This is not another how to write
a grant proposal book. Unlike
existing books, "Getting Grants"
argues that no matter the type
of organization, there is a direct
relationship between the
organizations internal proposal
development process and how
successful the organization is at
securing grant funding.
a grant proposal book. Unlike
existing books, "Getting Grants"
argues that no matter the type
of organization, there is a direct
relationship between the
organizations internal proposal
development process and how
successful the organization is at
securing grant funding.
- How and where to find
sources of funding - The pre-proposal planning
and development stage - The components of a grant
proposal - The role of the project
director in the grants process - Proposal writing (with tips
gleaned from a decade of
experience), and more
This book includes a CD-ROM
with forms and checklists to
use in grants administration,
as well as links to other
valuable resources!
with forms and checklists to
use in grants administration,
as well as links to other
valuable resources!
| Available in most Bookstores and Online Retailers |
| Getting Grants Consulting Services for Non-profit Organizations and Small Businesses |
| ________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
| ________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Getting-Grants
Copyright 2006-2009. All Rights Reserved
Copyright 2006-2009. All Rights Reserved
In the business world, successful organizations make planning a vital part of their
annual operations. A comprehensive plan that takes into account every part of the
organization's operation is known as a business plan. By using a business plan
companies create "road maps" for the organization to follow. These road maps
keep the company on a defined path. Nonprofit organizations can benefit from
borrowing this practice used universally by traditional businesses.
Most business plans are organized around four major areas: the organization
description, management information, market information, and financial data. By
putting together a plan, those in the nonprofit sector will be forced to consider all
aspects of the organization. I have listed the basic elements of a good business
plan and what they should contain.
Organization Description: This section includes a statement of purpose, more
commonly know as a mission statement. The mission statement outlines the
reasons a nonprofit organization was established and is used to develop agency
goals and objectives.
Management Information: This portion of the plan outlines the management team
and organizational structure.
Market Information: This portion of the plan describes the environment,
competition, and clients or customers served by the business or organization. In
nonprofit language, market information should include the demographics on your
service area, information on other nonprofits that provide the same types of
services in your area, and should identify and describe the population of
individuals served by the nonprofit.
Financial Data: This section takes a comprehensive look at the agency's current
financial situation and develops a plan for the future financial success of the
organization.
It is important to have a business plan because it can be used to keep the
organization focused on why it exists, staying true to its purpose as it plans for the
future. Because most nonprofit organizations exist to serve a specific purpose or
population of individuals, funding can be hard to come by. Unlike a traditional
business, revenue is not commonly obtained through the sale of goods or
services. This leads some nonprofits to look for ways to generate revenue that
may conflict with their original mission.
One of the ways a lack of planning can impact a nonprofit is to use grant funding
as a means to cover financial deficits. Grants can be very enticing, but as you
know, grants are given for a specific purpose, not to cover budget shortfalls. The
result of "chasing grants" in order to generate revenue can result in a nonprofit
performing services or serving a population of individuals that it did not originally
intend to.
Another reason why some nonprofits apply for grants is because "everybody else
is doing it." Responding to grant solicitations for trendy reasons can change the
direction of an organization and cause it to stray from its chosen mission. Just
because other nonprofits are doing it doesn't mean that your nonprofit should get
on board. A good plan will help keep you on track and will reveal that opportunities
will complement the services and population that you are currently serving.
Nonprofits that develop a business plan should annually review and update it.
During the annual review, two basic questions should be answered: 1) Did we
follow our business plan? and 2) Did we meet our goals and objectives? Using a
business plan will help a nonprofit to stay on course and will positively impact its'
long term success.
annual operations. A comprehensive plan that takes into account every part of the
organization's operation is known as a business plan. By using a business plan
companies create "road maps" for the organization to follow. These road maps
keep the company on a defined path. Nonprofit organizations can benefit from
borrowing this practice used universally by traditional businesses.
Most business plans are organized around four major areas: the organization
description, management information, market information, and financial data. By
putting together a plan, those in the nonprofit sector will be forced to consider all
aspects of the organization. I have listed the basic elements of a good business
plan and what they should contain.
Organization Description: This section includes a statement of purpose, more
commonly know as a mission statement. The mission statement outlines the
reasons a nonprofit organization was established and is used to develop agency
goals and objectives.
Management Information: This portion of the plan outlines the management team
and organizational structure.
Market Information: This portion of the plan describes the environment,
competition, and clients or customers served by the business or organization. In
nonprofit language, market information should include the demographics on your
service area, information on other nonprofits that provide the same types of
services in your area, and should identify and describe the population of
individuals served by the nonprofit.
Financial Data: This section takes a comprehensive look at the agency's current
financial situation and develops a plan for the future financial success of the
organization.
It is important to have a business plan because it can be used to keep the
organization focused on why it exists, staying true to its purpose as it plans for the
future. Because most nonprofit organizations exist to serve a specific purpose or
population of individuals, funding can be hard to come by. Unlike a traditional
business, revenue is not commonly obtained through the sale of goods or
services. This leads some nonprofits to look for ways to generate revenue that
may conflict with their original mission.
One of the ways a lack of planning can impact a nonprofit is to use grant funding
as a means to cover financial deficits. Grants can be very enticing, but as you
know, grants are given for a specific purpose, not to cover budget shortfalls. The
result of "chasing grants" in order to generate revenue can result in a nonprofit
performing services or serving a population of individuals that it did not originally
intend to.
Another reason why some nonprofits apply for grants is because "everybody else
is doing it." Responding to grant solicitations for trendy reasons can change the
direction of an organization and cause it to stray from its chosen mission. Just
because other nonprofits are doing it doesn't mean that your nonprofit should get
on board. A good plan will help keep you on track and will reveal that opportunities
will complement the services and population that you are currently serving.
Nonprofits that develop a business plan should annually review and update it.
During the annual review, two basic questions should be answered: 1) Did we
follow our business plan? and 2) Did we meet our goals and objectives? Using a
business plan will help a nonprofit to stay on course and will positively impact its'
long term success.
| Developing A Nonprofit Business Plan |
| by Shawn Black |