Finding & Securing Finding & Securing Funding: Sustaining Your Funding: Sustaining Your SuccessSuccess

OACHE Winter Retreat 02.19.09

Dr. Pollyanne S. Frantz Development ConsultantAppalachian Higher Education NetworkAppalachian Regional Commission

Today’s agenda:Today’s agenda:

Funding opportunity databases

Awards information

Electronic publications

Hands-on searching practice

Letters of inquiry overview

Hands-on LOI writing practice

Information sharing: what we plan to

do

Funding opportunity Funding opportunity databasesdatabases Broadest in scope (includes federal/state/private funders):

◦ Community of Science (subscription) ◦ Sponsored Programs Information Network (subscription) ◦ GrantsNet (free)◦ FundSource (free)

Federal funding only: ◦ Grants.gov◦ Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Private funders (foundations) only:◦ Foundation Directory Online (subscription) ◦ Foundation Center’s Foundation Finder (free)◦ Foundation Center’s 990PF (free)

Other valuable resources: ◦ Appalachian Regional Commission (free)◦ GuideStar (free & subscription)

Looking at awards madeLooking at awards made

Agency databases: NSF, NIH, DoED

Agency web sites: NEH, NEA

Research.gov

Individual foundation web sites

Foundation Center

◦Foundation Finder & 990 Finder (FREE)

Selected Electronic PublicationsSelected Electronic Publications

Agency-specific:◦ MyNSF (National Science Foundation)

◦ EDInfo. (U.S. Dept. of Education)

◦ NIH TOC (National Institutes of Health)

◦ NEH Connect! (National Endowment for the

Humanities)

RFP Bulletin (Foundation Center)Grants.gov email notification subscription

(federal)Rural Assistance Center Health Update (mix)GrantsNet Funding News (RSS format)

Searching StrategiesSearching StrategiesDefine your project & create a list of

related keywords & terms Think broadly on initial searchesRefine & limit searches based on initial

resultsUse different keywords & phrases in

search results to launch additional searches

Don’t rely on just one database

Learning more about the Learning more about the funderfunder

PeopleAreas of interestGiving trends (awards history)Giving amountsMethod of approach

Interpreting Guidelines Interpreting Guidelines Part 1Part 1Read (and re-read) guidelines:

◦ Are you eligible?◦ What will be funded?◦ What is the agency really looking to fund?◦ What is the format?◦ What information is required?◦ Are these the most current guidelines?◦ When is the deadline?◦ How many awards will be made?

Interpreting Guidelines Interpreting Guidelines Part 2Part 2Pay close attention to:

◦ Words◦ Concepts ◦ Phrasing◦ Themes ◦ Review criteria

Further sleuthing includes:◦ Perusing agency’s web site for additional

information◦ Searching awards databases◦ Talking to program officers◦ Talking to funded and unfunded PIs

The “look into your head & heart The “look into your head & heart for answers” questions:for answers” questions:

Do we want to do this?

Can we do it?

Can we compete?

The Letter of InquiryThe Letter of Inquiry

The first step toward cultivating a relationship

with a funder.

What it should beWhat it should beBrief & written with clarityA description of you & why you

are seeking fundingEvident that you have researched

the funder and its prioritiesIn compliance with formatting

requirements specified by funder

What it should look likeWhat it should look like

Printed on finest quality stationeryBoard members’ names listed on

leftProper formatting & lengthAppropriate use of

◦ Headings◦ Bullets◦ Page numbers◦ White space

The 10 elements of The 10 elements of contentcontent Title

Project overview

Statement of problem

The 10 elements of The 10 elements of contentcontent Project aims & objectives

Target population

Experience & qualifications

Evaluation plan

The 10 elements of The 10 elements of contentcontent Support from other sources &

sustainability plan

Budget

Letter author’s contact information

How it should readHow it should read

Opening paragraphProject overviewStatement of problemProject aims and objectivesTarget populationExperience & qualificationsEvaluation planSupport from other sourcesSustainability planBudgetClosing paragraph with contact information

The timeline: what happens The timeline: what happens next?next?Don’t pester funder for response

– allow time for reviewStatus update:

Approved Rejected More information requested:

Regardless of outcome, write thank you letter