EssentialsofDevelopingaCompellingGrantProposal

DanielNewberry,ExecutiveDirectorJohnsonCreekWatershedCouncil

NOWCConference,November4,2015

TheBigSecret:Writing thegrantisthefinal stepindevelopingasuccessfulproposal

Wheretostart?1. Developaproject,thensearchforafunderwithcommongoals.

OR2. Findafundingsourceandchangetheprojecttochasethemoney.

WhichdoyouthinkwillmakeamorecompellingproposalANDfulfillyourorganization’smissionmoreeffectively?

Gettingstarted– asktherightquestions.

• Istheprojectinyourstrategicplan/workplan?Opportunisticprojectswilloccasionallybeworthpursuing,butshouldbetheexception,ratherthantherule.• Whataretheprojectgoalsandobjectives?• Whattechnicalassistancewillyouneedtodevelopyourproposal?• Whatpartnershipsarenecessaryand/orhelpfulforsuccess?• Whatisareasonableprojectbudget(willcomelaterintheprocess)?• Whatistheprojecttimeline?

Q1:Whythisproject?

• Whythis project,whynow?• Whichplanningdocumentsmakethisprojectnecessary?Examples:• Organizationalstrategicplan• Annualworkplan• Basinlimitingfactorsanalysis• Federal/statefisheries(ESU)recoveryplan?

Q2:Whataretheprojectgoalsandobjectives?

• Whatenvironmental(orsocial)conditionwillbeimprovedbythisproject?• Howwillyoumeasuresuccess?Takeafirstguessatquantifyingthosemeasures.• Examples:• Goals:ImproverearinghabitatinBigCreek,improvejuvenilepassageinSwiftRiver.• Objectives:Plant1,500nativetreesandshrubson3acresalong625linearfeetonriparianland.Add75piecesoflargewoodincomplexlogjams.

Q3:Whattechnicalassistancewillyouneedtodevelopyourproposal?

• Professionalengineeringdesigns(culverts,channelrealignment,etc)• Plantingprescriptions• Monitoringprotocols,staff/volunteertraining,surveydesign,QA/QC?

Q4:Whatpartnershipsarenecessaryand/orhelpfulforsuccess?• NaturalResourceagencies(Federal,State,County,SWCD)fortechnicalsupportandreview• Landownerrelationships.Manyinteractionsarehelpful,evennecessary,andtaketime—yearsinsomecases—todevelop.• Communitygroups,includingotherNGOs,schools(volunteersupport,outreach,clients/beneficiariesoftheprojects)• Funders– agencies,foundations,individualdonors

Q5:Whatisareasonableprojectbudget(willcomelaterintheprocess)?

Typicalbudgetlineitems:

• Staffsalaries(includetaxes&benefits)• Contractedservices• Suppliesandequipment• Mileage• Overhead/indirectcosts• Post-projectmonitoring

SampleinternalbudgetingspreadsheetModified fromanactualproject

UnitsUnitCost Description Funder1 Funder2 Funder

3 In-kind Subtotal

300 30Payroll-Volunteer&OutreachCoordinator 5,400 1,800 1,800 9,000400 34Payroll-RestorationProjectManager 5,440 3,060 2,720 2,380 13,6001 2500Contract:xxxxx 2,500 2,5001 2500Contract:xxxxx 2,500 2,500

1 2620Equipment:Safetyvests,waders,polarizedsunglasses 2,000 140 480 2,620

1 3000Contract:Dr.xxxxxxx,scientificoversight 1,000 2,000 3,0001 5000Collegeintern(20hrs/wk*17weeks*$10/hr) 5,000 5,000

1079 0.575Mileage/Gas 620 620Subtotal 13,840 5,000 10,000 10,000 38,840

36% 13% 26% 26% 100%

Noneofthesefundersallowindirectcosts

Q6:Whatistheprojecttimeline?

• ProjectDevelopment:Isatechnicalassistancegrantnecessarybeforedevelopingthemainproject?• ProposalWritingformultiple,matchingsources(includeplentyoftimetodeveloppartnershipsandrequestlettersofsupport).• Timeuntilfundsaresecured• Permitting• Implementation• Reportwriting• Post-projectmonitoringWatershedCouncilrestorationprojecttimelinesareusually2-5years,andoftenlonger,especiallywith3yearsofpost-projectmonitoring!

Researchingfundingsources

• Mostagencies&foundationswillposttheirgrantawardhistories.• Usethewebsiteguidestar.comtofindfoundationgrantawardhistories.Theyarerequiredtodisclosethisinformationintheir990forms.• Lookatmultiple yearsoffunding;checkwebsitesforstatedawardstrategies,averageandmaximumawards,applicanteligibility,geographicrestrictions,programmaticrestrictions,projectelementstheywillnot fund.

• Mostgovernment&foundationfundersrequire matchfunding.Themorematch,themorecompetitivetheproposal.

Treatgrantorsasmajordonors

• Buildrelationshipswithprogramofficersandotherkeyagency/foundationemployees.• Whenitisallowed,call/emailwellinadvanceofthedeadlineanddiscussyourproject.Youwilloftengetshintsonhowtomakeyourprojectmorecompetitive!• Sendannualreports,newsletters,otherinformationtopotentialfunders.

Thinklikeagrantor.

• Wearingthegrantorhat,readthegrantproposal:• Doesthisproposalfitourprioritiesandrequirements?• Doesitmakesense?Allthepiecesfittogether?• WhyshouldIfundit?• Isanythingsuspicious?• Howdoesitrankwithotherproposals?

Commonreasonsforgettingturneddownforfunding

• Failuretofollowgrantor’sveryspecificdirections• Submittingtheproposalafterthedeadline• Proposal’sgoalsnotagoodmatchforgrantor’sgoals• Unclearobjectives/measuresofsuccess,projectenvironmental/socialbenefits,monitoringstrategy,• Requestedfundsgreaterthangrantor’sstatedrangeorattopofrangewithoutacompellingreasonforsuchalargerequest• Projectduplicatesanotherorganization’srequest• Poorwriting(unclear,grammar,punctuation—reflectsonapplicant)

Commonelementsofasuccessfulgrantproposal

Compellingneediswell-articulatedOrganizationalcapacitytocompleteprojectisdemonstratedOrganizationhasahistoryofsuccessBudgetisreasonableandintherangeofsimilarprojectsinthesamegeographicareaCommunitysupportdemonstratedthroughpartnerships,lettersofsupport.Multiplefundingsources,sonosinglegrantorfeelstheyare“carrying”theproject.

OregonWatershedCouncilfundingsourcesotherthanOWEB

• National:NFWF(BBN,Fivestar,etc),EPA’sRGI,• State:ODFWFishPassage&Screening,ODA,ODEQ319• Local:tax-supportedSWCDs,counties,cities,countyweedboards• Foundations:OCF,MeyerMemorialTrust,CollinsFoundation,

McKenzieRiverGathering,SpiritMtn.CommunityFund,TNC(PacificPower&PGESalmonFunds),smallerlocalfamilyfoundations

• Corporate(usuallymuchsmallerthanothersources)• Mitigationfunds