get the job done.
11
YOUR UNIQUENESS:So powerful that it cuts through inertia, gets noticed, and gets people talking about you.
� Under-served clients, location, etc.� Under-served clients, location, etc.
� Outstanding credentials or experience
� Extensive collaborations
� Unusual point of view or approach
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net 12
Beyond Breast Cancer is different from other breast cancer organizations in that we focus on quality of life. We acknowledge the challenges and
EXAMPLE: Beyond Breast Cancer
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.
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net 13
ASK YOURSELF:
1) What’s inspiring and intriguing about your organization or program?
2) What is the unique value it adds to the community?community?
3) What makes your org a good investment- NOW?
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net 14
DEFINE YOUR PRIORITY INFO
�Facts and figures
�Importance of the issue
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
�Results you envision
� Solution you propose
�Track record
15
ASK YOURSELF:
� What does your work mean for the community: personally, economically, spiritually, emotionally, socially, etc.?
How does your work serve, excite, entertain, or � How does your work serve, excite, entertain, or educate your community?
� “So what?” How does your work lead to something better for the community?
� “What’s in it for US?”
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net 16
EXAMPLE: HOMELESS SHELTER
PROGRAMS: You offer homeless families a soup kitchen, warm beds, restrooms, child care, long-term job and housing services
BENEFITS: (the difference you make – so what?)� 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©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net 17
KNOW YOUR READERS.
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net 18
PROGRAM OFFICERS:
� Foundation gatekeepers
� Have background, concern BUT may be
unfamiliar with your particular slant/niche
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
�Are time-pressed
�Want to be inspired
�Have been around, frequently talk to others
�Are people too, with hearts, minds, concerns
19
WHAT INFORMATION IS OF MOST INTEREST TO THEM?
� True match with your goals and priorities
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
� Program is a high priority for you
� High chance of success: realistic, specific plan
� Clear, measurable impact on a vital community need
-- NOW
20
� Beneficiary involvement
� Strategic collaboration/role in the field
�Strong evaluation plan
� Replicable model
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
� Replicable model
� Community support ( and in-kind)
� Funded by other foundations
Note: Corporations are looking for how their
investment will benefit them.
21
HOW TO FIND OUT MORE?
� Read their publications, websites, grant guidelines.
� Research what they have previously
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
� Research what they have previously supported.
(Is there enough similarity with your project, yet uniqueness in your specific approach?)
� Call or email to clarify.
22
REFINE YOUR MESSAGES.
Match your READERS’ interests
with your writing PRIORITIES.
(This takes time!)
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
(This takes time!)
23
POWERFUL WRITING TECHNIQUES
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net 24
3. 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
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
�You know all about your program, but
your readers don’t. Explain everything!
�Avoid vagueness; talk specifics.
� Use examples, quotes.
25
4. TELL STORIES
� Talk about how people have
benefited: results they have seen
and importance.
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
� What are some characteristics of great stories?
� A beginning, middle and end
� Memorable characters
� Interesting setting (time and place)
� Compelling plot or conflict resolution
26
5. TAKE CUES FROM THE FUNDER
� Remember to answer all of the funder’s
questions with details.
� Use the funder’s language.
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
� Use the funder’s language.
� Use headings and sub-headings with chunks
accessible at a glance.
27
6. AVOID JARGON AND UNEXPLAINED ACRONYMS
� Does the term mean the same
thing to them as it does to you?
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
� If you must use technical terms or
acronyms, explain them the first time.
28
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
Reprinted with permission from CompassPoint Nonprofit Services.
29
7. SHOW, DON’T JUST TELL
� Convey striking details
� Use metaphors and analogies
� Show HOW your solution benefits folks
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
� Show HOW your solution benefits folks
� Use word pictures:
NOT “affordable housing and good nutrition”
BUT “safe roof and 3 solid meals a day”
� Compare your topic to a more familiar one.
30
EXAMPLEThe Frameworks Institute used stats from U.S. Dept. of Ed’s 2005 study, “Calories In, Calories Out: Food and Exercise in Public Elementary Schools,” and crafted this message:
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
“Exercise is something that children need every day. But half of all students attend schools that have reduced their phys ed class to just one or two days per week. Part-time fitness is no more effective than part-time reading or math instruction.”
31
8. MAKE YOUR PROPOSAL PLEASING TO THE EYE.
Use:
� white space
� legible font
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
� legible font
� numbering
� bullets
� charts
� simple graphics (maps, diagrams, etc.)
32
9. 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.
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
� Sentences: 14-20 words max.
� No freeloading words
� KISSS: Keep It Short, Simple, Skimmable
�Average LOI:1-3 pp.; full proposal: 7-10 pp.
33
10. PROOFREAD� Check your document for grammar, punctuation, spelling, and other slip-ups.
Always read your piece
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
� Always read your piece out loud (even if it’s only to yourself). Most people hear words as they read them, so your words should roll off the tongue.
34
LET IDEAS GERMINATE."The beautiful part of writing is that you don't have to get it right the first time, unlike, say, a brain surgeon."
—Robert Cormier
� Wait at least 24 hours before starting
to revise.
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
to revise.
� Try keeping a notepad & pen
on your nightstand. This invites
creative ideas to visit you.
35
EXERCISE
SPOT THE WEAKNESSES:
Can you identify the problems
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
Can you identify the problems
in this piece?
36
EXERCISE(SPOT THE WEAKNESSES)
Dear Program Officer:
We are pleased to submit this brief Letter of
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
We are pleased to submit this brief Letter of
Intent to the Over-the-Top Foundation. We
propose the “Get A Life Project,” which will
have a negligible effect on housing conditions
for low-income women and will probably do
nothing to change their economic status.
37
EXERCISE(SPOT THE WEAKNESSES)
We don’t have an innovative bone in our
bodies, so we’re just doing the same old
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
bodies, so we’re just doing the same old
project that we’ve always done, and it’s not
part of any larger plan. In fact, we think there
are already many organizations doing this
work in our town.
38
EXERCISE(SPOT THE WEAKNESSES)
Based on no community feedback or
involvement, we believe that our Get A Life
Project will provide much-needed assistance.
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
Project will provide much-needed assistance.
It’s not clear how we will do this work, but we
are sure that we’ll come up with something.
To be sure, we definitely will not be
evaluating it.
39
EXERCISE(SPOT THE WEAKNESSES)
Our project does not address any of your
priority areas, but we know you will make an
exception because of our good intentions. We
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
exception because of our good intentions. We
will have to indefinitely rely on your
foundation to sustain our work. Otherwise
will have to close.
Sincerely,
Wanda Grant
40
FINAL THOUGHT
"Find a subject you care about and which you in your heart feel others should care about. It is this genuine caring, not your games with language, which will be the
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net
games with language, which will be the most compelling and seductive element in your style.”— Kurt Vonnegut
41
Your special discount:
www.dfmassachi.net/event.html
2 BONUS HANDOUTS:1) Proposal Checklist
2) Sample Cover Letter
~Both Available on the Same Website!~
©2011 Dalya F Massachi
www.dfmassachi.net 42
Find the listings for our current season of webinarsand register at
NonprofitWebinars.com
Chris [email protected]
707-812-1234
Special Thanks To Our Sponsors