Grant Writing for Programs that Support Kids and Families

What is your goal?

Look at surveys, focus groups, task force findings, available statistical data for your county, etc., to identify your primary goal, or the overarching problem you are trying to address. Make sure you understand and can quantify your actual problem(s), rather than basing applications on suspected problems.

What are your objectives?

What action items would specifically help you meet your goal? For example, if data indicate children in your school district are facing a high level of food insecurity, you may want to look for programs that offer food during school, after school hours, and/or during the summer.

What programs can help?

Once your team is clearly aligned regarding goals and objectives, finding grants to meet your needs becomes clearer. Unfortunately, there is no one-stop shop for finding which grants align with your needs. Try general sites, like grants.gov and Fundraising.com, as well as federal government grants and/or the federal register, foundations, and grant notification resources.

Your goal as a grant writer is to persuade the funder to fund your grant based on the practicality and appropriateness of your proposal. The effectiveness of your submission will depend on your ability to explain the nature, context, and scope of your project, as well as how you will achieve your goals.

Proposals often consist of the following:

• • Background/Needs Statement
  • Proposed Work
  • Project Goals and Objectives
  • Project Impact, Significance, or Purpose
  • Project Design
  • Project Timeline
  • Methodology
  • Evaluation
  • Budget Form/Narrative

Feeling overwhelmed? We can help!

Our Center of Community Supports team will be glad to provide grant training, writing, evaluation, or other related services. Contact Monica Murnan, 620.724.6281.

• • If your proposal is accepted: Share the good news via social media and other channels.
  • If your proposal is rejected: Remember, rejection is a learning opportunity. Take this time to review evaluator comments, save documentation, and see what other grants the funder may have.

Know the Lingo!

Be sure to familiarize yourself with grant jargon before you start the grant process. Below are just a few key terms. For more grant information, contact Monica Murnan, 620.724.6281.

Application: Submitted documents in response to a Grant Opportunity. (These differ from the submitted documents in response to a Request for Proposals for a Professional Technical Service Contract, which are referred to as a “proposal.”)

Competitive (Grant) review process: The process used to select discretionary award/grant (and/or cooperative agreement) applications for funding. Selected subject-area experts and community reps. etc., score applications and the most highly scored applications are considered for funding.

Direct costs: Direct costs are those items in an award/grant project that can be explicitly identified with a particular final cost objective. Examples of direct costs are: Compensation of employees for the time devoted and specified to the performance of award/grant activities; cost of materials acquired, consumed, or expended specifically for the award/grant; equipment and other approved capital expenditures; and travel expenses incurred to carry out the activities of an award/grant project.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB): A branch of the Executive Office of the President. OMB helps the president formulate spending plans; evaluates the effectiveness of agency programs, policies, and procedures; assesses competing funding demands among agencies; and sets funding priorities. OMB ensures that agency reports, rules, testimony, and proposed legislation are consistent with the president’s budget and administration policies.

Program regulations: Regulations that implement legislation passed by Congress to authorize a specific award/grant program; they generally include applicant and participant eligibility criteria, nature of activities funded, allowability of certain costs, selection criteria under which applications will be selected for funding, and other relevant information.

Request for Proposal (RFP) Notice: An RFP notice published in the State Register invites proposals for professional technical service contract competitions, gives basic requirements, informs potential responders of essential details and conditions to meet and necessary forms to submit, and cites the deadline date for each particular RFP.