Thursday, December 19, 2013

Tips on Web Grants Management


Many organizations involved in social service for the greater good of the community or those involved in research studies and a lot of the non-profit organizations rely upon grants from government agencies, philanthropic institutions and individuals to supplement their financial requirements and approach internet grants management when applying for funds.

The process of online grants management has become much simpler to apply for grant money and to get funder information as well as grant resources. Of course, all of this information is available online absolutely free.
 To begin with you will need to do a little market research to uncover which of the thousands of funders match best your own or your organization's needs. Generally speaking, you will have to come to the amount that you wish to submit an application for.
Many people assume that free online grant applications are a fantastic way to make a quick buck but please don't be misled into this notion because it is not so simple or quick to get grants awarded on your behalf.

Just about everyone has their unique model of applying for funds. Actually you would be surprised to learn that there is no right or wrong way to write a grant application! Think about it, an application that could work great with one funder may not be satisfactory to another.
From the beginning your proposal should be a well thought out logical program and this should be prepared in a cohesive document that communicates the goal of the project in as simple and clear terms as possible. This is a major step towards giving you a good chance to convey to the funders that your project is without a doubt a viable one and is going to be beneficial to partner with you.

Some of the organizations that are able to find the money hire professional grant writers who guide in writing the proposals and getting grants awarded in their behalf. Professional grant writers create excellent proposals and they also assist in creating abstracts, summaries and other documents all aimed at developing an excellent proposal which helps the organization get awarded. 

The task of grants management starts from the second you apply for a grant. The feasibility, sustainability, and the need of these applying are all considered and only then are the funds are allocated. 

After being awarded, every cent of the funds given have to be accounted for and documented to ensure that the funds are legally utilized for the intended purpose they have been awarded.
The task of online grants management has been made much easier when applying for funds and also for simplification of grant management by not having to do everything manually. The "OLD" methods of grants management involve a lot of detailed work. Also they are subject to a lot of mistakes in the accounting process.


Wednesday, December 18, 2013

The Benefits of Grant Proposal Writing Training Courses

The Benefits of Grant Proposal Writing Training Courses
Grant Proposal Writing Training courses are highly effective tools when it comes to optimizing the efficiency of writing proposals for any business establishment, whether it's a youth sports organization, a religious organization, a school, or any other type of facility. Businesses and individuals that choose to invest in expert training courses for the enrichment of their employees and themselves acquire countless benefits that most others don't.
How Can Grant Proposal Writing Training Courses Help?











New Employees Get a Jump Start

Proposal Writing Training, for one thing, assists new employees in being familiar within their fund raising duties a good deal quicker and more thoroughly than they would otherwise. Training courses give employers the opportunity to fine-tune their employees to ensure that the person in question will be correctly equipped for employment in their particular position. Studies confirm that new team members who are presented with essential training from the beginning tend to stay around longer because training courses decrease individual's level of frustration with a new or unknown job. So, expert training can save a lot when it comes to the pains of high employee turnover. Organizations that are famous to offer high-quality, proper training courses to just starting out staff members are more likely to lure in top-notch applicants for empty positions right from the beginning as well.

Present Employees Grow to be More Capable and Flexible
Training courses are also a great help when it comes to teaching an institution original staff new procedures or making them familiar with new elements of the business or of their specific positions that may surface as a company evolves and expands. As with most new employees, long-time staff members often embrace an opportunity to get conversely new skills that will enhance their performance on the job or increase their personal level of value when it comes to the job market at large.
Training courses permit individual employees to become more versatile and give them the ability to take on new duties that help maintain their jobs exciting and viable. Training courses can also prove to be reasonably valuable when it comes to preparing suitable individuals for lateral moves within a company as well, which is beneficial both to the individual and the corporation at large.

General Work Quality and Efficiency Enhances
When employees of all types and seniority levels are put through a schedule of suitable training courses the quality of their work increases. Far fewer errors are made causing much less wasted time and frustration for everyone. The work atmosphere as a whole runs more smoothly and is a far more enjoyable, productive place to exist.

