NCompass Live - March 13, 2024 While every library is unique, they all seem to share one thing in common: they could use more money! Grant funding might be the just thing to help buy technology for STEM programming, get a new service initiative off the ground, or complete a renovation. But applying for grants can be overwhelming – and that’s assuming you can even find one for which you qualify. This session aims to introduce you to the tools to make the grant application process more easily navigable. In this session, Kathryn will provide tips for putting your best foot forward when it comes time to submit your proposal. Handouts include a roadmap to success and descriptions of various sections of the application. Presenter: Kathryn Brockmeier, Grant Consultant.

1. The Grant Application
Process
NCompass Live
March 13, 2024
Kathryn Brockmeier
kathryn.brockmeier@gmail.com

2. Pre-session survey
 How confident are you in your
ability to prepare to write a
grant?

3. Objectives
 Understand how grant program goals match up with
funder priorities
 Identify the basic sections of a grant proposal
 Connect with other community leaders and write a
needs statement
 Connect with other community leaders and write a goal
 Connect with other community leaders and write an
objective
 Connect with other community leaders and write an
outcome
 Identify resources to search for funding
 Identify online resources for grant writing support

4. GRANT CONSULTATION
IGNITE PASSION
Development of funding goals
through sharing of information.
REALIZATION & REVIEW
Attaining funding and learning from
rejections; grant evaluation and
reporting; Continuous Quality
Improvement assessment to
determine next steps.
RESEARCH
Stakeholder interviews; investigation
of the programming ecosystem;
production of Logic Model.
GRANT SEEKING
Finding the right match between
organizational goals and funding
opportunities and priorities.
GRANT WRITING
Production and submission of grant
applications, including goals,
activities, objectives, and budget.

10. Making a funder match
 Types of grant providers
 Types of proposals
 Fields of interest
 Geographic interest
 Current priorities
 Amount of funding
 Recent grants

11. Making a funder match
Types of proposals
 Start-up
 Programs or projects
 Emergency funds
 Capital campaigns
 Equipment
 Conferences and seminars
 General/Operating support
 In-kind gifts

12. Making a funder match
Organization categories
 Health services
 Human services
 Fine and performing arts
 Civic
 Religious
 Educational
 Scientific
 Sports or recreation

13. Making a funder match
Fields of interest
 Agriculture/Food
 Animals/Wildlife
 Arts/Humanities
 Civil Rights
 Community development
 Crime/Law enforcement
 Education
 Employment
 Environment
 Health care
 Health organizations
 Housing/Shelter
 Human services
 International affairs
 Mental health/Crisis services
 Public affairs
 Recreation
 Religion
 Youth
 Elderly
 Women
 Men
 Families
 At-risk
 Minorities
 Low-income

14. Making a funder match
Other considerations
 Current priorities
 Amount of funding
 Recent grants

15. Parts of the Grant Application
 Letter of inquiry
 Abstract/executive summary
 Cover letter
 Introduction
 Organizational background
 Needs/problem statement
 Project description/methods
 Evaluation plan
 Budget and budget justification
 Attachments/appendices

16. Parts of the Grant Application
Letter of inquiry
 Introduction
 Organization description
 Statement of need
 Methodology
 Other funding sources
 Final summary
 Written specifically to the appropriate contact person. 1
page.

17. Parts of the Grant Application
Cover letter
 Introduce your organization
 Assure the funder that this project has the support of
your board of directors
 State what you are asking for—how much and for what
 Written specifically to the appropriate contact person
at the foundation. 1 page.

18. Parts of the Grant Application
Abstract/executive summary
 Organization: Who are you? Where can you be
contacted?
 Need: What is the purpose of your project?
 Target Population: Whom will you serve?
 Project Overview: What will you do, and how? What are
your project’s goals and objectives?
 Outcomes: What do you expect to achieve? How will you
measure success?
 Request: What is the total amount you ask from the
funder?
 Describes concisely the information that will follow. 250
words or fewer.

19. Parts of the Grant Application
Introduction
 Helps to establish your credibility as a grant applicant. 1
sentence to 2 paragraphs.

20. Parts of the Grant Application
Organizational background
 A brief overview of the organization, including its
mission or purpose, and its clients or groups that benefit
from its work.
 Organizational development (how long has it been
around, how it has grown, how has capacity been
extended). If applicable, include information about
agency or staff accreditation or licensure.
 Resources and assets (e.g., people, financial, etc.).
Include a summary of key personnel and partners

21. Parts of the Grant Application
Need/problem statement
 What is the problem you propose to solve, or what
caused you to prepare this proposal?
 Define the problem, its causes and symptoms
 Gather data to support the existence of the problem
and extent of your need. Conduct a needs assessment.
 Write the Need Statement (stated as the current
situation)
 Describes a problem and explains why you require a
grant to address the issue. 1 page.

