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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. Toward this end, we provide this newsletter free and hope you will forward it to your colleagues. We welcome your suggestions--please email ideas to Rita Lewis, newsletter editor.
We have launched a new design for the GrantProse website. Please be patient with us if you encounter problems . . . we are our own webmasters! We will continue to support favorite links such as Grant Alerts and Web Resources in a more user-friendly environment that provides you the latest and best information on grant development resources.
Also, we are in the process of developing webinars to provide training over the Internet. We anticipate hosting our first webinars in the next couple of months. As always, thanks for your appreciation of our work.
Bill CarruthersGrantProse, Inc.
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Bulletin Board
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May 2009. The NC Office of Economic Recovery & Investment (OERI) will hold a series of Economic Recovery Workshops in the following cities (in alphabetical order): Asheville, Charlotte, Greenville, Raleigh, and Wilmington. The workshops will feature OERI Director Dempsey Benton and representatives from state government departments administering recovery funds in North Carolina. See "In the Spotlight" below for information on the first of these meetings, held April 28th.
May-June, 2009. The NC Office of the State Auditor offers free courses across the state featuring various aspects of grants management, including policies and procedures, and basics of internal controls. Participants are encouraged to sign up now for scheduled courses; budget cuts may limit availability after this series ends on June 25. Visit NCOSA's online registration system to register and to view course offerings.
June 2-October 15, 2009. GrantProse will conduct a series of two-day grant-writing workshops at the Western Wake campus of Wake Tech Community College. These fast-paced, individualized workshops are designed for those with beginning to intermediate grant-writing skills and experience. Participants will create text in response to common proposal sections (e.g., problem statement, project design, evaluation plan) and practice budgeting. 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 for any of the following dates: June 2-3, July 7-8, August 18-19, September 15-16, or October 13-14.
June 11, 2009. Grants Information Network (GIN) of NC meeting, 9-11 am. Speaker TBA.
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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In the Spotlight
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Are Recovery Funds for Nonprofits, Too?
The answer is a qualified Yes. Grants are available for nonprofits through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), but nonprofit advocates warn that securing these grants may be difficult for nonprofits that have not previously received federal funds. Advocates advise nonprofits to consider partnering with government agencies to seek funding, to be prepared for tight deadlines, and to educate themselves on how the grant program serves economic recovery. The National Council of Nonprofits is publishing a series of Special Reports about the economic recovery, including Special Report #7 summarizing a White House briefing on ARRA and nonprofits. The NC Center for Nonprofits has tips and resources for nonprofits seeking funding, and Senator Kay Hagan has developed an online Resource Guide to federal programs and ARRA funding opportunities for individuals, communities and businesses in North Carolina.
NC Office of Economic Recovery & Investment
The NC Office of Economic Recovery & Investment (OERI) held its first Economic Recovery Workshop on April 28, 2009, at Winston-Salem State University. Dr. Jessica Bailey, the university's interim provost, welcomed an audience of more than 100. Governor Beverly Perdue gave the introduction, and Dempsey Benton, director of OERI, provided an overview of recovery efforts in NC. Representatives from the following state agencies gave short presentations: Department of Transportation, Department of Environment & Natural Resources, Department of Health & Human Services, Department of Commerce, Department of Crime Control & Public Safety, Department of Public Instruction, State Energy Office, and USDA Rural Development. Presenters identified broad parameters of the funding their departments expect to receive, and provided opportunities for members of the audience to ask questions. Future meetings are planned for other locations in the state (see Bulletin Board, above). |
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Tips & Resources
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Community Profiles Online
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) seems an unlikely resource for grant writers who need community data for proposals. But SNAPS, an online CDC resource, provides snapshot profiles of communities across the nation. Information about Wake County, for example, includes a breakdown of the county's population by gender, ethnicity and languages spoken, as well as the types of heating fuel used and the top five languages spoken at home. SNAPS can be browsed by county and state and searched by zip code. Data are derived from the 2000 US census and several CDC databases.
Get LinkedIn with GIN
The Grants Information Network (GIN) of North Carolina has established a professional networking group with LinkedIn, affording you more opportunities to network and share information about developing grant proposals and managing grant programs. If you already have a LinkedIn account, search for "Grants Information Network (GIN) of North Carolina" using the "Search Groups" query and then request to join the group. If you do not have an account, sign up for one for free on LinkedIn, and then search for the GIN group and request to join. If you have questions about GIN on LinkedIn, please email RV Rikard.
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Grant Opportunities
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Deadline: 6/1/09
Program: Rural Health Care Initiative Grants
Agency: NC Rural Economic Development Center, Inc.
Description: Funding to spur economic activity and job creation by assisting in the construction and/or renovation of rural health care facilities.
Award Amount: Up to $480,000 (matching funds required)
Website: NC Rural Center
Eligibility: Government agencies
Deadline: 6/15/09
Program: Community Grants Program
Agency: Best Buy Children's Foundation
Description: Funding to nonprofit organizations and programs that provide opportunities for youth (ages 12-16), empowering them to excel in school, engage in their communities, and develop leadership skills.
Award Amount: Up to $10,000
Website: Best Buy Children's Foundation
Eligibility: Nonprofits
Nine 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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Writing (Grant) Prose
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With Thine Own Self Be Consistent
By Rita Lewis
At one time or another, every grant writer has wondered which words to capitalize. How to punctuate a citation. Whether to call an endeavor a "program" or a "project."
As long as you're consistent, it doesn't really matter. But if you change your mind during a proposal about how to punctuate or spell certain words, or which terms to use, it takes a toll on your credibility. Even if reviewers know what you're trying to say, there's a momentary hesitation while they "translate." If you say "program coordinator" in one place and "program director" in another, the reader notes the discrepancy. Consciously or subconsciously, the reader starts to doubt you, to look for other mistakes, and to question the details of your proposal perhaps more harshly than you'd like.
A grant writer must win the trust of the funding agency. To win trust, you must be consistent. To be consistent, you must not only choose your words carefully, but use them in a reliable, predictable way. A terrific aid is a style sheet, which is nothing more than a sheet of paper on which you note your editorial decisions (e.g., terms, punctuation, capitalization, etc.). Share the style sheet with others on your team so their contributions match the style of the proposal as a whole.
Questions about writing? Email Rita Lewis, newsletter editor, and we'll address your concerns in future issues.
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