Nonetheless, there are overheads involved with implementing a grant writing training course for the members of a specific facility or organization. Conversely, when these costs are weighed versus the potential benefits, the headaches and supplementary costs that can be averted by offering proper training courses, and the boosting work quality and value that can be applied to each member of staff as a result, the training courses may well turn out to be extremely worth it for all involved.

The Benefits of Grant Proposal Writing Training Courses

The Benefits of Grant Proposal Writing Training Courses


Grant Proposal Writing Training courses are highly effective tools when it comes to optimizing the efficiency of writing proposals for any business establishment, whether it’s a youth sports organization, a religious organization, a school, or any other type of facility. Businesses and individuals that choose to invest in expert training courses for the enrichment of their employees and themselves acquire countless benefits that most others don’t.


How Can Grant Proposal Writing Training Courses Help?


1


 


 


 


 


 


 


New Employees Get a Jump Start


Proposal Writing Training, for one thing, assists new employees in being familiar within their fund raising duties a good deal quicker and more thoroughly than they would otherwise. Training courses give employers the opportunity to fine-tune their employees to ensure that the person in question will be correctly equipped for employment in their particular position. Studies confirm that new team members who are presented with essential training from the beginning tend to stay around longer because training courses decrease individual’s level of frustration with a new or unknown job. So, expert training can save a lot when it comes to the pains of high employee turnover. Organizations that are famous to offer high-quality, proper training courses to just starting out staff members are more likely to lure in top-notch applicants for empty positions right from the beginning as well.


Present Employees Grow to be More Capable and Flexible


Training courses are also a great help when it comes to teaching an institution original staff new procedures or making them familiar with new elements of the business or of their specific positions that may surface as a company evolves and expands. As with most new employees, long-time staff members often embrace an opportunity to get conversely new skills that will enhance their performance on the job or increase their personal level of value when it comes to the job market at large.


Training courses permit individual employees to become more versatile and give them the ability to take on new duties that help maintain their jobs exciting and viable. Training courses can also prove to be reasonably valuable when it comes to preparing suitable individuals for lateral moves within a company as well, which is beneficial both to the individual and the corporation at large.


General Work Quality and Efficiency Enhances


When employees of all types and seniority levels are put through a schedule of suitable training courses the quality of their work increases. Far fewer errors are made causing much less wasted time and frustration for everyone. The work atmosphere as a whole runs more smoothly and is a far more enjoyable, productive place to exist.


Nonetheless, there are overheads involved with implementing a grant writing training course for the members of a specific facility or organization. Conversely, when these costs are weighed versus the potential benefits, the headaches and supplementary costs that can be averted by offering proper training courses, and the boosting work quality and value that can be applied to each member of staff as a result, the training courses may well turn out to be extremely worth it for all involved.



The Benefits of Grant Proposal Writing Training Courses

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

The Best Practices of Being Grant-Ready


An unsystematic, unstructured grants management software and or process can be Devastating, which is why taking strides to get “grant-ready” is vital to success. This article describes maintaining accurate and appropriate information, which will bring organization, gaining useful awareness and skills, and developing a beneficial perspective, prioritization, stability, and good preparation to your grants management system.


Preparation Stimulates Success
Successful grant-seeking organizations stick to a series of best practices that facilitate a logical approach to the grant proposal writing process.  These practices consist of:

·         Sustaining accurate and timely information
·         Prioritization
·         Gaining effectual knowledge and skills
·         Developing a healthy perspective

Prioritization
A prioritization system will help you in staying on schedule with the grant application process and stimulate stability. Such a system might be created by:

·         Presenting central support, training, and resources to speed up the grants process
·         Defining detailed priorities
·         Sticking to decisions
·         Eliminating barriers, such as pushy approval processes
·         Fashioning streamlined approaches

Having a consistent approach to monitoring grant activity will keep your staff informed of important deadlines and upcoming events, which will lead to better time management and long- and short-term planning.

