Links and Tips
ND&A believes a well-informed customer is a good customer.
We have compiled these links and tips to help grant-seekers develop
a better understanding of an increasingly complex field.
· Ten Grant Writing
Tips
· Five Hallmarks of a Good
Logo
· Useful Links for a Grantseeker
Securing a grant is a skill that can be mastered, especially when
the grant-seeker is armed with some basic information. Here are
some tips that are useful to all grant writers, no matter how experienced:
1. The Devil is in the Details, Part I. Be sure
to thoroughly read the grant application requirements in detail.
At ND&A, we always break RFPs into an easy-to-read outline form
to ensure no important detail is forgotten.
2. The Devil is in the Details, Part II. When
preparing your budget, give your very best estimates possible. Don’t
round up by hundreds or thousands of dollars. And don’t include
any line items for “miscellaneous” or “contingency”
funds. It is important to identify each and every facet of your
spending intentions.
3. Frame Your Proposal as a Solution-Based Project. A
new building, supplies, or staff are not solutions. They are tools
you use to reach a solution.
4. Conduct extensive research within your own organization:
Before you begin writing, have detailed discussions with
those who will implement the project. You must understand the “who,
what, where, when and how” the project will be implemented.
Also compile as much data as possible to establish your organization’s
credibility and experience in this area.
5. Ask Yourself Four Key Questions. How is this
program innovative? What results are we going to produce? How will
we show accountability? How does this project advance my organization’s
central mission?
5. Your objective should clearly predict how participants
will benefit from your program. This can be shown through
measurable changes in behavior, skills, economic condition; it can
also be shown through a product or process that results from the
program.
6. Write your Introduction or Project Summary Last.
After writing your proposal in full, go back and underline the most
compelling facts it identified about your proposal and your organization.
This will ensure you start your proposal with your strongest information.
7. Include charts. The reviewer will skim the
proposal unless you give him or her a reason to read it. Use charts
and bullet points to convey information quickly and succinctly.
One very effective chart sure to catch the funder’s eye specifies
the proposed program’s needs, objectives, and measurable outcomes.
9. Always Submit a Cover Letter. Whether it is
requested or not, provide a brief summary of your proposal, a description
of your agency and the name of your contact person. The cover letter
should be signed by your CEO or board president.
10. Share your passion. Capture that intangible
“lightning in a bottle” and energize the granting agency
with your vision.
Why is your logo important? Your logo immediately informs potential
consumers what you want them to know about your company. If your
product is cameras, and your logo is the image of a microphone,
no amount of creativity will make it say "We Sell Cameras!"
It's important to start with a good logo, one that will stand the
test of time. While you may update your logo to keep it modern,
you'll never want to scrap it and try to re-introduce a new one.
Five Hallmarks Of A Good Logo
1) Long-lasting style
In a rapidly changing world, longevity is important. If Apple had
used a logo depicting a computer when they first started out in
the eighties, that particular logo wouldn't instill a lot of confidence
in the product today. Automobiles’ looks have changed so much
over the years, no manufacturer would dare to depict a car in their
logo.
2) Distinctiveness
A logo should reflect your organization’s image, and you don't
want that image to be the same as everyone else's. A distinctive
logo will set you apart from the other's in the same field, even
though they may be doing the same thing, not everything about your
company is the same. What makes your organization different?
3) Appeal
Visual appeal carries with it the ability to evoke emotions. Look
at Prudential's logo. Few images are as well rendered as "The
Rock", and this graphic representation of the rock of Gibralter
can give the onlooker a confidence in the strength and stability
of this company.
4) Image Conveyance
What image do you want your logo to convey? This question should
be well-thought out before it is answered. You may consider:Futuristic,
Natural, Corporate, Upscale, Longevity, or Trustworthy.
5) Legibility
Instant recognition is the ultimate goal of the logo. Keeping it
simple and clean and legible is the best way to achieve this goal.
ND&A strives to provide its clients with the highest quality
completed grant proposal, and graphic can play an important role
in a proposal’s success. Whether your proposed center needs
a new logo or if you need to present an idea through a complex diagram,
ND&A can help.
The Internet is the grant-seekers friend. Armed with a few useful
websites, a novice grant writer can find viable grant opportunities
as well as the data to create a strong proposal. If
you’re searching for a grant opportunity:
The
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
This free site lists all the funding opportunities available through
the federal government. This site is extremely informative but can
be difficult to navigate because it includes more than just grant
information. For grants-only information, we recommend another site
sponsored by the federal government: www. grants.gov
GrantSmart
2.0
This free site, which provides the entire tax returns for more than
96,000 private and charitable foundations, is a very useful resource
to see who the foundation has supported in the past and to determine
if a foundation is a viable option for your organization.
The
Foundation Center
This paid site is an excellent all-in-one resource for information
about private foundations and grant opportunities. It is a must-have
for any grant-seeking organization.
If you want to learn the fundamentals about grant-writing,
we recommend:
The
Non-Profit Guides
This is a free web-based grant-writing tools for non-profit organizations
and other community-minded groups. It is designed to assist established
non-profits through the grant-writing process.
If you want data or information to support your proposal:
The
U.S. Census Bureau
This free site provides a very detailed breakdown of the 2000 Census.
Its information can be very effective in underscoring the importance
of the project outlined in your proposal.
Lexis-Nexis
This paid site enables you to search and access published articles
on a wide range of topics. This can be a very useful tool for placing
your project within a larger context.
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