Getting your Organisation ready to win grants Bianca Williams, Strategic Grants
Is your organisation ready and able to win grants? Jobs Australia Conference October 2016 Presented by: Bianca Williams Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 2
Strategic Grants mission is to enable non-profit organisations to establish sustainable, cost-effective grant-seeking strategies to deliver projects that fulfil their organisational missions. Our vision is to build the capacity of non-profit organisations to apply strategic thinking to their service delivery and fundraising programs. Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 3
Agenda 7 Steps to grant readiness 1. Know the landscape in which you are grant-seeking 2. Know your organisation s grants history 3. Ensure you have a project wish list, project plans and budgets 4. Key messaging is a must 5. Educated project managers who understand funder intent 6. Relationships are key! (Before, during and after!) 7. Excellent writing skills Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 4
Ask yourself.. 1. Is my organisation ready to win grants? 2. Are we pro-actively grant seeking for our organisation? 3. What is our success rate? Anybody willing to share. Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 5
Grant-seeking is major gift fundraising that enables delivery of your organisation s mission. Professional fundraising practice fosters effective philanthropy and achieves positive outcomes for the community, your charity and the philanthropist or grant-maker Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 6
What does a successful Grants strategy look like? Key messages List of funder deadlines? Project plans and budgets Educated project leaders Someone to write a strong application Clear and current website (according to the size of your organisation) Prioritised, approved wish list Engagement and stewardship strategies in place? Project evaluation methodologies in place? Historical knowledge; have all previous grants been acquitted on time? Recurrent funding strategies Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 7
1 Know thy landscape Copyright Strategic Grants 2015 8
1 Over 600,000 not-for-profit organisations in Australia Productivity Commission 2010 Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 9
Around 54,000 charities registered with the ACNC on 30 th April 2015 https://www.acnc.gov.au/ Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 10
A charity is a not-for-profit that has a charitable purpose and is for the benefit of the public. Advancing Health Advancing education Advancing social or pubic welfare Advancing religion Advancing culture Promoting reconciliation, mutual respect and tolerance between groups of individuals that are in Australia Promoting or protecting human rights Advancing the security or safety of Australia or the Australian public Preventing or relieving the suffering of animals Advancing the natural environment Promoting or opposing change in relation to one or more of the above purposes Other similar purposes beneficial to the general public The Charities Act 2013 www.comlaw.gov.au/details/c2013a00100 Copyright Strategic Grants 2016
Where do grants come from? Government grants Private Foundations Family Foundations Corporate Foundations Public Ancillary Funds Private Ancillary Funds Trustee Companies Community Foundations Government-established Foundations Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 12
Government funding vs philanthropic funding Government looks for accountable, bestpractice organisations with proven track records, to deliver services in areas it has identified as priority needs. Philanthropy is more like venture capital able to take risks and be innovative, as it has no stakeholders or voters to please! Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 13
Government funding trends Key messages: Rapid response and identification of service priorities by multiple organisations working together are crucial. Collaboration is a critical component of service delivery, resulting in the development of strong referral pathways, so that the best outcomes are achieved for people and families in need. Increasing interest in Social Impact Investing, which requires high levels of collaboration across business, community, government & nonprofits Greater emphasis on evaluation & OUTCOMES reporting Greater emphasis on social entrepreneurship Working in a silo is no longer accepted. Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 14
Definition of philanthropic foundations Trusts and foundations are not-for-profit entities that hold money in trust for the public benefit and make grants of money for charitable purposes. Generally a foundation will have an asset base, and the interest from the capital investment is given away in the form of grants or donations. Trusts and foundations are governed by trustees who may be an authorised trustee company, family and friends of the benefactor, qualified professionals, or a mixture of the above. Copyright Strategic Grants 2015 15