Accurate and Timely Information
Grants are finite, time-sensitive resources that must be closely monitored, and managing applications and awards requires comprehensive documentation and reporting.  For example, a typical program application might include dates or deadlines for a letter of intent, workshops, a comment period, the proposal deadline, an intergovernmental review, and supplemental information submission requirements, in addition to the deadlines and requirements that accompany the actual award.

Effective Knowledge and Skills
According to one estimate, approximately 90 percent of grant writers have no formal training and their funding suffers as a result. Since learning the ins and outs of grant writing can be challenging, you should consider getting formal training for your organization’s grant writers in order to bolster their skills and success.
Gaining inside knowledge into funding opportunities can also be easier than you might think. For example, when applying for a particular program, it can be helpful to examine information on previous awards made through that program. Having an idea of what kind of applicants and projects have received funding in the past will help you verify that the program is a good fit for your project and understand the slant to give your application. It can also help you determine an appropriate amount of funding to request and how much funding can be reasonably expected.

Perspective
Learning to look at the “big picture” and creating a healthy view of success is also a key component of grant readiness. Instead of tracking the number of projects completed, applications submitted, and the award-to-application ratio, many people only take into account the amount of funds received. It is important to approach the grant application process accepting the fact that not every application submitted will receive funding, regardless of the quality of your application. Awards may be given based on factors that are out of your control, such as regional priorities or economic status. Although receiving money is the end goal, it is important to track overall productivity and create award and goal incentives for the sustainability of your organization’s efforts.

In addition to maintaining order and a less stressful work environment, good grant readiness practices will help you create successful proposals and effective award implementation. Creating structure and organization in your grants management system will ensure that you start out on the right foot.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Best Technique to Show Your Organization’s Need to Donor's!

Best Technique to Show Your Organization’s Need to Donor's!

Want to know the number one problem I see with organization after being awards grant funding
I still am truly taken back when I see nonprofits that don't show a bit of grace when it comes to thanking their donors.  When I inquire why they aren’t thanking their donors on a normal basis their responses imply that they are too short-staffed, don’t have the money, too busy or the gift purely wasn’t worth a thank you.  What..!

Expressing gratitude to donors does not have to be time consuming or luxurious.  Here are 6 tactics to thank your donors cheaply, creatively and even for free:

    Powerful phone calls - Depending on the level of gift, think about having your Executive Director, a high level staff member or maybe even a volunteer make a personal phone call to thank the donor for their gift.  It doesn’t have to take a long time but it does have to happen within 48 hours of the contribution.
    Generous thank you notes - And I don’t mean just send an E-Card!  A letter on your organization’s letterhead is okay nevertheless, in my opinion; I still prefer the hand-written note.  For Pete’s sake, you can get a box of 10 note cards at any store! That's next to nothing.  Maybe time is an issue, have volunteers write the notes.

    Your newsletter or any other publications - freely acknowledge your donor's in your publications whether you direct mail them or deliver them electronically.  To go a step further, “feature” them by including their photo or advertisement.

    Using photos - remember that a picture is worth a thousand words.  Use a photo that illustrate your project in action and include them in your newsletters and other correspondence.

    Creative use of video - Websites similar to YouTube makes it super easy to record private messages to your top donors.  Simply record your message and email the link to your donor for them to open their very own thank you.  You can also freely acknowledge individuals the same way by posting the videos to your Social media pages.

    Extend invitations to join with your organization - Another approach of thanking generous donors AND keep them engaged?  Invite them to join a committee or, if appropriate, maybe even you’re Board of Directors.

Thanking donors should occur more than just once a year.  Most veteran fundraiser concurs that donors should be thanked at least seven times for their gift.  More thoughts to show they’re appreciated include calling on them occasionally to ask their opinions or advice.

Have any other ideas not listed here to make your donors feel valued? Share them with us here!


And, to show my appreciation to you for stopping by, I invite you to please take advantage of my free 2 week grant writing Ecorse.  Sign up today and receive your first lesson immediately!

