The Art and Science of Grant Writing
In this brief article, I can’t give you all the information that I could offer in a workshop to your grant writing committee. But here are some important tips.
• First, of course is to create a grant writing committee, choosing your members carefully so that some are marketing people, some great writers, others good researchers, and of course some need to be very knowledgeable about your organization.
• Next, is to be sure that you have well constructed and compelling vision and mission statements. If you’ve haven’t already created these, you might want to visit that chapter in my fund-raising book, or contact me to create a vision/mission workshop for your group.
• You need to create a grant request template and looseleaf notebook, which contains all the information you need and gather about grant writing. Some of what you should gather and keep in this notebook:
• Description of your organization
   • Name, status, years in business, location
   • Board of Directors with brief bios of each
   • Advisory Board with brief bios of each
   • Staff titles and resumes or more detailed bios
   • Past history of the organization
   • Success stories
   • Testimonials from satisfied clients
   • Partnerships
   • Other grants received
   • Budget
   • Outside audits and evaluations
   • Expansion Plans
   • Capital Outlay (e.g. “The Building Fund”)
• Services and Programs your organization provides
• Customer/Stakeholder Base
• Measurable goals and objectives

Each proposal that you write should be quite specific to the information you learn about the grantor and the types of programs they wish to fund. You need to:
   • Match your language to theirs
   • Research the format they prefer and use it
   • Ask for funds only for the types of programs and services they fund
   • Be very specific in terms of what you are seeking
   • The amount of money you request should be reasonable and consistent with your goals and objectives as well as the grantor’s stated desires about funding
• Create a grant directory of possible funders and keep it in your binder.

Finally, remember that although money comes from many sources, it is always from people. Be sure that you are respectful, courteous, and thankful. Create opportunities to thank those that have supported you in the past.

So, how can I help you?
Let me again quote a client:

Your workshop…was invaluable. Your knowledge and skills are excellent. We enjoyed your quick wit and the support materials were terrific. I personally learned a great deal and the [participants] are still asking if we can’t please have you here on a permanent basis.
You might consider changing the title of your seminar to “How to figure out where you are, how you got there, where you want to be and how to go about making the most of your talents and how to zero in on the needs of your clients to best serve them, while enjoying the process.”
– P.M. Vice-President

Let me be your Aufin—your advisor to Kings.