Current trends Perpetual Trustees 2014 Over 1,200 applications approximately 215 activities funded 18% success rate http://www.perpetual.com.au/funding-round-faqs.aspx Greater Charitable Foundation 2015 February grants round 140 applications 6 funded. Only 2 new charities funded. 1.4% success rate for new charities James N Kirby Foundation 2014-47% increase in applications (406 up from 276) Over $11 million in grant requests for $1 million grant pool 2015 - geographic restrictions for projects and EOI process for large grants. 81 grants made in 2015 Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 16
Remember: there is a fine line between innovative and ineligible projects Many applications received - X don t meet funding criteria X responses do not answer the questions. Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 17
Funders Like collaboration! They do not like replication. Are looking for a reliable track record. Funders talk to other funders, so make sure you acquit grants on time! Want to see the connect between your project outcomes and the outcomes they aim to achieve through their funding. Expect: Your application to tick ALL eligibility boxes To be provided with evidence of the need your project is addressing To be thanked To be kept informed throughout the life of the project they are funding & updated about any changes or progress On time acquittal reports Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 18
2 Know thy history! Copyright Strategic Grants 2015 19
2 Know your history Have you got a record of your organisation s grants history including: $ amount applied for Who wrote the grant Date submitted Successful/unsuccessful Amount received on what date Funder reporting due dates Date funder reports were delivered and who reported Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 20
3 Wish list, project planning & budgets Copyright Strategic Grants 2015 21
First review your internal processes Centralised, prioritised project wish list? Project forms? Sign-off processes? How are project budgets developed? Is there a need for organisational education focussing on funder s expectations? Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 22
The importance of the wish list A clear, prioritised list of your organisation s needs and when you need them met! Are your wish list items signed off by your management? Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 23
Project planning Aim: Goal? Ensure alignment between your mission and funder s mission. Project need: Why needed? What gap in research / services is it fulfilling? How do you know need exists? Demonstrate with data and evidence. Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 24
Objectives: Measureable outcomes to achieve the aim. Strategies / Methodologies: Tasks implemented to achieve objectives. Each objective has its own set of strategies. Outputs: Immediate deliverable elements? Outcomes and impact forecast: Outcomes are the direct changes. Impact results in sustained changes. Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 25
Timeframe / Key milestones: Confirm project is ready to start with funding agreement but that it won t have already started. Project risks: Mitigation strategies Collaborations: Who are you working with? Memorandums of Understanding? Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 26
Who is conducting the evaluation? Project leader or external reviewer? Evaluation measures: How? - quantitative = data counting. - qualitative (simple surveys that capture changes in behaviour and thinking). Use pre and post tests to capture changes. Logic models measure cause and effect, demonstrating a theory of change. Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 27
Budget: Total cost to your organisation to implement? Include all costs; staff, resources, evaluation etc. Don t make figures up. Get quotes! Funding from other sources? Provide details. Ensure that income and expense columns are equal! Income Expense Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 28
4 Key Messages Copyright Strategic Grants 2015 29
Key Messages clearly defines Statement what your organisation is all about your POINT OF DIFFERENCE Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 30
Key Messages Organisation description short version (50 words) and long version (150 words) Vision, mission and purpose Organisation structure Organisational history Key achievements Scope size and nature of target group(s), geographical coverage Number of staff and volunteers and profiles of key staff Funding breakdown Niche offering Partnerships Examples of successful projects/case studies Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 31
The Seven Cs Clear Compelling Concise Consistent Correct Certified Current! Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 32
Grants are only part of the fundraising mix Can you demonstrate sustainability? Common fundraising methodologies include: Direct mail Online campaigns / Crowd funding Major donors (individuals and grants) Capital campaigns Lotteries / Art Unions Events Corporate partnerships and sponsorships Bequests Merchandise Social enterprise Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 33
5 Educated project managers Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 34
Educated project managers Are you getting timely advice from project delivery staff? You need to make sure you ve briefed your project leaders on: Funder expectations of evaluation Funder expectations of reporting Funder expectations of stewardship Ensure you have clear lines of communication regarding who is reporting to the funder and managing that relationship! Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 35