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Handbook on How to Write a Grant Proposal

Handbook on How to Write a Grant Proposal

A grant proposal is written to subsidize different types of need. There are grants for public problems such as education, poverty, homelessness, and AIDS prevention. There are some that fund family, research and children. Organizations such as private foundations, philanthropists, corporations, government agencies and religious organizations are the most common funding organizations. These funders are eager to provide fiscal assistance to projects that are aligned with their goals and principle. This makes the selection method rigid and tough.

Each funding organization has its specific guidelines that applicants must be concerned about. These funding institutions only give their financial assistance to those who meet their requirements and guidelines. Therefore, it is also imperative to comply with their conditions to acquire the funds that you need.

All of these want a process, skills and awareness that will meet the set guidelines in applying. Grantwriting is the finest way to assist these organizations clarifies their goals. It is the best tool that the applicant can use to state their attractiveness descriptively as well as their need for funds. It presents an hopeful program to plead your case to impending funding institutions to impart support for their projects. There are factors that can sway your application for grant.

Steps in Writing an Effective Grant Proposal
Preparation
The most important  step  in writing a grant proposal is planning. Properly conceptualized ideas  will produce a well-designed tangible program development. It is especially helpful in constructing goals and demonstrating feasible attainable procedures. Throughout planning, the following must be considered:
·               Certain and transparent objective
·               Clear illustration of the answer for the problem
·               Community’s requirement
Locating the Possible Funding Sources
Probing for possible funding sources needs time. As a consequence, the following must be considered when applying for a grant.
·               Grants that are supported by a certain program goal
·               Eligibility requirements
·               Needed guidelines
·               Funder’s priorities
·               Funder’s goals
·               Given timeframe

Forwarding an Intent Letter
A grant writingguidebook provides the most ideal scheme for building a letter of intent.  With the use of this letter, the applicant can present the funder a summarized overview of the venture. This portion should incorporate the subsequent:
·               Qualifications
·               Project description
·               Outcome
·               Summary statement
·               Statement of requirement
·               Budget
·               Organizational qualifications
·               Closing

Organizing a Financial plan

Budget is one aspect that is being considered by funding organizations. These organizations will confirm on the declared cost and will validate the specified cause. In presenting the budget, the applicant should be able to document the vital funds and give an explanation on each expense.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

How to Write a Grant? - Writing a Winning Proposal

How to Write a Grant? - Writing a Winning Proposal

One of the most difficult things to do is to write a proposal. You need more time to design one, but with the support of a good writing approach and technique, you can create an application without any trouble. If you don’t have time or don’t have any idea on how to write proposals, then it is best to consider learning from or hiring a professional grant writer. These individuals are the ones who are responsible for the successful funding application at present. They complete thorough and meticulous research and add some twists to include applicable information which might be valuable in the proposal.  No matter if you are applying for individual, a non-profit organization’s, or group request. Their service will supply you the right set up in writing a formal proposal document.

Don't Forget

If you plan to write a proposal, you need to create something that is realistic and creative. Keep in mind that you need to persuade the funder to approve your proposal to fund your project. Remember that the majority of the proposals forwarded by the grant seeker are approved. Thus, it should provide an awfully strong foundation of information and establish that it is worth funding. If in case you won’t get the funds that you requested, the grant writing service is not responsible for it. What a grant writer writes will depend on how detailed the information that you have provided as the client is. If you don’t or can't communicate with your writer regularly, it could adversely influence the results of the proposal.

What Funders are looking for in a Proposal?

Funders need a proposal that is very specific and time bound. Listing your priorities is an advantageous idea however; make sure that your priorities are agreeable. Your grant proposal should have supporting documents attached to validate the necessity for funds. You must ensure that the important information is added in your proposal.


Constantly keep in mind that funders fund organizations because they know how your organization will manage and you will remain productive once the funding assistance ends. Make sure that you can exhibit to your funders that their financial assistance will give a solution to the organization’s problem and you are not just after the money. Your proposal should consist of strategies on how your organization will be able to manage. Grant writers could help the grant seekers find ways on how to become independent in the future.