Grantswriting Graduate Course,Spring 2005

Hello. I'm Jay Mendell, professor of public administration at Florida Atlantic University. My various Internet pages are accessible by starting at GollyGrantsOnline.com/jay.htm

Required for this class. Click here to add your name to a free electronic mailing list for the latest Florida grants information or to request a flyer of coming grants workshops and tutorials.

Several times a week you will please have to check this Web page for additions and clarifications. Go the bottom and check for added notations. I add to the end of this page to avoid using e-mail.

Free materials.

Your professor maintains several sources of grants writing material and insists you plunge in energetically and draw extensively from them. My various Internet pages are accessible by starting at GollyGrantsOnline.com/jay.htm . This is not optional. Grant writers are ferocious researchers. You need to explore every nook and cranny of this site (and it will take hours!).

Grading.

Your grade will principally be based on how well you complete the individual pieces of a proposal that I assign each week and deliver them on time (9:00 a. m.).

Assignments delivered into my hand on time (9:00 a. m.) will be graded High Pass (HP), Pass>(P>), or Unsatisfactory> (U>). Those received late will be graded Pass (P), Unsatisfactory (U), or Highly Unsatisfactory (HU).

On following instructions, even capricious instructions.

Understanding and following instructions, whether or not the instructions are clear and make sense, whether or not they seem trivial and petty, is important in your development as a grant writer. If you do not understand a request, ask about it in class, by e-mail or by phone.

Everything you turn in (except your organization's audited financial statement) may be circulated as an example (good or bad). So never fold, bend, crease, or staple your work, because I may decide to run it through a sheet-fed scanner. Never use extra thin or thick paper. Use paper that will not stick to other sheets going through the sheet feeder. Do not print on both sides of a sheet Put your name is the upper right hand corner of each sheet.

Don't write anything in pencil or ink on any original material, except your name. Especially, Don't make editorial corrections in pen or pencil. Re-process and reprint.

If you are not here when I return material, I will toss it in a waste basket. Feel free to check all the waste bins between the classroom and the parking lot.

For the first class.

1. I have written a mock solicitation of a letter of inquiry (http://GollyGrantsOnline.com/download/RWF-Mock-request-for-proposal.PDF) and a responsive letter of inquiry (http://GollyGrantsOnline.com/download/SSS-Center-mock.PDF). The example is quite a bit shorter than the proposal you will write this term.
2. An exercise in writing a concept paper for a public school is located on my site, "Write a Winning Grant Proposal on Your First Try."

Here is the course sequence.

Unit 01

Required

Start to explore GollyGrantsOnline.com/jay.htm and its tributaries.
Read the Foundation Center's online course on proposal writing.

Browse the EPA's grants tutorial.

Review the mock request for proposals from the Ralph Waldo Firestone Foundation, and my letter of inquiry.

Please start collect the following, if you plan to write a proposal for a private nonprofit. It will be due later; but start ASAP.

A clear copy of the IRS letter of determination [2-3 pages] establishing that the organization has 501 status. If your organization is a school, church, or other organization that does not require to file for 501 status, submit a typed explanation of why it is exempt.
Provide clean copy of the most recent annual budget (income, expenses).
If the organization is 2 years old or older, the name, address, and phone) of its auditor.

Except for the audited financial statement, none of this will be considered confidential. At the end of the term it will be part of your final project and will not be returned.

Please start to do the following, if you plan to write a proposal for a governmental agency. It will be due later; but start ASAP.

Simply state that you are a governmental agency and are therefore are federally tax exempt. One sentence will do the trick.
A clean copy of the most recent annual budget, for instance, your city's/county's budget summary.
Explain who audits your agency and how the results are reported and to whom. Give name, address, and phone

None of this will be considered confidential.

Please do the following if you plan to write a grant for an organization that is not governmental and has no IRS nonprofit status: Find another organization.

Unit

Due xxxxx, delivered into my hands in the classroom, at 9:00 a. m.

The items listed above for a nonprofit organization; or
The items requested above for a governmental agency.

Unit

Due xxxxx, delivered into my hands in the classroom, at 9:00 a. m. Use a single sheet of untabbed colored paper to separate the sections.

Give me a 200-300 word description of a new project you would like to undertake through a grant. It must not be a request for seed or general operating support or the extension of a currently funded project or funding for a project that is about to expire for lack of funding. It has to be something new in the range of $3000 to $200,000.

The description should be labeled "Executive Summary."
On a separate sheet, set off by an un-tabbed sheet of colored paper, give me a statement of why you are doing this project and why writing this proposal will advance your career. This section should be labeled "What's in It for Me." If all you can write is "I need to write a proposal to pass this course," you are hopeless.

Required readings

Read the Foundation Center's online course on proposal writing.

Unit

Due 2005-02-12, delivered into my hands in the classroom, at 9:00 a. m.

Need analysis is due. Write a one, two, or three page need analysis for your organization's fundable project. Label this "Need analysis." Use no font smaller than 10 points.

