Grants On-line Digest (G.O.L.D.)
October 1998
volume I, number 2
CONTENTS
G.O.L.D. NEWS
Grants On-Line Digest is up to 67 subscribers. Thank you, everyone, for coming aboard. Remember: this newsletter is a resource for you, not just the brilliant rantings of your maximum leader (editor). If you want a specific topic addressed or a question answered, let me know.
The Grant Doctors is still chasing interviews of foundation executives. They are an elusive bunch but we will corner them soon and get them on the record.
TIPS & TECHNIQUES
Where does your organization's revenue come from? Individual donations? Grants? Events? Direct mail? Program fees? Do you ever wake up in a cold sweat fearing that if one source of funds disappears, your organization's existence will be in jeopardy? If so, you have a problem that requires immediate attention.
Reliance upon one source of funds is dangerous. Your funding sources should be balanced so that if one falls through, your organization's programs will not be at risk. In fact, you should treat your revenue sources in much the same way you treat your own personal investments. Clearly, you would not invest all your savings in one stock or mutual fund; nor should your organization rely on a single source of revenue.
If you receive the majority of your grants from private foundations, you might want to consider reaching out to corporate foundations and public funding. You definitely want to explore new funding sources (i.e., events, corporate sponsorships, etc.) if you rely solely on grants. Set goals for your grant sources (e.g., 40% from public sources, 30% from private foundations, 30% from corporate foundations). Further, set targets for your overall revenue portfolio (e.g., 60% from program fees, 25% from special events, 15% from grants). You will have to determine what percentages, and what fundraising activities, work best for your organization.
Think this is overkill? Tell that to the former executive director of a transitional program for homeless people outside of Sacramento, California. She was fired earlier this year when she missed a deadline for the Federal Emergency Shelter Grant program. She blamed missing the deadline on the fact that the organization did not have a professional fundraiser. Not so fast. First, she applied for the same grant two years ago and was successful. And second, the organization did not have the money to hire a fundraiser; their annual budget was only about $200,000--roughly 50% of which came from the Federal Emergency Shelter Grant. Poor time/task management caused her to miss the deadline. Heavy reliance on a single source of funds put the organization in financial straits. Don't let this happen to you!
NEW GRANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
(If you want to see the complete RFP for any of the following announcements, let us know and we will Email it to you.)
September 4, 1998 - "Federal Register"
SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to advise the public that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is currently entertaining proposals that request match funding for wetland conservation projects under the Small Grants program. Projects must meet the purposes of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act of 1989, as amended. The Service will give funding priority to projects from new grant applicants with new partners, where the project ensures long-term conservation benefits. However, previous Act grantees are eligible to receive funding, and can compete successfully on the basis of strong project resource values.
DATES: Proposal must bear postmarks no later than Friday, December 4, 1998.
To be considered for funding in the 1999 cycle, proposals must have a grant request no greater than $50,000. All wetland conservation proposals are accepted that meet the requirements of the Act. However, considering appropriate proposal resource values, funding priority is given to projects from new grant applicants (individuals or organizations who have never received a NAWCA grant) with new partners, where the project ensures long-term conservation benefits.
September 4, 1998 - "Federal Register"
SUMMARY: The Administration for Native Americans (ANA) announces the anticipated availability of fiscal year 1999 funds in three competitive areas:
(1) Governance and social and economic development;
(2) Governance and social and economic development for Alaska Native entities; and
Financial assistance provided by ANA in support of projects in these three areas is intended to promote the goal of self-sufficiency for Native Americans.
The purpose of this program announcement is to announce the anticipated availability of fiscal year 1999 funds, authorized under the Native American Programs Act of 1974 (Act), as amended, to promote the goal of social and economic self-sufficiency for American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Native American Pacific Islanders in three competitive areas.
The three competitive areas under which ANA is requesting applications:
(Deadlines vary for these priority areas. If you are interested in this grant opportunity, Email The Grant Doctors and we will send you the entire RFP.)
September 2, 1998 - "Federal Register"
ACTION: Notice Inviting Proposals for Youth Offender Demonstration Projects.
The U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration is authorized to award grants to provide services aimed at youth who are or have been under criminal justice supervision or involved in gangs. In setting aside these funds, Congress noted "the severe problems facing out-of-school youth in communities with high-poverty and unemployment and the inter-relatedness of poverty, juvenile crime, child abuse and neglect, school failure, and teen pregnancy." The Department of Labor (DOL) has worked with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) in the Department of Justice (DOJ) in deciding to use these funds for three categories of projects to serve youth offenders. They are, I. Model Community Projects; II. Education and Training for Youth Offenders Initiatives; and III. Community-Wide Coordination Projects.
DATES: Application will be accepted commencing September 2, 1998. The closing date for receipt of applications is December 1, 1998, at 4 P.M. (Eastern Time) at the address below.
SUBSCRIBER SPOTLIGHT
Since one of our subscribers was wise enough to provide their web address in their signature line, it seems only fair to give them a plug. If you have a moment, visit MARKETINGWEB.COM. I had a very pleasant experience there.
Who are the GOLD subscribers? Send me a paragraph bio of yourself and your organization and I will feature it here. Be sure to include your organization's web site address if applicable.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
"I was wondering if you had any suggestions on where I can go or who I can contact to apply for office supplies. Our center just recently obtained its nonprofit status, and have less than anything required to get us started. I mean, no pens, pencils, etc." -- Peachy in Georgia
Peachy:
As far as applying for office supplies: I wouldn't look for a grant to cover them. It would be far easier to approach a major chain such as Office Depot, Office Max, Staples, Target, et. al. and simply ask them for an in-kind donation of pens, pencils, paper, etc. A request like this is usually a "slam-dunk," and only requires a we-are-asking-for letter of a page long. I would suggest approaching the big stores I mentioned (if they're in your area) and also talking to smaller, local stationary stores: just go in with your 501(c)(3) letter, talk to the manager and tell her (or him) who you are and what you need. Eight to nine times out of ten, they'll give you a generous donation of "stuff." This will prove a lot more successful and efficient than writing a proposal for office supplies. Further, it will put your name out in the community and when you eventually write a proposal, you will be able to boast about all the local support you have vis a vis office supplies and materials.
Until those donations come through, the appropriate place to turn for immediate funding is your board of directors. This is the perfect opportunity for them to make their annual contribution.
Have a question? Ask away! Send your questions to The Grant Doctors.
SHAMELESS MARKETING
The Grant Doctors is available to meet all your grants consulting and proposal writing needs. We provide a full range of services including proofreading, grant searches, proposal development consulting, grant administration, proposal writing, training seminars for federal, state or county-issued RFPs and much more. Please visit http://www.thegrantdoctors.com/services.htm to learn about all our services or start at our home page http://www.thegrantdoctors.com and browse the entire site.
SHARE THE WEALTH
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Copyright (c) 1998, all rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce, copy or distribute G.O.L.D. so long as this copyright notice and full information about contacting The Grant Doctors is attached. The author of this newsletter is David S. Farley. Contact him by Email at: [email protected]. You can also visit The Grant Doctors' web site at: http://www.thegrantdoctors.com.
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1998 The Grant Doctors / 10049 Yukon River Way, First Floor, Rancho
Cordova, CA 95670 / 916.638.7309
