Grant-writing workshop helps community help each other

What do the manager of the Family Resource Center, the foundation development officer of Saint Francis Medical Center, and the assistant coordinator of Perry County Community Task Force have in common? What links PTO members of Parkview State School, the president of New Vision Counseling, an unemployed iron worker and a representative of Charleston Merchants Group and East Prairie Schools?

The need for funding.

Some of the attendees of the United Way's "Grant Writing: Strategies for Success" workshop felt defeated after being approved but not funded for a grant, while others knew very little about writing a grant. What brought them together was their compassion for a cause worth the effort of learning more about grant writing.

Regina Tucker, grant program director for the United Way of Southeast Missouri, started the attendees interacting and brainstorming with one another. The group learned how to strengthen their chances of achieving a grant through collaborating and partnering with one another. Through communication and articulation of their need for funding, they helped one another.

Collaboration stressed

For instance, Cape Girardeau Family Resource Center manager Denise Lincoln needs operational support for the center. An agency enhancement grant through the Missouri Foundation for Health was brought to her attention and Tim Gould, NewVision Counseling president, offered help in completing it. Although the $35,000 grant application was due in a few days, Gould felt confident that together they could complete it in time.

The collaboration and partnering of agencies was an important message stressed at the workshop. Partnering appeals to grant providers because their dollars will be used cost effectively to benefit more than one party.

For example, offering wellness outreach to an agency committed to the betterment of youth validates both the issue and the solution. Grant providers who see concrete plans for implementation to a targeted number of youth with cost of the outreach itemized per individual are more inclined to disperse funds.

Seasoned grant seekers at the workshop provided important advice backed by experience, and Tucker agreed with the suggestions.

One tip was that personal relationships with grant providers helps. Other advice included suggested writing letters of support for supporters to tweak and sign to better a group's chances for promised support, and -- most importantly -- to maintain integrity and follow through with the plan laid out for grant use (an institutional history will follow the group).

The art of persuasion

Grant writing starts with an idea and a plan followed by finding the money and carefully articulating the plan in a convincing way that persuades the grant to be given.

Tucker said that in the 1960s and 1970s "during the love and peace generation, funds were available and accountability [of how funds would be spent] was not questioned. The funds are still out there for whoever can show a plan that works. You need to articulate concisely. And you need to know where to go and get the money."

Some of the suggestions included:

* Start with a clear definition/mission of who or what the organization is.

* Know exactly where the orgnization is going in the form of an articulated idea that has become a complete implementation plan. Considerations include budget, personnel considerations, day to day operations, clients and how they will be informed of the group's existence, how success is measured.

* Consider parties who may be interested in funding the group's project.

* Internet research beginning with the name of the group's project along with the word "grant."

The United Way of Southeast Missouri has a grant center at its office where agencies can review grants electronically or via hard copy. The database is made up of already-researched grants for particular areas, including youth, substance abuse, child care, and elderly needs. For more information, call the United Way of Southeast Missouri at 334-9634.

The United Way will sponsor another free grant-writing workshop in the spring.