Finding Funders

Now that you have a well thought out program plan on paper, and your executive leadership have made the program an organizational priority you are ready to move on to the next step in grant development.

There is no magic wand to wave in order to find potential funders for your program or project. This will take a lot of time to research and build appropriate relationships with potential funders. The key is to identify funders that have the propensity to give to organizations with programs like yours. Oodles of funding search software and online programs are available to help your research efforts. Currently one of the the most comprehensive sets of data can be purchased through the Foundation Center. The data can be obtained online, via CD or through books. Many other companies offer resources that are less costly and sometimes free of charge. The Foundation Center library can be accessed through many universities across the country.

Whatever source you use, start locally. Businesses and smaller foundations in your city or region are more likely to give to an organization in their own hometown. You are less likely to receive funding from the larger foundations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, or The Ford Foundation that may have more assets than your local family foundation, but receive hordes of grant proposals each year.

Make sure you check each funders grant guidelines or area of focus. This can normally be done through their website if they have one or by writing or calling for their application instructions. Determine if the organization is a good match with your program. This means if the foundation (or corporation) guidelines state that they do not give funding for capital campaigns/building renovations, don't send an application to them asking for funding for your new roof. Check their areas of interest. Have they funded educational or health related organizations in the past? More in depth research can be done regarding the Foundations prior years grant giving, assets and other financial information through Guidestar. This is a free service, but you must register.

Once you believe that a potential funder is a good match, contact with the organization should be made. More later on how to contact potential funders and begin building those all important relationships.

Goals and objectives and activities.. oh my!!

Much like Dorothy and her friends in the Wizard of Oz felt when entering the forest chanting lions and tigers and bears, the process of identifying goals, objectives and activities can be downright intimidating. A goal is defined in the Websters New World Dictionary, Third College Edition, as "An object or end that one strives to attain." According to Dictionary.com, objective is defined as " Something worked toward or striven for; a goal." Now then those definitions make the difference as clear as mud right? So what is the difference?

For the sake of program planning, goals are directly tied to the problem and the mission of the organization. The goal is the result of the main problem being addressed. In simpler terms, the goal explains the benefit that the project will have on the target population. An example of a goal for a new charter high school may be "To provide a solid educational foundation for each student." A program or project can have more than one goal, but they should be broad and somewhat generalized.

Objectives spell out what needs to be met in order to achieve the goal. These must be specific and measurable. For example-93% of all high school seniors will graduate within four years. This shows that students are gaining knowledge and able to succeed in school.

Other objectives should be indicators that students are receiving a solid education, which is the goal. Realistically there should be about 4-5 objectives per goal in order to make each objective obtainable. This will vary depending on the scope of the program.

Finally, activities are the bread and butter of the program. They show exactly who will do what to meet the objectives and ultimately the goal. Examples of activities may include- Students and their teachers will formulate a learning plan each semster to increase their chance of successful graduation. Another activity may be-The school counselor will meet with each student on a monthly basis to ensure the student is following his or her learning plan. Activities should be carefully planned as actual people will be responsible for their delivery.

But I need to have something to write about...

If I had a nickel for every time someone asked me to "Just write up a grant..." I could live very comfortably. I often reply that "I need something to write about." I cannot just create a proposal out of thin air. There needs to be a plan to convey to potential funders.

Planning is key to developing a well thought out program or project. Grant proposal writing is actually one of the steps in program planning, it is not the plan itself. Many non-profits bypass the planning stage due to limited staff size, or eagerness to bring an initiative to life.

Planning should include, at a minimum, the following basic elements:

• The Project Goal-What benefit(s) will the project bring?
• The Target Population-Who will benefit?
• Documentation of Need-Why is this project needed?
• Objectives-What objectives need to be met in order to achieve the goal?
• Activities-Who will do what to meet the objectives?
• Staffing Needs
• Timeline of Activities
• Estimated Budget (3 years for new programs)
• Evaluation-How will you measure whether or not the goal has been reached?

The program plan is very similar to a business plan for a corporation. There are helpful websites and software that can take you through the planning process step by step. Business Plan Pro offered through http://www.paloalto.com is a comprehensive business plan software package that takes you through a series of questions, with a nonprofit option built into the program, in order to formulate the basics of a comprehensive plan.

It is essential that key staff, the Executive Director and even Board members take the time to properly plan a new program. Ideally the new program or project should be planned out for three years.

It is also recommend that current or ongoing programs continue planning through the evaluation process. During evaluation the organization is asking what did or did not work and what adjustments need to be made in order to ensure the program's continued success.

More later on the differences between goals, objectives and activities.