Project Resumes

Organizations typically have a range of projects that they'd like to have funded via grants. I like to take the organization's top 3-5 projects and write one-page informational "resumes" about each of them, geared towards potential partners and funders. While this exercise may seem mundane, it forces everyone to take stock of what exactly they're trying to accomplish, and makes a much better impression when meeting with potential collaborators than showering them with stacks of RFPs, previous grant submissions, glossy organizational brochures or verbal jargon. Here are some items you might include on your project resume:

• Project Title
• Organization Name
• Project Summary
  
• Target Population or Overarching Goal
• Budget or Allocated Resources
• Potential Grant Sponsors, Deadlines, Award Amounts
• Potential Project Partners: who you're considering or are working with as collaborators
  
• Needs from Partners: detail what exactly you're looking for, such as data, suggestions, examples, letters of support, etc.
  
• Contacts: provide info on the lead for this project and/or the grant coordinator
  

Project resumes can be viewed as a marketing device for a grant project. Their purpose is to communicate the basics about your project in an easy to digest format. Once assembled, they can be easily updated to provide a current snapshot about the project, to include:

• Milestones Achieved
• Upcoming Goals
• Awards and Sponsors

Give project summaries a try. Although it can be difficult to fit all your project info into one readable page, brevity is important. Make sure key project leaders agree about the project resume before distributing outside your organization, and keep them as current as possible. Best wishes grant-hunting!

I Can't Afford A Grant Writer!

If your organization does not have the funds to pay a grant consultant, you can still successfully compete for grant funds. Here are 3 ways for small/lean organizations to approach grants:

1) Develop an in-house grant team
If tackling grants is truly a priority for your organization, consider forming a grants team to plan, research, draft, and submit grants. This can include interested volunteers! At least one member should be an info-digger…someone willing to scour the Internet for foundation contacts, similar funded projects, and do other searches on behalf of group. As one of its first projects, the group should draft one-page project summaries of the top 1-3 grant project ideas. These can serve as great foundation pieces for conversations with potential funders as well as form the basis for letter proposals.

2) Devote a portion of next year’s budget to grants
Even if the portion of your budget can’t pay for a consultant, you may already have a budding grants champion in your organization. Could their interest be sparked with a few books, like Idiot’s Guide to Grant Writing? How about a one-day grant-writing workshop in the nearest metropolitan area? Whatever funds you can dedicate can be used to grow a grants culture in your office.

3) Get someone else to foot the bill
Ask your favorite community organization (e.g. local chamber of commerce, county economic development office, college, parent fiscal agent) to invite a grant consultant as a guest speaker. Sure, you probably won’t have one-on-one time to devote to your interests, but this is a great way to network with other grants-minded folks in your area while keeping abreast of funding trends and issues. And if you know the event organizers, be sure to mention you’re available if they’re taking the speaker to lunch or dinner after the event.

Information Overload

When you're trying to keep on top of your email inbox, blogs, news, and other information streams, does it make sense to add grant sites to your list of bookmarks when you're not sure when and if you'll ever find the time to think about putting together a funding proposal?

Web-based information about grants is plentiful. Grants.gov is a treasure-chest of federal opportunities. A few simple Google searches can land you information on finding grants, writing grants, and finding grant writers. As with launching into any project, taking the time to reflect and plan may calm the initial urge to spend countless hours in front of a computer "researching" how to get a grant.

Think about the following questions before launching your search:

1. Do I have time to devote to planning a successful proposal?
   
   
2. Are there people I can connect with to help plan, write, or implement the proposal?
   
   
3. Am I familiar with the funders that might support my project interests?

Proposal development takes time and having a network of colleagues willing to toss ideas around, read drafts, and critique your plans is essential. Finding funders can be difficult, but one tactic is to take notice who is funding people with similar goals. Do these funders have similar competitions each year? How about planning to submit a proposal for the next round of competition? Being able to answer "YES" to the three questions above will help kickoff a successful proposal...and remember, GrantMonkey is a resource available for you!