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Dear Colleagues,
The GrantProse vision is to provide high quality, personalized services and resources that are reasonably priced and widely accessible to public and private, nonprofit and for-profit, large and small organizations alike. Toward this end, we provide this newsletter free and hope you will forward it to your colleagues.
We welcome your suggestions for content, features, and how to improve this newsletter. Please email ideas to Rita Lewis, newsletter editor.
We wish you success in your endeavors!
Bill CarruthersGrantProse, Inc.
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Bulletin Board
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March 10, 2009. The Cameron Village Library in Raleigh will host a "Meet The Funders" panel presentation March 10, 2009, 6:30-8:00 pm. Funding organizations scheduled to be present include AJ Fletcher Foundation, Triangle Community Foundation, Verizon Foundation, and Way Out Giving Circle. You are asked to make a reservation; contact 919-856-6703 or Susan Neilson.
March 16-17, 2009. GrantProse will conduct a two-day "Grant Writing for Nonprofits" workshop. This workshop is designed for nonprofit staff who have intermediate to advanced experience with writing grants. The content of the workshop builds upon the introductory program conducted twice annually by the Grants Information Network of NC. Participants will practice creating text in response to common proposal sections (e.g., problem statement, project design, management plan, evaluation plan) and budgeting varied line items. Rather than "sitting and getting," you will be writing and budgeting...bring your laptop and be prepared to have your work critiqued. Visit the GrantProse website for more information and to register.
April 9, 2009. Grants Information Network of NC meeting, 9-11 am. John Tedesco, with Big Brothers / Big Sisters will be the speaker.
June 15-16, 2009. The Grants Information Network of NC will conduct its popular two-day grant-writing workshop in coordination with Wake Tech Community College. This workshop is designed for the novice to beginning grant writer. Contact Mary Brady for information.
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Grant Opportunities
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Deadline: 4/24/2009
Program: Recreational Programs (CFDA 84.128J)
Agency: US Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services
Description: The purpose of the Recreational Programs is to provide individuals with disabilities with recreational activities and related experiences to aid in their employment, mobility, socialization, independence, and community integration.
Award Amount: $130,000 average (match required)
Website: Grants.gov
Eligibility: Colleges, nonprofits, government agencies
Deadline: 5/28/09
Program: Challenge America: Reaching Every Community Fast-Track Review Grants
Agency: National Endowment for the Arts
Description: Funding to support projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations.
Award Amount: $10,000
Website: NEA
Eligibility: K-12, nonprofits, government agencies
The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation is accepting nominations for the Nancy Susan Reynolds Awards, which recognize the unsung heroes of North Carolina whose vision, determination, resourcefulness and strength of character have made a positive difference in the state. Up to three awards are presented annually, one in each of the following categories: Advocacy, Personal Service, and Race Relations. Each award is accompanied by a grant of $25,000; $5,000 goes to the recipient and $20,000 to tax-exempt, charitable North Carolina organizations chosen by the recipient. Nominations may be made by anyone except the nominee. The deadline for nominations is June 1st. Visit the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation for more information.
Fourteen new grant alerts have recently been uploaded to the GrantProse website. To view these and many more opportunities, visit www.GrantProseInc.com.
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In the Spotlight
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Listen closely and you can hear the gnashing of teeth as people across the nation attempt to submit proposals via Grants.gov. Here at GrantProse, we've gotten numerous "505" errors, lost connection with the site in the middle of a task, been denied entry due to "incorrect login," and experienced long hold times with the help desk. Our colleagues report similar problems, probably due to high-volume traffic on the federal site.
What to do? Start submissions early (NEA is advising its applicants to submit 10 days in advance) and be patient. Some applicants have found that submitting early morning or on weekends makes the process smoother.
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Tips & Resources
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Focus right now is on--what else?--the federal stimulus package. Those who want to take advantage of resultant grant funding will be monitoring the media and grant listings. Another resource is the federal government's Recovery.gov. The website posts the complete text of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, where the money is going, and when. A "drag-able" timeline reveals that federal agencies should begin reporting competitive grants and contracts by May 20.
Many federal agencies are posting stimulus-related grant information on their websites as well. The US Department of Education, for example, is devising a streamlined application process to invest stimulus dollars quickly, and state-by-state estimates to help school districts, colleges, and universities plan budgets.
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Writing (Grant) Prose
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Welcome to our new column on the art and craft of writing. If you've always wondered about how to create "flow" in your writing, when to use hyphenated modifiers, and the difference between affect and effect, read on. In each issue of the newsletter we'll explore topics to help you improve your grant writing.
The toughest part of writing is getting started. Don't try to produce perfect sentences at first. Just get your ideas on paper, stream-of-consciousness style. Get in the habit of constantly organizing and re-organizing these thoughts, arranging them under headings geared to your RFP. Good writing is an iterative process: write, print, edit; write, print, edit; write, print, edit. We often have 20 or more versions of a proposal before we finalize the text. Each subsequent version strengthens the flow of your text as you "connect the dots" with classic paragraph construction: a topic sentence followed by several supporting sentences and a concluding sentence. The latter sometimes does double duty, summarizing the paragraph and acting as a transition to the next paragraph or section. Transitional sentences are important; nothing is more jarring than being thrown from one thought to another without warning or explanation. Make life easy on your reader and you'll improve your case for funding.
Questions about writing? Email Rita Lewis, newsletter editor, and we'll address your concerns in future issues.
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Guest Column
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Guest columnists are invited to write for the newsletter on topics and issues of general interest to grant development and administration. Contact Rita Lewis, newsletter editor.
GrantProse reserves the right to select material of its choosing for this newsletter.
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