Unearthing Seed

Money

Jean M. Heilighttp://www.cde.state.co.us/cdelib/funding_other

heilig_j@cde.state.co.us / 303-866-6731

“Funding agencies do not financially support routine, ongoing activities. Librarians who lack a commitment to change or are unwilling to take risks are not likely to be successful in the grants arena.”

Hall-Ellis, et al. (2011)

The Project

Previous Success

Capable Staff

High Quality Program

Impact on Community

Respond to a Need

Unique Service

Locating Funders

Funding Information Network

http://foundationcenter.org/

Yampa Valley Community Foundation Steamboat Springs

Estes Valley Library Estes Park

Harmony Library Fort Collins

High Plains Library District Greeley

RMC Health Lakewood

Denver Public Library Denver

El Pomar Nonprofit Resource Center Colorado Springs

Pueblo City County Library Pueblo

Durango Public Library Durango

Mesa County Libraries Grand Junction

Basalt Regional Library Basalt

Pitkin County Library Aspen

Match Made in Heaven?

Goal aligns with mission?

Eligible?

Expenditures Allowable?

Matching Funds?

Primary Areas of Giving

Education, but no charter or public school programs. Disadvantaged youth programs and services, especially

those that foster initiative and a positive work ethic. Elderly/Senior programs that assist in providing the

necessities of life. Special needs groups, such as handicapped, homeless

families and mentally ill. Established cultural institutions such as museums, libraries

and zoos.

Funding Restrictions

Grants are limited to Colorado charities, primarily greater metro-Denver organizations.

No grants are made to individuals. No start-up grants. No support for benefits or conferences. Performing arts grants are limited. No public, private or charter schools.

Colorado’s Common Grant Forms

http://www.coloradocommongrantforms.org/default.htm

Mission Statement Area Served Tax Exempt status Organizations budget Organizations background Organizations goals Current programming Inclusiveness Board/Governance Volunteers

The Requirements…….

Needs Assessment

Goal

Objectives Activities

Timeline

Partnerships Sustainability

Budget

Evaluation

Winning Proposals

What Will You Do?

Benefits Real-life Scenarios

Don’t Assume Follow Requirements Be Positive! Edit

Set Clear Goals

Goals

GoalsThe Who!

GoalsProblem or Opportunity?

Goals

• Keep it simple:“The goal of this project is to…….”

• Single, declarative sentence• Present tense with action verbs:

Build Conduct Deliver

Demonstrate Enhance Establish

Implement Increase Plan

Prepare Produce Provide

Reduce Select Strengthen

Let’s Practice

“The Early Literacy Center will serve to highlight the importance of early learning to at-risk families that normally come to the library to only use computers.”

“Seeks to educate parents on the basic early literacy concepts as presented by the every child ready to read@your library by painting a prominent mural on the walls and by leaving out educational early literacy brochures for parents to take home”

Confusing:

Let’s Practice!

• Who is the target audience?– Family, Parents, Computer Users, Children

• What is the problem or opportunity?– Provide early literacy skill-building– Develop an Early Literacy Center– Engagement or Educating?

• Activities?– Create play space– Paint Mural– Leave out brochures

Let’s Practice!

Effective:

“The goal of this project is to offer early literacy programming to parents and caregivers to

support the development of early reading skills in children, which is an important indicator of

later school success.”

Writing Goals

Objectives

Objectives

Objectives

List in order of importance

List in chronological

order No jargon

Use an action verb

Identify the target

audience

Must support the goal

Objectives

#1 Mistake!Don’t confuse your objective with an activity

Example:“Staff will interact every day with individual

visitors of the Early Learning Center”

Objectives

The Early Learning Center will provide customized library services for at-risk youth and parents.

Specific?At-risk Youth

& Parents

Measurable?Either they do it or not.

Attainable?Sure but for how many?

Relevant?Possibly-not much info provided-

what services?

Time-phased?

Nope!

Objectives

Following classes, 70% of attendees will be able to describe 3 new activities they have learned to do with their children.

SpecificAttendees

MeasurableYep!

AttainableMaybe-

describe? How about

do!

RelevantLooks like

it!But

What classes?

Time-phased

Yes!

ObjectivesEffective:After completing one early literacy class 70% of parents and caregivers will be able to share 3 early literacy activities with their children.

SpecificParents & Caregivers

Measurable70%

3 activities

AttainableYes

RelevantYes

Time-phased

After completing one class

Let’s Practice!

Confusing:

Staff will interact every day with individual visitors of the Early Literacy Center to ensure

their understanding of the basic literacy concepts.

Let’s Practice!

Effective:Parents and caregivers will be introduced to the

functionality of the Early Literacy Center with 80% of these contacts returning to the Center

within one month.

Writing Objectives

Activities

Writing Activities

Timeline

Shows when major project milestones will begin and end during the funding period.

Timeline

Confusing/lacking detail:

“This project is designed to be completed in the 2012 – 2013 calendar year (during the lifetime of these grant funds), and to be completed by the opening of the new library in March 2014.”

TimelineTask Responsible Party Time Frame (Dates)

Find dedicated space in library for Early Literacy Center

Library Director Completed by October 1, 2012

Order Early Literacy materials (toys, books, furniture etc)

Youth Services Librarian

Completed by November 1, 2012

Order Computers and Software for Early Literacy Center

Tech Services Librarian Completed by November 1, 2012

Set – up Early Literacy Center

Youth Services Librarian, Tech Services Librarian

Completed by January 31, 2013

Submit Mid-year report to State Library

Project Director March 1, 2013

Partners

Access to Resources

Access to Services

Establish Relationships

Increase Responsiveness Advocacy

Why?

Partners

Who?Government

Health Education

Faith Based Business & Industry

Social & Human Services

Libraries Essential Service Organizations

Partnerships

What?Cash Training

Meeting rooms Training space

Transportation Assistance Training materials

Office Supplies Printing Services

Technology Advertising

Refreshments Incentives

Consultation

Partnerships

Who could you partner with and what could they provide?

Sustainability

Identify the support and resources required to continue a project after funding ends.

Sustainability

Funding strategies to ensure program continuation should not rely on the

procurement of new grants.

Sustainability

Strategies– Resources from a third party – Include fund-raising initiatives – Assistance from project partners – Transfer of a portion of the project to another

entity– Incorporate project continuation costs into the

library’s operating budget

Budget Summary

Actual expenses the applicant identifies as essential to implement, manage, and evaluate

the proposed project

Budget Summary

Project costs may include:Salaries & Benefits Telephone

& Internet Equipment

Hardware & Software Travel Postage &

Shipping

Printing Evaluation Costs

Office Supplies

Budget Summary

Cash-match: A commitment of actual cash in the form of a contribution toward your proposed project’s expenses.

Budget Summary

• In-kind contribution: Donations of time, service, or goods made by a donor to help support the grant project.

Budget Narrative

Brief explanation of each item, its importance to project implementation, and its relationship to a specific objective or activity.