6 Relationships Copyright Strategic Grants 2015 36
Funder How do we connect? Your cause Best Fit Project Matching = Strategic Approach Copyright Strategic Grants 2015 37
Relationships Do your research. Attend briefing sessions where possible. Number 1 rule ring before writing. Nurture relationship with key individuals. Keep them abreast of organisational changes. No open application process? Look for a connection between trustees and your board members/others in your organisation to start a conversation Communication with funders must be coordinated! Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 38
Funders are people too.. Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 39
Who is confident that 100% of their donors are being thanked in THE MOST APPROPRIATE way? Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 40
7 Excellent writing skills Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 41
Ground work laid now for the application! Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 42
Engage me Explain the problem Tell me the solution Show me the impact Prove I can trust you Motivate me
Balance emotion with evidence The organisations that are successful in receiving philanthropic funds are the ones able to outline a business case based on outcomes, rather than relying on emotional appeal. Andrew Thomas, Perpetual Trustees. Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 44
For example What does your organisation do: MyPlay-ce is a membership organisation made up of health professionals, social workers, psychologists, art therapists, teachers. Our PBI status includes DGR. Our mission is to support refugee preschool children from 0-5. Our projects are small models of excellence researched, analysed and able to be replicated by us and other health professionals, particularly preschool teachers. We work in 30 preschools working directly with newly arrived children, using art therapy and other means as mediums through which to heal trauma in the preschool child from severely distressed backgrounds. Our main goal is to break the trans-generational traumas created by poverty, conflict and dislocation created by loss of culture and family. Our program at the interface of healing trauma and education for children around (i)health and hygiene (ii)nutrition (iii)identity (iv)facing difficulties at home (v)care of our environment. Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 45
OR MyPlay-ce works to enable refugee children to grow to their full, rightful place in society as resilient, empowered adults having had the kind of early childhood which allows them to develop their full potential. We do this by working in 30 pre-schools throughout Victoria with children from newly settled families to: promote best possible developmental outcomes for children under 5 years. empower their parents to break their own cycle of suffering caused by loss of culture, family, community, and country. support preschool teachers to deal with the trauma. This is critical to enhancing personal and professional effectiveness. We maintain a strong theoretical base in psychoanalytic thinking, attachment theory, early emotional, cognitive and healthy physical development of children. MyPlay-ce is committed to research, evaluation, measuring and sharing outcomes so our work can reach other refugee families. Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 46
Perpetual Trustees research submission: What will you write? (50 words to work with) Treatment with pressure garments has been routine practice to manage post-burn scarring in Western countries for >40 years, but the effectiveness remains unclear. Our study will significantly contribute to this gap in knowledge. OR We will compare the effectiveness of different pressures beneath pressure garments in children with scarring after a burn injury in a pilot study that examines the severity of scars, quality of life and costs of scar-related treatments. This information will be used to develop a larger trial. Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 47
Grant-writing checklist 1. Strong project / funder match? 2. Relevant, up-to-date information? 3. Ensure the ask is at the top and focus on the need. 4. Clearly define the AIM of the project. 5. Demonstrate the need for the project, and qualify with data. 6. Define the strategies. 7. Outcomes? What will success look like? 8. How will the project be evaluated? WHO is going to evaluate? 9. Budget: adhere to guidelines; factor in other income; include in-kind support. 10. Spelling & grammar check make it look professional. 11. Ensure formatting adheres to any funder guideline specifications. 12. Proofread - get a third party to check the application with fresh eyes. Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 48
Final Message Don t overlook the basics know the processes and documents that must be in place before you seek grant funding. Be strategic and develop strong relationships with funders. Be robust and put forward impressive projects. Treat funders with respect. Persevere! Help to grow philanthropy in Australia Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 49
Questions and discussion THANK YOU Copyright Strategic Grants 2016 50