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Barbie Perkins Cooper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 05, 2002 - 12:07 pm: |   |
Since we appear to have some interesting, not to mention valuable information being shared by all of the writers on this site, I thought I'd keep the energy burning to inquire about Grant Writing.
I need all the halp I can get for grant writing. I've contemplated for years applying for grants, only to end up submitting my screenplays to competitons, managing to be selected as semi-finalist; finalist -- well, you get the picture -- I've been close, but haven't gotten my Oscar --- YET!
So, based on this new category -- can some of you contribute your words of wisdom pertaining to Grant Writing. I have some books with addresses, although I am at a loss as to how to write the grant. In other words:
How to apply
What to include in the proposal
Etc.
Etc.
Etc.
I know some of you have applied for Grants, so --- let's keep the ball rolling including your suggestions and knowledge on "Tricks of the Trade" for Grant Writing.
C. E. appeared to like the 'thread' "Tricks of the Trade!" |
Carla Dalton
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 05, 2002 - 12:12 pm: | |
I'd like to second Barbie's suggestion. I've been thinking about applying for a grant as well, but haven't a clue as to how to even go about it.
Carla |
Barbie Perkins Cooper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 05, 2002 - 12:27 pm: | |
Thanks, Carla. I was sitting at my computer contemplating, surfing the Net, getting totally clueless, when the thought occurred to me -- make that a category for Mindsight, especially since so many new and wonderful people are visiting the site now.
I remember someone saying she applied for a grant recently. Perhaps she can enlighten us. Was it you, Claudia?
I'm taking a break -- to unclutter this twisted brain! |
Claudia Turner VanLydegraf
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 05, 2002 - 01:19 pm: | |
Barbie, and others,
The grants that I applied for are for historic restoration and for building something that can be a focus for a fledgling community. One is called a CBDG Application and comes from an arm of the County, through the Federal Government. I am also looking at submitting for a writing grant, and several others for the project that I am working on.
I went to a class on grant writing, but that was aimed and geared at the CBDG Application and therefore a lot more stringent than most art grants and the like. The trick to grant writing is supply enough information so that the parties involved in selecting which ones to approve get a sense that you are really committed to doing the project and know what you are talking about. At least that is what I gleaned from the class that I attended. You have to be specific for the CBDG in money and how it is to be spent, sort of giving a business proposal or projection, to and including how you see the business succeeding on it own for 5 years. How the business will propose to meet certain quotas, like minority status and employment and usage, low income status, etc. CBDG means Community Block Diversification Grant or something close. It is mainly used for low to moderate income areas and places where employment is a problem for, say, older folks. Federal Grants are another ball of wax, but mostly the same in the intent. You have to show how you propose to use the money and what good will come from it. Believe me, I learned a lot in that one day class and am thinking in going into grant application writing, especially if, my grant gets accepted and I get the money that I asked for, or even cloes to that amount. Grant writers typically get 10-15% of the original application amount. I asked for $150,000 on my CBDG application, and by doing the grant myself, saved about $15,000 that I would have had to put out for a writer. If you are in an area that has a college close by, go take a class for grant writing, it is a valuable tool. And you can make money on the side by doing those applications. I plan on doing that if my app is successful. Helps line the purse a bit.
The one CBDG application won't be decided on until the end of June, and awarded the 1st of July. So, I won't know how successful I am until then. The other grant that I have applied for is just a starter grant and is through my community CAB, or Citizens Advisory Board, and that didn't require an application, just a talk about the need, and if the money is available after all other things get applied for in the county, then I may get up to anywhere from $1,500 to 10-15,000, but that will have to be used for the project that I am trying to do. And to live on in the meantime until I can get other things, like the CBDG grant approved, and still move forward on the work that needs to be done. That CAB grant is wholly dependent on the amount of money, if any, that is in the kitty and how many places it needs to be spread out to. Like if the jail needs an expansion, then the money will all go for that, or if other things need to be taken care of and there is a bit of money left, then I might get some of the extra.
