Book Title: Grant Writing for Park and Recreation Professionals

Book Description

This comprehensive, applied book is broken up into 11 chapters.

Chapter 1: Foundations of Grant Writing in Parks, Recreation, and Non-profits

While there are many reasons grants go unfunded, this book will assist you in writing successful grants, avoiding some of the pitfalls we, as well as others, have made while writing requesting support from smaller foundations to large funding sources. Grants are becoming increasingly competitive, so it is essential to think through the process critically before you start writing. Fundamentally, you are trying to sell your idea, so it is important to be an effective communicator, on paper and in person. This chapter will help to provide the foundation of what is to be expected of you in order to be successful in the grant writing game.

Chapter 2: Locating Possible Funding Sources for Your Ideas
Locating the right funding source takes time, as it should. If done correctly, it increases your chances of getting funding. If your concept “fits” the organization’s mission/vision, aligns with the funders core values, and the proposal is well-written to include, the likelihood of getting funded is much higher. Much of the grant writing process is focused on creating the best fit with a prospective funder. This takes time. 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 choices and then prioritize on those organizations that best meet your needs. One of the most important factors for securing grants is to understand the funders mission, goals, and needs. This includes doing thorough research on the funders past areas of support, so you have a clear understanding of what grant proposals have previously 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 very helpful information that will help position you for success. This will help you to further determine whether the solicitation requirements are a fit with your project and determine if your organization is indeed eligible. Finally, grant writing is a collaborative approach; be ready to work with a team! This chapter will give you the tools you need to research proper grants and to plan for success.

Chapter 4: Writing Tips for Success
If you are used to formal academic writing, such as articles found in a journal or research presented in a thesis, your style may have to be adjusted for grant writingh. This chapter will focus on several important components of effective writing such as conveying how 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. The chapter will also provide some key reminders to ensure the final grant is a polished, well-written proposal.

Chapter 5: Articulating your Statement of Need or Problem
This chapter focuses on articulating your statement of need or problem. The objective here is to make sure the reviewers understand exactly why your project is needed and important. Using current literature and data to justify the need for your project and can be very useful in helping the reviewer see how your project addresses the identified need or helps to solve a problem. This chapter will help you learn how to write a well-articulated Statement of Need or Problem section.

Chapter 6: Writing Your Project Description
Now that you’ve captured the attention of the grant reviewers with your statement of need or problem, you will likely provide a detailed, step-by-step description of the scope of your entire project. This chapter will help you organize your thoughts and create a winning project description that will showcase your ability to execute the project to completion within the grant timeframe.

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

Chapter 8: Developing Your Budget and Creating a 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 to ideas. The budget narrative provides the details behind the line items of the budget and are 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 – both are important part 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. The adage that patience is a virtue epitomizes the grant writing process. This chapter will walk you through the necessary steps to help you 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 typically appears at the very beginning of a grant. In some situations, it may be the only section some reviewers read. Thus, this section is critical and essential to success. This chapter focuses on how to create a clear, concise, and effective executive summary or abstract. Please note, that is will be the last piece to write (or re-write).

Chapter 10: Receiving the Grant: Time to Deliver and Evaluate 
Congratulations – you have been awarded a grant to make your dream a reality. While a celebration is in order, it is now time to get to work. Successful grant administration is based on regular and effective communication. With award notification in hand, 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! Only read this chapter IF YOU DON’T RECEIVE THE GRANT.