Grant Writing

A grant is money awarded to finance activities or a facility. Generally, these grants do not need to be paid back. Federal agencies and private organizations sponsor grant programs.

Before developing a grant proposal, it is important to understand the goals of the funding federal agency or private organization and their grant program. This can be accomplished through discussions with the information contact listed in each resource description . In your discussions, you may find that, in order for a particular project to be eligible for funding, the original concept may need to be modified to meet the criteria of the grant program.

Grantmakers base their decisions on the applicant's ability to fit its activities within the grantmaker's interest areas.

Successful grant writing involves planning and preparation. It will take time to:

1. coordinate your planning and research,
2. organize, write and package your proposal,
3. submit your proposal to the funder,
4. and follow-up.

Careful targeting of a funder and careful preparation of a proposal can distinguish success from failure in the grantsmanship game. Marketconscious can help you develop a plan and not just a proposal.

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Types Of Grants:

• Capital Grant - A grant that is generally for endowment, building, equipment, or construction.
• Endowment Grant - A grant to be invested in perpetuity for ongoing operations of an organization.
• General Operating Grant -An unrestricted grant for the everyday operations of an organization.
• Program/Project Grant -A grant that is generally for a specific activity or plan within the overall organization, usually time-limited.
• Start-Up Grant - A grant to cover the costs of starting a new project or organization.
• Technical Assistance Grant -A grant to support a nonprofit's organizational development or infrastructure needs.
  

Sources of Grant Money

Generally, grants come from two sources- the private sector and the public sector. The private sector consists of foundations and corporations. The public sector is the government: town, city, county, state and federal.

Private Foundations

• Community Based - These groups are formed for the benefit of a specific geographic area.
• National Broad Interest - Names such as : Rockefeller, Ford, etc. They are nationwide and large. They are well known and receive vast numbers of applications. They look for innovative projects. If you have a creative idea, or one that could be used as a model for other agencies, you might try one of the national general purpose foundations.
• Special Interest - Some foundations have a national or even international service area, but give for only one purpose. The Arthritis Foundation, the American Heart Association, and the American Lung Association each have a specific area they give grants to.
• Family - There are 10's of thousands of family foundations. Established by a wealthy family or individual, they often have a geographic area where they concentrate their giving.
• Corporate - When a corporation begins to make many donation, it makes sense to establish a corporate foundation. There are over 2,000 corporate foundations. We group direct corporate giving with corporate foundations.

Government Grants

Government grants can come from any level of government:

• city,
• county,
• state
• or federal

You need to realize, however, that city, county, and state grants may be "pass throughs" for federal funds. The city, county, and state may add regulations or restrictions to the federal programs, but they can’t remove any restrictions. If you receive a local grant, you will have to follow all of the regulations assigned to that money from its original source.

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