finding the right funding: proven grant research strategies

How to Find the Right Funder:Strategic Prospect Research

WEDIDIT WebinarJanuary 20, 2016

RBW STRATEGY ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2016

Presented by: RBW Strategy, LLC

Introductions Session Objectives Grants overview and lifecycle Organizational strategic planning Tips for researching funders Resources

Agenda

RBW STRATEGY ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2016 2

Identify how strategic planning impacts grant seeking activities

Understand components of grants lifecycle and how they impact one another

Gather information on how to establish organization for successful grant seeking

Obtain resources and information to inform the pre-award process

Session Objectives


Guiding Question 1:Why do you seek grants for your

organization? Is this part of a larger organizational strategy or fundraising

strategy, a board member/executive leader’s focus, or is this what you have always done?


Grant = a sum of money given by a governmental agency, or private funding source, for a particular purpose.

What do grant funds typically support?o General operating budgeto A specific project or programo Capital improvementso Capacity buildingo Special evento Meeting or conferenceo Sponsorships or scholarships

Grants Overview and Lifecycle


What types of entities award grants? Government agencies (Federal, State, Local) Private foundations (Bill & Melinda Gates

Foundation) Corporate foundations (AT&T Foundation) Family foundations (Bezos Family Foundation) Community foundations (Northern VA

Community Foundation) Corporations (through the corporation itself)




Prospect Research and Strategic

Planning

Application Development

Award and Project Start-up

Award Management and

Monitoring

Project Closeout


Grants Overview and LifecycleLifecycle Phase Description

Prospect Research and StrategicPlanning

Review grantors’ requirements and create prospect list Determine potential fit with grantors’ priorities

Alignment of potential grantors to organization’s fundraising strategy, and grantors’ deadlines

Application Development

Compile financial, programmatic, and organizational data required to complete proposal

Prepare proposal(s) in advance of deadlines and review for accuracy

Award and Project Start-up

Grantor notifies grantee of grant through written communication (typically notice of award)

Grantee begins to expend funds and implement grant as indicated in the proposal

Award Management and Monitoring

Provide grantor with financial and programmatic reports, meeting attendance and/or other requirements specified in the notice of award

Gather data to effectively evaluate success in how grant funds are expended, and ensure quality control

Project Closeout Expend all grant funds provided by the grantor Ensure alignment of actual and budgeted expenditures Provide final reports as requested


Resource capacity (personnel, funding, materials, etc.)

Strategic planning and alignment with fundraising planning

Alignment of goals to activities to outputs/outcomes (i.e. logic model)

Financial management and internal controls Continuous quality improvement/evaluation

measurement Adherence to grant award requirements

Common Pitfalls and Challenges


Guiding Question 2:Your organization is starting a new service

offering or program and would like to obtain additional funding. How do you go about

doing this in a strategic way?


What are the goals of grants prospect research? Gather and analyze available information on

funders Obtain accurate and up to date information

that aligns with organization’s goals and mission

Increase the organization’s chances of obtaining grants from those funders who are the best fit

Organizational Strategic Planning


What considerations should I be aware of when conducting research? The amount of funding being sought Type of funding (general operating, project) Geographic area Target population Keyword search terms Acceptance of unsolicited proposals Award amounts Foundation’s giving priorities



How does the organization’s strategic plan align with the fundraising strategy? Determines the annual (or multi-year)

fundraising goals Provides focus on the type of funding the

organization should seek Outlines the roles and responsibilities of

people involved and key activities Maintains focus on the mission and main

service areas the organization offers



How does one become a successful prospect researcher? Determine the resource(s) to allocate Identify the tools that will be used Incorporate research as part of the larger

fundraising cycle of activities Speak with other nonprofits on resources they

use that are successful Leverage relationships of board members and

staff with potential and current funders



What information should I gather as a prospect researcher? General information on funder Giving cycles and deadlines Giving priorities and award amounts Relevant past grantees and projects (review

990 form) Trustees and staff to see if connection to

nonprofit board members and/or staff Eligibility and administrative requirements Geographic area(s) of focus



BIG Online: http://www.bigdatabase.com/ Foundation Directory Online (free at

Foundation Center and registered libraries): http://fconline.foundationcenter.org/

FoundationSearch: http://www.foundationsearch.com/

Fundsnet: http://www.fundsnetservices.com/ GrantStation:

http://www.grantstation.com/index.asp

*Bold font indicates fee-based

Resources: Foundation & Corporate Grants


http://www.bigdatabase.com/

http://fconline.foundationcenter.org/

http://www.foundationsearch.com/

http://www.fundsnetservices.com/

http://www.grantstation.com/index.asp

Guidestar: http://www.guidestar.org/ NOZAsearch: https://www.nozasearch.com The Chronicle of Philanthropy:

http://philanthropy.com/ The Grantsmanship Center:

http://www.tgci.com/funding-sources Urban Ministry:

http://www.urbanministry.org/grants


Resources: Foundation & Corporate Grants


http://www.guidestar.org/

https://www.nozasearch.com/

http://philanthropy.com/

http://www.tgci.com/funding-sources

http://www.urbanministry.org/grants

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: http://www.cfda.gov

Federal Grants Wire: http://www.federalgrantswire.com

Grants.gov: http://www.grants.gov GrantsNetwork (both private and

government): http://www.ecivis.com


Resources: Government Grants


http://www.cfda.gov/

http://www.federalgrantswire.com/

http://www.grants.gov/

http://www.ecivis.com/

Annual Report of Philanthropy in America: http://www.givingusareports.org/

Foundation Center: http://foundationcenter.org/washington/resources.html#01

Grant Space: http://grantspace.org/ OMB – Federal grant forms:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_forms The Grantsmanship Center:

http://www.tgci.com/resources

Resources: General


http://www.givingusareports.org/

http://foundationcenter.org/washington/resources.html#01

http://grantspace.org/

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_forms

http://www.tgci.com/resources

Rachel WernerOwner and CEORBW Strategy, LLCPh: (301) 325-8552Email: [email protected]: www.linkedin.com/in/rabwernerTwitter: @rbwstrategywww.rbwstrategy.com


mailto:[email protected]

http://www.linkedin.com/in/rabwerner

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finding the right funding: proven grant research strategies

Government & Nonprofit