Grant Writing: Leveraging Financial Resources to Improve Your Youth Center

Grant Writing: Leveraging Financial Resources to Improve Your Youth Center

Session Will Cover: Where to find grants Grant Eligibility Tips for Completion Do s and Dont s Completion of Grants Other?

The Elephant in the Room!

$2,382,196.49

BGCA Grant Writing 101 A Step-By-Step Process Step One: Register on BGCA.net Look for www.bgca.net New Users: If you do not have a registration follow the new user registration link and follow registration instructions Current Users: If you have an account and have not updated or changed your profile information log into your account and change profile information Current Users missing log-in: If you do not remember your log-in information follow the steps on the log-in page on how to obtain your information and update

Step Two: Where to find grant information on BGCA.net BGCA.net Home Page: News and Notes Click on the view all option at the bottom of the box This section lists all grants and scholarships for all departments Programs Page: When Looking at BGCA.net home page find the blue tab at the top of the page titled Programs ; click on this tab When you reach the Programs home page you will find a box in the right bottom corner titled, Program News This section will list all of the grant and scholarship opportunities related to BGCA programs Looking for grants: Access BGCA.net at least once a week to view all new grant and scholarship opportunities Grants may have short turn around requirements and come and go quickly on the site Grants come in the form of monetary and in-kind opportunities Grants may support organizations or individuals

Step Three: Grant eligibility and how it supports your programming outcomes Questions to ask yourself when looking for grants Do we/i qualify for the grant requirements? Are we/i able to meet the grant requirements? Do we have staffing and resources to successfully fulfill the grant requirements? Will the grant support/advance our program outcome goals for the year? Will this grant position us for other grant opportunities in the future?

Step Four: Completing the application DO Read all of the instructions and requirements thoroughly Make sure you have all of the information that is required to complete the grant/scholarship Always follow all directions provided by the funder Highlight your program and what you plan on accomplishing Articulate your expected outcomes and show growth opportunities for your organization, and a change of knowledge and skills sets for your members When a budget is required, make sure that it aligns with your goals and is able to support the intended outcomes Clearly state your need early in the proposal. Write in a concise, compelling manner. Use plain English. Use short sentences and paragraphs. Make it easy to understand.

Step Four: Completing the application DO (continued) Portray an accurate picture of your Youth Center s current situation and resources. Support your statements with factual data. Ensure that submissions have gone through a spell check and grammar check review Use the identified program planning and proposal writing format. Assume your audience knows nothing about your Club or its mission and work. Have others review initial drafts; use their feedback to clarify and enhance your proposal. Run spell check every time you revise your document. Proofread the final version on hard copy; have someone else proofread also. Submit the proposal before the deadline.

DON T Ignore guidelines or submission instructions. Provide too few or too many details. Generalize, stretch the truth or refer to programs not currently implemented. Use the Youth Center jargon that may be unfamiliar. Make unrealistic claims about what you can accomplish in the proposed time frame and budget.

Step Five: Review of grant application prior to submission Implement some type of review process that includes one or more of the following Review by a panel (i.e. Individuals outside organization, Marketing team, MWR team etc.) Review by Chain of Command or leadership Review by your BGCA Director of Organizational Development Review the application for Accuracy Content Grammar Spelling Ensure that all answers are provided to questions

Step Six: Submission of grant application Turn in on time Turn in using the requested submission method Include your leadership and BGCA Director of Organizational Development in your email cc and ALL follow-up email communications

Step Seven: Completing deliverables Review the LOA/MOA and ask questions prior to signing the document Sign and submit the application and retain a copy for your records Save grant POC contact information in case you need to ask questions or need assistance with grant requirements Complete all grant/scholarship requirements based on the deadlines that are set by the LOA If you face issues or need assistance make sure to contact your grant POC and BGCA DOD immediately for assistance Think about sustainability. What would phase two look like if funding is renewed Make sure to document the progress and success throughout the grant/scholarship process (This information can also be used to provide information and support during your Serviced Specific inspections)

Group Activity Within Groups, Identify the Statement of NEED What are areas to target and why THE PROBLEM Design a program/initiative to meet DELIVERABLES How many youth? Outcomes? Staffing? (consider community support!) Best Practices BE CREATIVE!!! What s your financial request?

Top Reasons Proposals Are Declined Problem (or need ) hasn t been properly documented Problem does not strike receiver as significant fails to grab attention Proposal is poorly written and/or hard to understand Proposal objectives do not match objectives of funding source. Proposed program has not been coordinated with others Project objectives are too ambitious in scope. Writer did not follow guidelines Insufficient evidence project can be sustained after grant ends.

QUESTIONS?