1	Grant Writing Tools and Techniques CommuniCare, Inc. R. Jenkins, Ph.D.
2	Vision Statement For Your Program or Idea Start with the end in mind: if you have a successful program, what will the ______ (fill in the blanks, clients/families/ courts/communities/stakeholders) look like, how will they be better off or positively affected? Think in “real terms”, not just hopeful or idealistic ways. Cardinal rule !! Know your potential funder’s goals, objectives, giving guidelines and expected outcomes from them – if you don’t know how to learn this, call or e-mail them directly to consult before trying to write your grant.
3	What is a “Teen Court” ????
4	Basic Ingredients:
5	Organize Your Approach !
6	So Think Logically ….
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8	Goals and Objectives State the desired goal in terms that the funding agent will accept and adopt (e.g., use their goal statement key words to align your goals with theirs) – but avoid jargon for jargon’s sake A good goal statement declares what you want to measure and change, what you want to see the direct impact of, for or to…. State the desired objectives in measurable terms – Objectives should be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable & realistic, and time specific/sensitive)
9	Teen Court Examples: Good goal statements: “Orange Co. Teen Court Services will increase diversion services to the Juvenile Court by 20% over the next fiscal year.” Why good? Measurable, defines the time frame and actual service goal (increased diversion services, that will be specified in objectives) Not so good: “Orange Co. Teen Court Services will decrease juvenile delinquency by setting up a comprehensive teen court program for diverted youth in the Orange Co. court system.” (hint: this is more like a mission statement)
10	Goals & Objective Statements - More Objective # 1, related to “diversion services”: “Orange Co. TCS will increase diversion services by instituting a new Teen Court program during FY 2000-01 that will serve _^#__ youth in a diversion capacity.” Need to know (a) how many youth were diverted year prior to funding, (b) program capacity to serve projected # of youth, (c) other diversion programs in the county as a baseline for the measurable objective Why SMART? Specific (institute 1 program in a specific time frame w/ delimited # of children served), Measurable (# youth, fiscal year), Achievable (based on needs assessment or court data), Realistic (compares funding available w/needs assessment and time frame for accomplishing objective), Time Specific (1 fiscal year)
11	Objective (ex.) # 2 Orange Co. TCS will increase volunteer recruitment by 50% during FY 2000-01 for the program Orange Co. TCS will increase # of youth participating in community service activities through the program by 25% during FY 2000-01 Orange Co. TCS will perform 12 jury / attorney training sessions during FY 2003-04 Again, you must know the baseline or prior year data, how you are going to track or measure the participants in these activities, and how you will report data to the funding source(s).
12	Show Them You Know How to Measure What You’re Doing Every funder expects an evaluation plan. Know ahead of time that you must keep track of : (a) data required specifically by the funding agent; (b) process data that show if you’re implementing your program as you proposed; (c) outcome data that show if you’re keeping your promises to improve behavior/attitudes/ feelings/community/etc., and (d) data that contrast your baseline/needs assessment information with what you will accomplish by conducting your program If you cannot explain and plan your measurement approach, your grant probably will not be funded!
13	More on Evaluation: Know your funding source’s standards for compliance and program success (if not stated in their Request for Program Proposals, ask for this information or if piloting a program, propose standards that are similar to other successful or model programs that have worked with the population you intend to serve) Define – “what constitutes success?” Include your evaluation plan in your overall grant/program plan Be sure to include evaluation and data collection activities in your overall program activities list…don’t expect to get to it later, but insist on it as part of the day-to-day job – include computer equipment, software and staff evaluation resources in your proposal if you don’t have it already
14	Budgeting:
15	Additional Help: Web Resources: Council of Foundations http://www.cof.org Foundation Center Online http://www.fconline.fdncenter.org/ Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance http://aspe.os.dhhs.gov/cfda/index.htm Carter McNamara’s wonderful web site on nonprofit development, management and evaluation http://www.mapnp.org/library/ (everything from designing programs and nonprofits to running their day-to-day operations including finances) Nonprofit guides (free sample letters, grants, budgets etc. online http://www.npguides.org/grant/ Grantwriters.com (online general resource): http://www.grantwriters.com/news.htm (links page especially helpful)
16	For Follow Up from CommuniCare, Inc.