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 |
So, you find yourself the newly hired staffer in a small nonprofit organization
with a title like grants manager, grants coordinator, or grant writer. Or, maybe
you find yourself in a larger organization like a college and you've been
appointed to head up the institution's newly established Grants Office. Where
do you begin? And how do you ensure that your efforts are successful?
Well, having found myself in a similar position a little over five years ago and
having secured some success in this area, I'd like to share what I have found to
be the Six Secrets of a Successful Grants Office.
Secret #1 Know your role and communicate it to everyone else within
your organization. Make sure that you and your boss are on the same page
when it comes to your job duties. Are you the organization's grant writer or are
program staff expected to write the bulk of the organization's grants in their
respective areas? Clearly define what the grants office can and cannot be
expected to do in the grants process.
Secret #2: Take the lead in your organization's planning and proposal
development process. Whether formally or informally and whether you are
the organization's primary grant writer or you provide assistance to a number of
grant writers, direct and facilitate the process from beginning to end: from
fleshing out ideas and assisting with program design, to identifying funding
sources and writing proposals, all the way through to proposal submission.
Secret #3: Establish an organization-wide proposal review process. The
review process should establish a procedure for notifying the grants office of an
employees interest in or intent to apply for grant funding; a procedure to notify
the organization's administrative officials about proposals and to obtain
approval to submit proposals; a procedure to ensure that the grants office has
"signed off" on the proposal before it is submitted, thereby, ensuring
compliance with internal and external rules and regulations; and a procedure for
obtaining the signature of the organization's authorized organizational
representative or signing official prior to proposal submission.
Secret #4: Make compliance a priority. It's one thing to scrutinize a grant
proposal before submission to the funding agency, making sure that funding
guidelines and RFP instructions are followed to the letter. It's quite another
thing to be just as meticulous and diligent in monitoring a grant-funded program
after the grant has been awarded and funds received. But, the bottom line is
you must be. The ethical and legal obligations required of recipients of grant
funding must be take very seriously. These requirements can be numerous and
complicated, especially for those receiving federal funds. However, meeting
these financial and administrative obligations is the responsibility of all
organizations as good stewards of grant funds. The grants office must
champion the culture of compliance within the organization.
Secret #5: Communicate. Talk often to grant seeking employees, program
staff, and administrators within your organization. Grants are often
misunderstood. Sharing your knowledge will help you to manage the
expectations of others, craft an institutional grants process that runs
methodically and smoothly, and will help you succeed at procuring grant funding
for your organization. And finally.....
Secret #6: The truth about this secret is that there really are no secrets
at all. A functioning and effective grants office, or at the very least, a
well-established grants process (no matter the size or type of organization) is
the key to developing successful grant proposals and successfully
administering grant-funded projects. Good Luck!
with a title like grants manager, grants coordinator, or grant writer. Or, maybe
you find yourself in a larger organization like a college and you've been
appointed to head up the institution's newly established Grants Office. Where
do you begin? And how do you ensure that your efforts are successful?
Well, having found myself in a similar position a little over five years ago and
having secured some success in this area, I'd like to share what I have found to
be the Six Secrets of a Successful Grants Office.
Secret #1 Know your role and communicate it to everyone else within
your organization. Make sure that you and your boss are on the same page
when it comes to your job duties. Are you the organization's grant writer or are
program staff expected to write the bulk of the organization's grants in their
respective areas? Clearly define what the grants office can and cannot be
expected to do in the grants process.
Secret #2: Take the lead in your organization's planning and proposal
development process. Whether formally or informally and whether you are
the organization's primary grant writer or you provide assistance to a number of
grant writers, direct and facilitate the process from beginning to end: from
fleshing out ideas and assisting with program design, to identifying funding
sources and writing proposals, all the way through to proposal submission.
Secret #3: Establish an organization-wide proposal review process. The
review process should establish a procedure for notifying the grants office of an
employees interest in or intent to apply for grant funding; a procedure to notify
the organization's administrative officials about proposals and to obtain
approval to submit proposals; a procedure to ensure that the grants office has
"signed off" on the proposal before it is submitted, thereby, ensuring
compliance with internal and external rules and regulations; and a procedure for
obtaining the signature of the organization's authorized organizational
representative or signing official prior to proposal submission.
Secret #4: Make compliance a priority. It's one thing to scrutinize a grant
proposal before submission to the funding agency, making sure that funding
guidelines and RFP instructions are followed to the letter. It's quite another
thing to be just as meticulous and diligent in monitoring a grant-funded program
after the grant has been awarded and funds received. But, the bottom line is
you must be. The ethical and legal obligations required of recipients of grant
funding must be take very seriously. These requirements can be numerous and
complicated, especially for those receiving federal funds. However, meeting
these financial and administrative obligations is the responsibility of all
organizations as good stewards of grant funds. The grants office must
champion the culture of compliance within the organization.
Secret #5: Communicate. Talk often to grant seeking employees, program
staff, and administrators within your organization. Grants are often
misunderstood. Sharing your knowledge will help you to manage the
expectations of others, craft an institutional grants process that runs
methodically and smoothly, and will help you succeed at procuring grant funding
for your organization. And finally.....
Secret #6: The truth about this secret is that there really are no secrets
at all. A functioning and effective grants office, or at the very least, a
well-established grants process (no matter the size or type of organization) is
the key to developing successful grant proposals and successfully
administering grant-funded projects. Good Luck!
| Six Secrets of A Successful Grants Office |
| Excerpted from the book "Getting Grants: The Complete Manual of Proposal Development and Administration" by Alexis Carter-Black |
| Getting Grants Consulting Services for Non-profit Organizations and Small Businesses |
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| ________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
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Getting-Grants
Copyright 2006-2009. All Rights Reserved
Copyright 2006-2009. All Rights Reserved