Government Technology - February 2008 - (Page 39)

for Proposal and provide contact information for further details. Make Contact Securing grants for technology projects requires significant time and persistence. Therefore, once a list of potential grantmaking organizations has been completed, it’s important to call, write or e-mail the funder for application instructions. Ask whom to maintain contact with throughout the funding cycle so you know where to direct questions about the application process. Generally a funder is eager to share its grant guidelines with a prospective applicant. Guidelines typically state in writing what types of projects the organization funds, which projects have been approved recently and priorities that have been set for the current funding cycle. A word of caution: Funding priorities change, so establishing contact with the granting agency helps to ensure that your application falls within the most recently published guidelines. Grant applications will only be considered if they meet the funder’s specifications and guidelines. When you receive the guidelines, be sure to determine when the application is due and call your contact at the granting agency immediately if you have difficulty locating this information. Applications may be accepted on a quarterly, annual or ongoing basis. “Giving guidelines” are usually preset by the funding agency. Obviously if an agency funds only once a year, and the deadline for application has just passed, it’s necessary to consider who else is out there. Another important reason to establish contact with the funder is to determine how much money has been directed toward projects similar to your own. A frequent mistake many new grantees make is that they neglect to identify where the granting agency is targeting its resources for the current fiscal year. may in fact provide support for IT projects, dollars could be targeted specifically toward the Pacific Northwest, or the East, rather than where your project is located. These are all factors that must be considered before submitting a proposal. Also, when applying for any type of grant, remember to follow application instructions down to the smallest detail: where the pages are numbered; how many copies must be submitted; and how, in fact, these copies are to be presented in either bound or unbound form. Some grant applications request supplemental materials. For instance, if you are teaming with other organizations to secure a grant, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) probably will be requested from each program partner. An MOU is simply a formal statement of an organization’s commitment to the project for which you seek funding. Make sure if an MOU or other type of attachment is required by the funder, that it’s appropriately labeled and placed in the proper order. Some agencies will request a table of contents with each application, while others won’t — something to make note of. Also, try to assemble as many of the supplemental materials before you begin to write the grant because when you’re under pressure to meet a deadline, some of these materials can be easily lost or misplaced. Funding Checklist ✓ Carefully research funding agencies and determine their stated objectives. ✓ Prepare a list of potential funding sources. ✓ Narrow the list down to agencies that are interested in funding IT projects. ✓ Contact the funder and request a list of grant guidelines. ✓ Read and review the application instructions carefully. ✓ Identify and include project partners in the review process, if applicable. ✓ Maintain contact with the funder throughout the application process. ✓ Follow application guidelines “to the letter.” ✓ Prepare all supplemental documents in advance. ✓ Be prepared for site visits, if they’re requested. Patience Is Key If the funder does not respond to your request right away, don’t be discouraged. There may be only one person evaluating all of the applications, or there could be an entire panel of people. Either way, sifting through the applications is a timeconsuming process, so be patient. Wait for the funder to contact you. For federal grants, a response can take four to six months, or even longer. Private agencies may or may not respond sooner. Also, sometimes before rendering a final decision, funders may contact you to request an onsite interview. This is generally considered a good sign. Make sure you’re prepared to answer any questions agency representatives have. The person who talks with the funder should know the project cold. He or she should also be able to give the agency rep- resentative a full description of the organization’s structure and funding history. Grantmaking agencies like to see that the organization has a strong funding track record, and that the amounts they have received are comparable, if not greater than, the current amount being requested. The final factor to consider is how to acknowledge the funder for a contribution, no matter how big or small the dollar amount. While most granting agencies will say in print that they provide money purely for philanthropic reasons — or to support the infrastructure of a certain municipality — the reality is that many funders like being recognized. Recognition can vary from a simple thankyou letter, to the naming of a building or project element after the funder. While this process of recognition isn’t necessary in all cases, it could make it a lot easier to approach an agency with future requests. CONTRIBUTING WRITER SUZANE BRICKER HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE AS A GRANT WRITER FOR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCIES, AND HAS SECURED FUNDING FOR HER OWN NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IN SOUTH FLORIDA. Follow Directions Remember to read the guidelines carefully to determine whether an agency provides support for IT projects. Some funders have regional priorities, and while they 39 http://www.govtech.com

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Government Technology - February 2008 Contents Point of View Big Picture The Last Mile On the Screen Products Four Questions for... CSI Effect Bad Medicine Making Health Care Personal Cashing In GIS for Less Nabbing Speedsters First Person: Records Management Chatter Box Oregon Data Centers Go Green Products Two Cents Spectrum Up Close Personal Computing signal:noise Government Solutions - Spring 2008 Power Play Double Duty Cleaning House Twice Prepared Smart Move The Path to Success Foundation for Service

Government Technology - February 2008

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