Each year, billions of dollars are disbursed by public and private funders to financially support a myriad of projects, including research endeavors, community-focused programs, global activities, personal and professional development and support opportunities, organizational missions, planning needs, start-up assistance, and much more. While the benefits of receiving a grant can be highly advantageous to the grantee and its stakeholders, the grant-seeking effort that precedes this outcome can be a bewildering and complex process. The pursuit of a grant requires research, determination, attention to detail, knowledge of funders and what they are looking for, collaboration, writing skills, and passion. Grantsmanship is a fitting term for the full breadth of a process that includes proficiency in identifying needs, conducting prospect research to identify funders, proposal writing, cultivating relationships, and ensuring accountability for grant-funded projects. Grant seeking begins with the identification of a need or problem. Whether the need is for a complex research grant, a local community project, an individual professional growth opportunity, or an initiative aimed at social change, any project designed to solve or address that need must be backed by evidence-based data to support its viability. After you have a project idea in mind, the next step is to search for the right Request for Proposal (RFP). The RFP is an invitation by funders for grant seekers to apply for funding. What should you look for in a prospective funder? What do you think funders look for in a grant/grantee? How can relationship building clarify and enhance the perception of one to another? Consider the development of your relationship with funders from beginning to end. Locating the right RFP is a critical step in the grant-seeking process. There are many different funding sources available, and an application made to an ill-matched funder will waste time that might otherwise have been spent on a successful outcome. An application made to an appropriate match hopefully will allow you to partner with a funder that shares your goals. Even if you were prompted to seek a grant after hearing about a specific RFP, it is still a good idea to check out other options to ensure that you are pursuing the best opportunity possible. Seeking a grant, particularly in todays technology-driven and competitive economic environment, is an ever-changing and detailed process. Requirements for grant proposals differ widely from funder to funder. Public applications differ from private applications, and each carries its own challenges. Cultivating positive and collaborative relationships, particularly in non-face-to-face scenarios, takes on even greater relevance than what might have been the case years ago, and attention must be paid to how these relationships are conducted and nurtured. And, of course, at the heart of the endeavor is the project itself. What will a grant allow the grant seeker to accomplish? How will this benefit an individual, organization, community, or population? What social change might be achieved through this project? These are but some of the issues you will need to answer as you develop a grant proposal in this course. In this module, you begin the grant-writing process by sharing with your colleagues your own experiences. To ensure that development of your own grantsmanship skills are off to a good start, you will also take a quiz on terminology and concepts. You will develop and evaluate project ideas that address a specific problem or need while considering evidence-based practices that support this projects intent. Finally, with your project in mind, you will apply search tools to identify appropriate RFPs and finalize your RFP selection. Learning Objectives Students will: Analyze grant-writing experiences Analyze appropriate funding sources/RFPs Analyze RFPs for project applicability Analyze the importance of developing relationships between funders and grantees Analyze key elements of the funder-grantee relationship Evaluate key considerations in collaborating with a grant partner Discussion 1 – Module 1 Online Class My professor wrote, Hi Everyone, Project Ideas A grant can be a powerful tool for achieving what might otherwise be impossible, or at least very difficult, to accomplish. What are some project ideas you have in mind for addressing a specific problem or need? If you were to apply for a grant, what would you pursue? What might your organization pursue? With project ideas in mind, read the literature and familiarize yourself with evidence-based practices associated with the problems you are seeking to address. Determine what is currently being done to solve or mitigate these problems. This step is extremely important in determining how or if to proceed with your own project idea. For this Discussion, critically think through your project ideas and concepts, as well as the literature, and select one to further develop for your grant proposal. Use the Process Development Template, located in this weeks Learning Resources, to organize your ideas regarding the purpose of the project and the research you have conducted. (See below, Grant Writing Process Development Template) For this Discussion, critically think through your project ideas and concepts, as well as the literature, and select one to further develop for your grant proposal. Use the Process Development Template, located in this weeks Learning Resources, to organize your ideas regarding the purpose of the project and the research you have conducted. ____________________________ Part A: Describe your previous grant-writing experiences and explain what are, in your opinion, the most challenging aspects of grant writing. If you have not had previous grant-writing experience, what are some challenges you might anticipate and why? Describe the work you are currently involved in for which you might pursue funding. (No precious grant-writing experience) Part B: Post your project idea, explaining the needs it will meet. Explain why this project might be attractive to potential funders, and distinguish it from others that have addressed the same problem. (Im thinking of a project idea for Senior Adult Home Care Business) Media Videos. https://cdnfiles.laureate.net/2dett4d/managed/WAL/MMPA/6881/01/WAL_MMPA6881_01_A_EN.pdf https://youtu.be/sDs8IEVz9_4 Grant Writing Process Development Template Use this Process Development Template as an iterative and cumulative worksheet for keeping notes and ideas about the different elements that will be addressed in your grant proposal. While this document will not be submitted for grading, it will inform assignments that are submitted. You are encouraged to use this template as both an organizer for and record of the work you are doing. *This is only a worksheet to help you develop your project idea. It is not the final project template. There is a totally different template for the final project. A. Project Summary The Project Summary is the last piece you pull together for a grant proposal. This piece of the proposal summarizes key information designed to convince a funder that the project is a viable candidate for their funding. The Project Summary should briefly address: The Problem The Solution Funding Requirements The Organization and Its Expertise B. Project Narrative Background information about the applying organization: What are you proposing to do? What need or problem will this project address? What is the overall goal of this project? What objectives will need to be met in order to meet the goal? What will you do? What activities will be carried out during the project period so the objectives are met? How will you do the proposed idea? What is the timeline for project activities? Who will be taking part in the project? Who is the project director? What is the plan to evaluate the success of meeting the objectives? What will it cost? Why will it cost what it does? Why are you the best to do the proposed idea? Why is it significant and innovative? Other Narrative notes: C. Funders Names and URLs of potential funders: Search results: Key takeaways: Who is eligible to apply? How many awards/grants are being given? Dollar amount of the grant/award. Collaboration/partnership requirements. Length of the grant period. For private funders, who is on their board and does the applicant have any existing relationships with anyone? Other Funder notes: D. Budget What are costs associated with carrying out the project activities? Personnel (salary and benefits) Equipment Supplies Travel Consultants/Contractual Will the project continue after the grant period ends? If so, how will it be sustained? Other Budget notes: E. Project Summary What is the problem? What is the solution? What are the funding requirements? What is the organization and explain its expertise?
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