Nonprofits: Grant Writing Help on the Web

One of the hardest tasks for nonprofit volunteers and paid staff is preparing a grant application. There can be excitement at the beginning as you see your vision possibly being funded. At the end of the process you can experience frustration, agony and even some hate for the forms, the analysis and language needed to complete the application. There are many types of applications. Some are forms, some are simple outlines and fill in the blanks. Some require letters of support from other groups, some ask for an extensive appendix. Grant writing for a foundation is different than writing for a State or Federal grant. This article will list free material on the Internet about grant writing, tips of things to do and not to do and assessment tools. Key words here are business plan, mission, goals, objectives, activities, accountability and evaluation. As you process to seeking grants and funds for your vision, I wish you well.<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>Innonet, http://www.innonet.org/, provides a WorkStation for nonprofit executives and grant writers to create a strategic plan and program map. The Station will walk you through setting program goals, objectives, activities, outputs and outcomes. There is no charge for the use of this active site. The site offers a free evaluation of one strategic program plan map and an evaluation plan that you create. You can create an evaluation plan on site that includes evaluation questions, indicators of success and strategies for collecting quantitative and qualitative data. You can also work on a program budget, fund raising and an action plan. There are 11 common grant application forms from which an agency can download the plan created at the WorkStation. When you log in the first time, you can select to receive a quarterly newsletter. There are links to other sites including how to start a nonprofit organization, evaluation, and fundraising, grant research and availability of funds. If you are at the beginning of starting a nonprofit program, this one is a place to start. This article does not go into detail about incorporating an organization but I intend to write a similar piece on that subject in the near future with sites from the Internet and my own experiences.<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>Grantstech, http://www.grantstech.com/, is a guide, it states, "to winning grants". There are useful tools and links to funding sources. The most valuable section may be the "cheat sheet" to measure the viability of an application. There are several lists, such as the 12 tips to strengthen your proposal and the 10 common mistakes and how to avoid them. There are other keys to successful grant management and the basis for evaluation of proposals.<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>More and more grantmakers require an assessment with measurable goals and objectives. United Way organizations have provided training for their member agencies throughout the country. Much of the material they use can be found at http://national.unitedway.org/outcomes/pgmomres.htm. If you are looking for the answers to outcome measurements, inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, indicators and targets, then this is the site for you. Check the United Way Online Resource Library as well.<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>Some sites "KISS it", keep it simple, stupid. Grant Proposal.Com is one of them at http://www.grantproposal.com/. It offers step-by-step assistance in preparing a grant proposal to a private funder. The site has suggestions about the letter of inquiry covering strategy, introductory paragraph, mission, history and accomplishments, need, vision, other funding and costs, timetables, leadership and closing. There are site chapters on preparing the full proposal, research, and advice from funders and tips.<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>The National Network of Grantmakers is an organization of individuals involved in funding social and economic justice. It is not a funding group. Through its web site, http://www.nng.org/, the group provides services to funders and grantseekers. Among its initiatives has been a push for foundations to increase the annual payout by at least 1% more each year. The site maintains a list of over 200 foundations with profiles on each with facts about the application process, timelines, contact person and budget information. The foundations are indexed by region, funding interest and other criteria. There is a toolkit covering topics from proposal writing to language to avoid when approaching mainstream funders. The organization has available a common grant application now accepted by over 40 foundation grant programs. The application form is useful to assess other applications you are working on to measure what you have covered or not covered. There are online resources with web addresses to foundations, fundraising, nonprofit management, technical assistance, E-philanthropy and more.<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>If you are looking for a place to discuss funding, foundations, fundraising, mentoring and other topics of interest to you with your nonprofit peers, try Charity Channel, http://charitychannel.com/. The Channel claims over 40,000 of our peers have used the forum setup by e-mail.<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>Copyright Donald A. Griesmann 2001