Grant Writing

Presented by:

Robyn Kelso

P&C Services Manager

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http://pandcsqld.com.au

KIS Principle• Keep it Simple

• The grant application is your opportunity to “Sell” your idea

• Why should the funding body fund your project

• What is unique about your project

• Be creative in describing your project

Research and Identify the need

Where to start?

• Talk with the Principal, school staff and P&C members about what is needed

• Decide who will write the grant?

• Decide who will manage and acquit the grant?

• Ask questions seek clarification when necessary

• Investigate grant sources

What to do?

• Research and prepare

• Develop a wish list

• Identify projects that need funding

• Identify P&C and others contribute (both financially and in kind)

• Have a plan of action

• Obtain support of the members, school community and broader community

Planning is Important!• Plan ahead –Projects/ Wish list• Establish your image• Be clear in what you want and what you can

contribute• Define the benefit of the grant to the school

community• Establish what is required from you in the

way of Time Accountability Knowledge• Have someone lined up to proof read the

application

Who What When Where Why• Who is offering the grant?

• Who wants to apply for the grant?

• What will the grant cover?

• What do you want to do with the grant funding?

• What will the P&C and School community be contributing?

• What will others contribute?

• When does the grant application close?

• When does the program need to be completed? –Timeframes

• How long has the community been waiting for this project?

• Where is the project to be sited?

• Why is it needed?

Questions

Letters of Support

• They are very important to your application

• What partners can you engage with?

• Who could support your application

• Give prospective supporters sufficient time and details of the project to write a letter of support

• Who is best placed to write a letter of support

Matching your wish list with available grants

• Does your project match the requirements of the funding body?

• No match = No funds!

• Be aware of any $ for $ requirements

• Where possible adapt your projects to fit with the funding

• Talk to the funding body to confirm the match

Understand the Funding Body

• Research their website

• Understand what they are offering

• Be familiar with the application process and guidelines

• Ask questions

• Find your best fit

The Submission• Introduce your P&C

• Introduce your idea

• Have a clear aim for the project

• Define the benefits of the project

• Define partnerships

• Be clear about project spending

• Outline support for the project

• Write to their guidelines

• Covering letter

• Front Page (title date and contact details)

• Short Summary

• Use Headings

• Attach appendices for more detailed information

Include

Setting out the applicationUse Paragraphs and concise sentences

Headings and dot points

Logical flow

Keep information relevant

Give them clear points to evaluate your application

Don’t use abbreviations and jargon

Don’t leave them asking questions

Things to consider• A catchy relevant title• Objective – What does the project hope to achieve• Statement of Scope - Who will benefit • Budget• Plan of Operation – How will the program operate• Sustainability – What happens after the current funding

is exhausted• Community description – Socio economic data,

Population to be serviced, Geographical Area• Start and end date for the project• Justify the need

• What will be achieved by completing this program? • Will it solve a local issue?• Statistics and data supporting the need

Things to Consider (Continued)

• Are there any partnerships with other agencies/groups

• Personnel - Who is involved? Their roles?• Administration – Document what level of

administration is required • Document retention requirements• Provide a structural overview of the project• Accountability – be familiar with the

requirements• Evaluation – Who will carry out the evaluation

Budget• Staffing• Consultant fees/plans• Travel Costs• Internet, postage and telephone• Direct costs of the project (e.g. Hire of

equipment)• Capital costs• Consumables• Volunteer contributions• In kind donations

Incorporation

• P&Cs do not have an incorporation number

• P&Cs are not able to be incorporated

• Other Act of Parliament – Education ( General Provisions) Act 2006

• Sponsor Organisation

Application Timeframes

• When does the grant close?

• Do you require any mandatory approvals (e.g. building)

• When is the acquittal required

• Do you have someone with the time to write the submission

Statement of Purpose

Why do you want/ need the funds?Your statement should be short and to the point but include:-

Statement that your P&C is a Not For Profit bodyWe seek to....................................................By providing/doing…………………………….Our project will target…………………………and will benefit…………………………………….

Needs Assessments- Statistics

• include statistics that will demonstrate the need for funding and support your project

• include some basic demographic information

• it might be helpful to compare local statistics to national statistics

• don't use statistics that argue against your project concept

Questions

Tips• Practice writing submissions

• Seek advice and support from the funding body

• Make sure that what you are writing fits the submission you are applying for

• Have someone else read the draft submission

• Be prepared

• Look at websites for successful submissions

• Make the funder believe your organisation can deliver the proposed program efficiently

Summary• Keep to the point Keep it short• Keep statements clear and concise• Learn about the funding body and use finding

guidelines• Give them the information that is required• Outline benefits of your project• Provide documented evidence and a strong

factual submission• Establish partnerships• Have the submission proof read

Don’t

• Use Jargon• Be wordy or ramble • Assume that they know anything• Make them chase you for information• Try to bypass the process or parts of it• State that you need the money• Waste your time if the project does not fit

the funding source

Consistency

Use the same language throughout the application

Use the same language that they use in the application guidelines

Be consistent in your formatting and presentation

• Goals are overall statements of intent

• Objectives are specific and measurable outcomes of activities

• Methods are ways of accomplishing the objectives

Be Aware

Important things to look for• Page limitations and guidelines

• Supply the information that is requested

• Answer all questions that they have asked in a concise fashion

• Do not add unrelated information

• Process of submitting the application

• Quality over quantity

• Closing date

• Use past applications to refine your new applications.

• Learn from the past feedback

http://education.qld.gov.au/schools/grants/resources/resourceful-schools.pdf

Links to websites that provide information on grants:

Australian Council grants www.australiacouncil.gov.auGrantsLINKAustralian Government Grants http://grants.myregion.gov.au/Australian Government community grants www.grantslink.gov.auBrisbane City Council grants http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/search-results/index.htm?ssUserText=grants&sa.x=0&sa.y=0Community Funding Centre www.ourcommunity.com.au/funding/funding_main.jspOur Community is a world-leading social enterprise that provides advice and tools for Australia's 600,000 community groups and schools, and practical linkages between the community sector and the general public, business and government. Grant search - funding database www.grantsearch.com Philanthropy Australia www.philanthropy.org.au/funding.htm Queensland Council of Social Service Inc (Funding Resource Manual) www.qcoss.org.au Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal: The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) is Australia's only national foundation dedicated to the needs of rural and regional Australia. http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/regional/funding/frrr.aspx

Find Grant By Wizard : Grants : Queensland Governmenthttps://www.smartservice.qld.gov.au/services/grantsView Queensland Government grants. ... This site provides a variety of ways to find Queensland government grants.

Questions