Required readings

Here is a crisp explanation of needs analysis (which happens to be embedded in a top-notch essay on grants writing).
Proposals available online. Study many proposals until you find one that resembles one for your project.

Unit

Due 2005-02-26, delivered into my hands in the classroom, at 9:00 a. m. Label this "Project Plan."
Project plan is due. Two or three pages, an overview of what you intend to do.

Required reading

Proposals available online. Study many proposals until you find one that resembles one for your project.
GollyGrantsOnline.com/program.htm

Unit

Due 2005-03-05, delivered into my hands in the classroom, at 9:00 a. m. Label this "Searching for funders."

Who is going to fund your proposal? Name a potential Do a free online search using online search tools.

For a nonprofit, do a keyword search for grants through the Foundation Center's online search engine. (But expect to spend some time learning the keyword list.)
Straight to private foundations.
Straight to corporate grant givers.
Straight to public charities.

The Foundation Center's complete database may be consulted at four locations in the Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. In WPB, go to the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties.(http://www.yourcommunityfoundation.org/) In Boca Raton, a few blocks east of FAU is the Junior League of Boca Raton.(http://www.jlbr.org/) In Fort Lauderdale, Nova University (http://www.nova.edu/library/nsulibs.htm) is the archive, and in Miami, the United Way. (http://www.centeronnonprofiteffectiveness.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=pages.resource_center)

For governmental grants, see State of Florida grants and benefits, State of Florida grants offices, the Florida Resource Guide, the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, and grants.gov.

FYI -- Added 2004-02-05. The Foundation Center's complete database may be consulted at four locations in the Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. In WPB, go to the CommUnity Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties. In Boca Raton, a few blocks east of FAU is the Junior League of Boca Raton. In Fort Lauderdale, Nova University is the archive, and in Miami, the United Way.

Unit

Due xxxxx, delivered into my hands in the classroom, at 9:00 a. m.

Budget. I need you to prepare a budget detail sheet and a budget summary for your proposal. The detail sheet must follow the DoJ format described below.

Label this "Budget."

Required reading

Here is a wonderful how-to (with examples) on budgets from the Department of Justice. Same file may be found here. You will need a free Acrobat .pdf reader. To view files in this format you must first have to download a copy of the Adobe Acrobat Reader and follow the instructions for installation.

Here is the budget from a YMCA proposal.

Here is the Web page that contains the tutoring scenario. Thanks to Howard Kassof, here is the budget summary's structure.

Proposals available online.

Unit

Due 2005-APR-02, delivered into my hands in the classroom, at 9:00 a. m.

Bring me a concise description of the outcomes of your project. Be careful not to confuse inputs or output with outcomes. Label this "Outcomes."

Required reading

The key reference is the booklet by United Way (http://www.Unitedway.org/outcomes/).

Unit

Due 2005-APR-09, delivered into my hands in the classroom, at 9:00 a. m. Label this "Qualifications."

Give me a concise statement of the organization's qualifications to carry out its program. Emphasize past and current grants and contracts, accreditations, and professional qualifications of the staff.

Is that all there is?

No, your final assignment is to bring me a three page miniproposal.

Comments added

Here is access to the Welfare Information Network's "cheat sheets."

Visit the FAU library online to register for netLibrary.com. This requires an Owl Card.

Specimen grant proposals.

Here is material on fundraising.

Posted 2004-02-07 for Mss. Bower, Moore, Perez, Reller, and Smith

Grantwriting and fundraising for arts and letters.

Posted 2005-02-08

Spring break runs from Monday, March 7 through Sunday, March 13. So there will be no class on Saturday, March 12.

Posted 2005-02-21

My summer schedule

PAD 6714-001/12158, Seminar/Computer Systems in PA, Location: Tower Day/Time: W 6:00-9:10 PM

PAD 4202-001/12140 , Funding Nonprofits Location: Davie Day/Time: S 9:15-12:50 PM

Added 2005-03-09

Examine the 990PF for a foundation and the 990 for a nonprofit.Saturdaqy

Posted 2005-03-27

The FAU academic calendar is posted at http://www.fau.edu/registrar/docs/acadcal0405.pdf. The last day of this class will be Saturday, 23 April 2005.

Seminar in Grants Writing for Public and Nonprofit Administration (PAD 6233).

Do you really want to be in this class?

Aggressive, motivated people do grant writing because they need resources to do important stuff. I can teach you how. But if you do not plan to write grants, if you just need three credits on a Saturday, I am not going to try to make you happy.

I do not try very hard to be well organized. I launch into stream of consciousness lectures, and you get the point if you pay attention and ask questions, or you don't. If you don't, that too is your tough luck.

There are deadlines for turning in projects, and if you miss a deadline, there is no way to be sure what I will do with your late submission. I'll try not to misplace them, but I won't try hard.

There are formats and instructions to follow, and if you fail to comply with directions, there is no way to be sure your paper will be recognized and credited to you. (I'll try to credit your work to you, but I won't try hard.)

How to reach me.

Gadget.

Address.

Where I’ll receive your message.

When to use it.

Details.

On e-mail and Web updates.

