winning grants

Education Institute/Neal-Schuman Professional Education Network

WebinarOctober 27, 2011

Pam MacKellarpmackellar182@gmail.comwww.pamelamackellar.com

• The Grant Process Cycle• Importance of Planning• Identifying the Right Funder• Proposal Basics

4 essential grant skills librarians have:

• Finding information

• Answering questions

• Serving the community

• Building relationships

Ask Ask These Key Questions:• Where you are going and how

will you get there?• Do library programs and

services relate to your mission and vision?

• What are your community’s needs?

• What do you want to accomplish?

• What difference are you making for the people you serve?

• Addresses community needs• Offers something new, innovative or creative• Maximizes your resources• Offers a model that can be replicated• Has tangible outcomes or products• Has a reasonable budget and realistic timeline• Includes community partners• Has an evaluation plan that measures progress• Has SMART objectives• Causes a change in behavior, attitude, skill, life

condition or knowledge in the people it serves• Is sustainable

GRANTS ARE ABOUT PEOPLE GRANTS ARE ABOUT PEOPLE ……

NOT MONEY OR THINGS NOT MONEY OR THINGS

• Common Project Components:• Goals, Objectives, Activities and Outcomes• Timeline• Budget• Evaluation Plan

• Common Grant Proposal Components:• Goals, Objectives, Activities and Outcomes• Timeline• Budget• Evaluation Plan

• Fundamentals of Teamwork• Common goals• Acknowledged interdependency and

mutual respect• Common code of conduct• Team spirit and energy• Shared rewards

• Initial Informal Meeting• First Team Meeting

• Categories of Grants • Government:

• Federal• State/Province• Local

• Private: • Foundations

• Corporations and Businesses• Clubs and Organizations

• Professional and Trade Associations

5. UNDERSTANDING THESOURCES AND RESOURCES

SOURCESSOURCES

RESOURCESRESOURCES

•Identify and translate keywords

•Select the resources•Work from general to

specific

•Record what you find•Organize your research•Match funder priorities with project goals

Library Grants BlogLibrary Grants Bloghttp://librarygrants.blogspot.com/

• Common Grant Proposal Components• Cover Letter, Title Sheet, Table of Contents• Proposal Abstract/Executive Summary• Organizational Overview• Statement of Needs• Project Description• Timeline/Activities• Budget• Evaluation Plan• Appendix

• Tell the Story• Make Your Case

FIRST CELEBRATE!

•Thank your funder•Inform your grant team•Tell leadership and

administration•Spread the word to the people

you serve•Tell the community

Don’t give upAsk for reviewers’ commentsStrategize a new approach• Revise and edit• Redesign project• Try another source• Look for partners

1. Start with planning.2. Grants are about people, not about money or things.3. Project design and proposal writing are closely

linked.4. Grant work is a team effort.5. Grant work requires support from your organization

and leadership.6. The interests of a funder must match the goals of

your project.7. Always follow the application directions and funder’s

guidelines.8. Grant work does not end when you hear from the

funder about success or rejection.9. If a library project does not meet a community need,

you should not be doing it.10.Developing working relationships with potential

funders and partners is part of the grant process.

“Good fortune often happenswhen opportunity meets preparation.”

~ Thomas Alva Edison

COMING SOON!

Pam MacKellarpmackellar182@gmail.comwww.pamelamackellar.com