Book Title: Grant Writing for Park and Recreation Professionals

Book Description

This comprehensive workbook is divided into 11 chapters.

Chapter 1: Introduction

While grants go unfunded for many reasons, this book will assist you in writing successful grants, avoiding some of the pitfalls we, as well as others, have made while writing small foundations to large federal grants. Grants are becoming increasingly competitive, so it is essential to think through this process critically. Fundamentally, you are trying to sell your idea, so it’s important to communicate effectively on paper and in person. This chapter will provide the foundation of what is expected of you, to be successful in the grant writing game.

Chapter 2: Locating Possible Funding Sources
Locating the right funding source takes time, and if done correctly, increases your chances of getting funding. If your concept fits the organization’s mission/vision, and you met the deadline and delivered a well-written proposal (following the instructions), the likelihood of getting funded is much higher. Much of the grant writing process is looking for the best fit from a funder. This takes time. Because there are various ways to locate these sources, this chapter will walk you through the process of locating possible funding sources.

Chapter 3: Researching and Planning for Success
Once you have located possible funding sources, it is time to narrow your selection down to the funds you will go after and prioritize these so you can focus on one fund at a time. One of the most important factors for securing grants is understanding each funding organization’s mission, goals, and needs. It is important to research their past areas of support, so you clearly understand what grant proposals have been successful. Part of your plan for success will include starting a relationship with the potential funder (i.e., program officer) before writing the grant. Program officers can share the review criteria for scoring the grant application, and other helpful information that will help position you for success. This will help you further determine whether the solicitation requirements fit your project, and if your organization is eligible. Finally, grant writing is collaborative, so be ready to work with a team! This chapter will give you the necessary tools to research proper grants and plan for success.

Chapter 4: Writing Tips for Success
If you are accustomed to academic writing, such as theory and thesis, you will need to shift your approach when writing grants. This chapter will help you consider such things as emphasizing a plan of action, and drawing the reader into the realm of that action, so the reader understands how your proposal is important to them. It will also help you consider how conveying your project idea will support and/or advance the funding agency’s mission and goals, and/or the goals listed in the request for proposal. It will also provide writing guidance and tips to ensure you can provide a polished and well-written proposal.

Chapter 5: Articulating Your Statement of Need
This chapter aims to articulate your statement of need or problems and ensure reviewers understand exactly why your project is important. Gathering information or data from the literature helps to justify the need for your project, and can be useful in helping the reviewer see how your project addresses the identified need or helps to solve a problem. This chapter will teach you how to write a well-articulated statement of need or problems.

Chapter 6: Writing Your Project Description
Now that you have captured the attention of the grant reviewers with your abstract, and helped them to understand the need for your project, you will likely need to provide a detailed, step-by-step description of the scope of your entire project. This chapter will help you learn how to create a winning project description that will showcase your ability to execute the project within the grant time frame.

Chapter 7: Formulating Your Evaluation Plan
Funders want to support successful projects, so success must be defined and measurable. This chapter provides the tools needed to create an evaluation plan within your proposal.

Chapter 8: Developing Your Budget and Budget Narrative 
For the grant writer, putting a dollar figure to an idea can be vexing. Yet, the budget is the first step in understanding the true costs associated with making your dream a reality. While the grant requirements may necessitate a different type of budget, the spirit behind the request is putting dollar figures into ideas. The budget narrative provides the details behind the line items of the budget and is essential to the justification process. The narrative provides an explanation of the ideas to include, matching funds and nuances of the budget that may be lost elsewhere in the grant. Some grant reviewers rely heavily on the budget, while others find value in the budget narrative, but both are important parts of the grant writing process. This chapter will show you how to develop your budget and create a budget narrative.

Chapter 9: Finalizing Your Grant Proposal
While rushing to the finish line is important in a race, putting the finishing touches on a grant requires time and patience – more than you may expect. This chapter will walk you through the necessary steps to finalize your grant proposal for submission. The last words you write will typically be the first ones a reviewer reads. Your executive summary or abstract normally appears at the beginning of a grant; it may be the only section some reviewers read. Thus, this section is critical and essential to success. This chapter focuses on creating a clear, concise, and effective executive summary or abstract. Please note, that this will be the last piece to write (or rewrite).

Chapter 10: Receiving the Grant: Time to Deliver
Congratulations—you have been awarded a grant to make your dream a reality! While a celebration is in order, it is time to get to work. Successful grant administration is based on regular and effective communication. With award notification, it is time to reconnect with the team that helped drive the proposal from the start. This chapter helps you focus on moving forward, to ensure you achieve what you set out to accomplish in your grant proposal.

Chapter 11: No Grant? No Problem!

Grant writing can be difficult. If you do not receive the funding you request, do not take it personally. Reflect, seek to strengthen the relationship with the funder, and develop a plan to resubmit. ONLY READ THIS CHAPTER IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE THE GRANT.