22. Activity
Write a need statement
 State the community problem or goal to be addressed.
 Avoid circular reasoning.
 Document evidence of the problem, including data on
the scope or level of the problem.
 Describe how you have determined that this project is
needed in your community.
 State whom the problem or goal most affects and how
they are affected by it.
 Describe how the problem or goal is linked to other
related issues in the community.
 Facts (quantitative data)—Statistics that support your
argument as well as comparative statistics and research
 Stories (qualitative data)—Observations, questionnaires,
interviews

23. Parts of the Grant Application
Project description/methods
 Vision
 Mission
 Goals
 Objectives
 Outcomes
 Organizational capacity
 Community capacity
 What you will do to accomplish your objectives within a
stated time frame. 1 page.

24. Activity
Write a goal statement
 A broad statement of what you wish to
accomplish. Goals are broad, general, intangible,
and abstract. A goal is really about the final
impact or outcome that you wish to bring about.
In the case of goals for a grant proposal, make
sure they are linked back to your need statement.
Use words such as decrease, deliver, develop,
establish, improve, increase, produce, and
provide.

25. Activity
Write an objective
 A step toward accomplishing a goal. In contrast to the
goal, an objective is narrow, precise, tangible,
concrete, and can be measured.
 Well-written objectives are SMART—Specific,
Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Bound

26. Activity
Write an outcome statement
 Specific, measurable statements that let you know
when you have reached your goals. Good outcome
statements are realistic. They predict change.
 KSAs (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)
 Behaviors
 Attitudes

27. Parts of the Grant Application
Evaluation plan
 Role of documentation/evaluation and feedback, plan
for documentation/monitoring your efforts
 Results you expect to achieve
 What "success" will look like
 Criteria or indicators for judging success
 Measurement
 Measures your results and effectiveness. This should
correspond to your objectives. 1 page.

28. Parts of the Grant Application
Evaluation plan, cont’d
 Qualitative/Subjective (subject to personal interpretation)
 Testimonials
 Anecdotes
 Success stories
 Observations
 Quantitative/Objective (cannot be objected to)
 Pre- and post-testing
 Surveys and questionnaires
 Interviews
 Activity logs
 Case reports
 Performance reports

29. Parts of the Grant Application
Budget/Justification
 Outline the amount of funding requested for each type
of funding sought
 All forms of potential revenues as well as all forms of
expenses
 Itemized list of income and expenses that shows
precisely how much money you will need and how you
will spend it to accomplish your objectives. 1 page.

30. Parts of the application
Attachments
 IRS letter of determination of nonprofit status
 Current year’s organizational budget
 Prior year’s financial statement (line items from tax
return statement, or audited report)
 List of board of directors/organizational chart
 Letters of support

31. Funding search resources
 Candid | Foundation Directory
 Research tool to help nonprofits find the grant makers most
likely to fund their projects
 Includes grant maker information and funding history
 https://candid.org/find-us
 https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/
 Instrumentl
 Nonprofits and professional grant writing consultants use
Instrumentl to get matched with the right funders, reveal
funders’ giving trends, and efficiently track and manage their
grants.
 https://www.instrumentl.com/
 https://www.instrumentl.com/blog
 ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
 Search database of individual 990 forms of private
foundations, public charities, and other nonprofits
 https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/

32. Funding search resources, cont’d
 The Grantsmanship Center
 State Grant Resources
 https://www.tgci.com/funding-sources
 Council on Foundations
 Community Foundation Locator
 https://cof.org/page/community-foundation-locator
 Cause IQ
 Search by location
 Directory of nonprofits by category
 https://www.causeiq.com/
 GrantWatch
 https://www.grantwatch.com/

33. Grant writing support
 University of Kansas Community Toolbox
 Applying for Grants
 https://ctb.ku.edu/en/applying-for-grants
 The Grantsmanship Center
 Grantsmanship: Program Planning & Proposal Writing
 https://www.tgci.com/getting-grant-101
 Candid | Foundation Center
 Tools, training and resources
 https://learning.candid.org/topics/
 Management Library
 https://management.org/
 https://management.org/index.html

34. Questions?
Kathryn Brockmeier
kathryn.brockmeier@gmail.com

35. Summary
 Before writing the grant application, identify the
problem/goal area for which funds will be sought
 Develop relationships with grantmakers when possible
 Thoroughly search for relevant grant opportunities
 Consider the proposed project/goal’s fit with the
identified funder(s)
 Prepare a budget for the project
 Develop relationships with partners or other key
stakeholders
https://ctb.ku.edu/en/applying-for-grants

36. Post-session survey
 How confident are you in your
ability to prepare to write a
grant?

37. Start Your Grant
Funding Journey