Several times a week you will please have to check this Web page for additions and clarifications. Go the bottom and check for added notations. I add to the end of this page to avoid using e-mail.

Grading. Your grade will principally be based on how well you complete the individual pieces of a proposal that I assign each week and deliver them on time (9:00 a. m.).

On following instructions, even capricious instructions.

Understanding and following instructions, whether or not the instructions are clear and make sense, whether or not they seem trivial and petty, is important in your development as a grant writer. If you do not understand a request, ask about it in class, by e-mail or by phone.

Don't write anything in pencil or ink on any original material, except your name. Especially, Don't make editorial corrections in pen or pencil. Re-process and reprint.

For the first class.

Here is the course sequence.

Unit 01

Required

Start to explore GollyGrantsOnline.com/jay.htm and its tributaries.

Read the Foundation Center's online course on proposal writing.

Recommended readings (this means you read the materials before class and perhaps reread them after class.)

Browse the EPA's grants tutorial.

Review the mock request for proposals from the Ralph Waldo Firestone Foundation, and my letter of inquiry.

Please start collect the following, if you plan to write a proposal for a private nonprofit. It will be due later; but start ASAP.

A clear copy of the IRS letter of determination [2-3 pages] establishing that the organization has 501 status. If your organization is a school, church, or other organization that does not require to file for 501 status, submit a typed explanation of why it is exempt.

Provide clean copy of the most recent annual budget (income, expenses).

If the organization is 2 years old or older, the name, address, and phone) of its auditor.

Except for the audited financial statement, none of this will be considered confidential. At the end of the term it will be part of your final project and will not be returned.

Please start to do the following, if you plan to write a proposal for a governmental agency. It will be due later; but start ASAP.

Simply state that you are a governmental agency and are therefore are federally tax exempt. One sentence will do the trick.

A clean copy of the most recent annual budget, for instance, your city's/county's budget summary.

Explain who audits your agency and how the results are reported and to whom. Give name, address, and phone

None of this will be considered confidential.

Please do the following if you plan to write a grant for an organization that is not governmental and has no IRS nonprofit status: Find another organization.

Unit

Due xxxxx, delivered into my hands in the classroom, at 9:00 a. m.

The items listed above for a nonprofit organization; or

The items requested above for a governmental agency.

Recommended readings

Read the Foundation Center's online course on proposal writing.

Start browsing hard-to-classify worksheets and examples. Don't miss this.

Review the EPA grants tutorial.

Start browsing proposals available online

Unit

Due xxxxx, delivered into my hands in the classroom, at 9:00 a. m. Use a single sheet of untabbed colored paper to separate the sections.

Required readings

Read the Foundation Center's online course on proposal writing.

Recommended readings

Proposals available online.

The EPA grants tutorial

Unit

Due 2005-02-12, delivered into my hands in the classroom, at 9:00 a. m.

Need analysis is due. Write a one, two, or three page need analysis for your organization's fundable project. Label this "Need analysis." Use no font smaller than 10 points.

Required readings

Here is a crisp explanation of needs analysis (which happens to be embedded in a top-notch essay on grants writing).

Proposals available online. Study many proposals until you find one that resembles one for your project.

Recommended readings.

Reread the Foundation Center's online course on proposal writing.

Unit

Due 2005-02-26, delivered into my hands in the classroom, at 9:00 a. m. Label this "Project Plan." Project plan is due. Two or three pages, an overview of what you intend to do.

Required reading

Recommended reading

Reread the Foundation Center's online course on proposal writing

Unit

Due 2005-03-05, delivered into my hands in the classroom, at 9:00 a. m. Label this "Searching for funders."

Who is going to fund your proposal? Name a potential Do a free online search using online search tools.

For a nonprofit, do a keyword search for grants through the Foundation Center's online search engine. (But expect to spend some time learning the keyword list.) Straight to private foundations. Straight to corporate grant givers. Straight to public charities.

Unit

Due xxxxx, delivered into my hands in the classroom, at 9:00 a. m.

Budget. I need you to prepare a budget detail sheet and a budget summary for your proposal. The detail sheet must follow the DoJ format described below.

Required reading

Here is a wonderful how-to (with examples) on budgets from the Department of Justice. Same file may be found here. You will need a free Acrobat .pdf reader. To view files in this format you must first have to download a copy of the Adobe Acrobat Reader and follow the instructions for installation.

Recommended reading

Proposals available online.

Unit

Due 2005-APR-02, delivered into my hands in the classroom, at 9:00 a. m.

Seminar in Grants Writing for
Public and Nonprofit Administration
(PAD 6233).

Grading.

Your grade will principally be based on how well you complete the individual pieces of a proposal that I assign each week and deliver them on time (9:00 a. m.).

Due 2005-02-26, delivered into my hands in the classroom, at 9:00 a. m. Label this "Project Plan."
Project plan is due. Two or three pages, an overview of what you intend to do.

For a nonprofit, do a keyword search for grants through the Foundation Center's online search engine. (But expect to spend some time learning the keyword list.)
Straight to private foundations.
Straight to corporate grant givers.
Straight to public charities.