So, that is about as much as I know about grant applications. I plan to learn more because I cannot afford to pay someone the going rate for those professionally done jobs, and I need the money for a restoration and rebuilding of an old railroad and the building of a museum/visitor center in our little valley. The whole project as it stands right this minute, should cost about $1,500,000., but if I put in track and run the old train back into town, like some people want me to, it could go up into $60,000,000., give or take. And that is major. But I plan on starting small, and seeing what happens and if and or whether I want to get that involved with something that big. I am the one with the family ties and history and knowledge of all the start of this, so that is why I got involved in it to begin with, plus, I just like to work for myself and need another way to make some money to live on. Since Notes is not going to do it and my paper was way to small, and I don't want to drive the 25 miles each day anymore to get into town, so I figured why shouldn't I do something local and give back a sense of the history that was once here at the same time.
The biggest thing that I can think of about grant writing is that you have to really have a stated need for something that will positively benefit others, and you have to be able to focus that information to the point of getting the money for it.
Claudia |
LaurieAnne Cruea
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 05, 2002 - 05:58 pm: | |
In my business, I have access to a large variety of advertisements, many of those are these "free money" ads. However, when you contact them, they ask for approximately $40 and an SASE to send you a giant list of grant foundations.
Me, well, I've been checking that arena myself. And I have a small handful of people (that work for me, and want to see me excel beyond this ... job) that are helping to sort through the addresses. (One's daughter sent for 2 different lists, so it's a lot of sorting.) When I get anything comprehensive, I'll gladly share the information.
LA |
Barbie Perkins Cooper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 06, 2002 - 02:22 pm: | |
With a nice chocolate martini in hand, I am celebrating:
Completion of writing my very first grant.
God, did I ever need a drink after writing that!!!!!!!
The mission statement and narrative almost whipped me!
So, now -- with drink in hand -- here's a toast to grant writing!
AGRORORORO-grrrggrGR-R-R-R--R! |
sophie
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 06, 2002 - 02:31 pm: | |
A "chocolate martini"? I do wish you hadn't mentioned that. My mouth is watering, my stomach is growling. I thinked I've been hit by instantaneous addiction. Um, how do you make one? (Tell me quick!!) |
Barbie Perkins Cooper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 06, 2002 - 02:36 pm: | |
Sophie:
I was wondering who'd be the first to address that delicious delicacy!
You mix a bit of vermouth (might be misspelled, but who cares, anyway!)
Godiva liquor
a bit of cream
Mix in a shaker, then pour into a nice martini glass.
I have extra! Want some?
Aren't we supposed to be talking about writing? Or has this grant situation destroyed me, making me turn to alcohol? Something I don't normally do, but it is so yummy! |
LaurieAnne Cruea
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 06, 2002 - 05:40 pm: | |
Hey, Barbie,
Did you check out the LMP site for some grant information. You could also check at grantsearch. You can sign up for 7 days access and download a bunch of information. I've been looking, and by the way, you are in a good location. I came up with several SC grant associations. Artists groups, rich people with too much money, state funds...it's a virtual mine field out there.
Oh, and there is info available on what to write in your application, too.
LA |
Barbie Perkins Cooper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 06, 2002 - 06:23 pm: | |
Laurie Anne:
You are a Godsend for me, I did not know about those sites, but I'll certainly investigate them. Thanks for the tip! I suppose you know where I'm headed -- to surf for grant stuff. |
jack jackson
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 20, 2002 - 04:56 pm: | |
Sounds like grant writing is dangerous, LaurieAnn, unless...wait...is that mine field protecting a virtual gold mine? ;-) Sorry. Couldn't help myself. |
LaurieAnne Cruea
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 20, 2002 - 06:17 pm: | |
Not trying to sound rude...just so you understand I'm a regular wise acre 99.9% of the time...
With a name like Jack Jackson, you'd have to learn comedy in order to combat the froth of jokes, right?
On the serious side of things, grant writing is a major pain in the wazoo. I am no good at selling myself...wait, that sounded wrong...and afterall, I got the job I did, telling the publisher that I had absolutely no intention of staying in the newspaper industry. I must have done something right, Right?
LA |
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