Getting to 'Yes'! The Art of Grantwriting by Samuel Mahaffy

Getting to ‘Yes’!
The Art of Grant Writing
Copyright Samuel Mahaffy, Ph.D.

Why Write a Grant?
Four Reasons to Write a Grant Application
Stimulate Professional Development
Enhance Organizational Capacity
Improve or Enhance Services
FIND FUNDING!

Grant Writing as an Art
A high-quality grant application is:
Thoughtfully planned
Carefully prepared
Concisely packaged

You CAN write successful grant
applications!

Developing Ideas for the Proposal
Document your case with
pictures and statistics
Articulate a clear need
and how you will meet it.
Build on your mission

Do Not ‘Go it Alone’
Gain the Support of your Stakeholders!
Organizational support
Community support
Consider a community advisory committee

Identifying Funding Resources
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
www.cfda.gov
Federal Grants: www.grants.gov
Foundation Center www.foundationcenter.org

Contact Samuel Mahaffy
Samuel Mahaffy, Ph.D. is one of the most successful grant writers in the Northwest
United States. Along with his Associates he has gained more than $12M in funding for
nonprofit programs. Samuel Mahaffy has written more than sixty (60) successful grant
applications to federal and state agencies, and regional and national foundations. For
many organizations facing financial sustainability issues, he has helped to develop
innovative strategies for new funding streams. Samuel Mahaffy has assisted more than
five hundred nonprofits and NGOs around the world. He has worked with institutions
of higher learning, community and faith-based organizations, and public and private
agencies. He offers training to organizations in grantwriting and mentorships to
individuals. Samuel Mahaffy is a member of the Academy of Management, an
Associate of the Taos Institute, a Founding Member of Comprehensive Nonprofit
Services and an independent consultant. He earned his Ph.D. from Tilburg University
in the Netherlands through the Taos Institute.
Contact information: samuelmahaffy@gmail.com www.samuelmahaffy.com or
www.comprehensivenonprofitservices.com.

Getting Organized to
Write a Proposal
Develop a concept paper
Narrow down a list of potential funders
Get feedback and dialog about your concept
Research—Do your homework!!!

Basic Components of a Proposal
1. Cover letter
2. Summary or abstract
3. Introductory description of the organization
4. Problem statement or needs assessment
5. Project objectives
6. Project design or methods
7. Expected outcomes
8. Project evaluation
9. Sustainability
10. Project budget

Most Common Mistakes
 Jargon or clichés
 Reinventing the wheel
 Biting off more than you can chew
 No clear outcomes
You said what?

Cover Letter to a Foundation
Application
• One page
• On letterhead
• Demonstrate how you meet agency or
foundations priorities
• Use the funder’s language!
• Be professional and respectful

Proposal Summary: Outline of
Project Goals
Keep it brief and to the point. Include:
Description of the applicant
Problem to be addressed
Statement of objective
Outline of activities or services
Evaluation design
Expected outcomes
Cost/benefit

Introduction: Presenting a
Credible Applicant
Brief history of the organization and
significant accomplishments
Qualifications of professional staff
Reference any funding being sought
elsewhere
Management & decision making structure
Organizational structure

Problem Statement or
Needs Assessment
Document a formal or informal needs assessment
Give evidence of conversations with stakeholders
Show who will benefit and how
Nature of the problem with hard and specific evidence
What are you doing about the problem
Existing gaps in addressing the problem (how does
your effort fit into others?
Show how the problem will be effectively addressed
Identify how the effort will be sustained

Identifying the Core Issue
The lack of a program or facility is never the
problem. Define the problem correctly. For
example, the lack of a medical center in an
economically depressed area is NOT the
problem. The problem is that people in the area
have health needs that are not currently being
met, and may not have the resources to find
alternatives.

Project Objectives:
Goals and Desired Outcomes
Use quantitative language
Be specific as to anticipated outcomes
Be realistic
Do not confuse objectives with methods or
strategies

Program Methods and Program
Design: A Plan of Action
Activities to occur
Staff needed to operate the activity
Facilities used, transportation, and support
services
Diagram the design (draw a picture)
Justify the design
Highlight innovation and efficiency
Provide analysis, timetables, work plans
schedules, etc. in appendix when appropriate

Evaluation Component is Essential!
Build evaluation into the design
Choose an experienced inside or outside
evaluator
Describe methods of measurement
Formative and summative evaluation
Have baseline data available
Effectiveness research may win or lose your
proposal

Future Funding
• Describe a plan for continuation
• Project ongoing income and expense
• Demonstrate community support for
continuation

Budget Development
 Include salary and benefits in personnel costs and % of effort
 Identify contractors and qualifications
 Show break-down of non-personnel expenses
 Total and summarize each category
 Provide justification for the budget
 Identify cash or in-kind contributions and know which is which
*************************
 Use available resources for model budgets
 Federal Grants:
www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/pdf/BudgetInstructions.pdf)
 Foundation Grants:
http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/tutorials/prop_budget/inde
x.html

Proposal Appendix
Keep it simple
Avoid generic items
Include staff resumes where appropriate
Include data tables and references
Organizational documents where appropriate
List of Board of Directors and contact
information

Additional Proposal Writing Resources
Common Grant Application (National Network
of Grantmakers): www.nng.org/cga.html
Grant Writing tip sheet from NIH:
http://grnts1.nih.gov/grants/grant_tips.htm
Writing a successful grant proposal
(Minnesota Council on Foundations)
http://www.mch.org/mch/grant/writing.htm

Reach for the Sky!
You can do it!!!

Getting to 'Yes'! The Art of Grantwriting by Samuel Mahaffy

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Getting to 'Yes'! The Art of Grantwriting by Samuel Mahaffy