Identifying Funds for Nongovernmental Organizations
Can you apply for grants outside the US? How so?
YES! If you have programs or activities in other countries and filed for a NGO status.
What does NOFA stand for?
Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA)
What is a technical review process? What happens during this process?
A technical process (pre-review) happens after you submit your application. The pre-review includes checking to see whether you've completed and signed all the required forms. The pre-review process also verifies your compliance with formatting instructions and checks the page length of your narrative and all other documents. Many government grants and cooperative agreement applications have narrative length restrictions, such as no more than 20 double-spaced pages.
What qualities equate to the art of storytelling?
Passion, creativity, and emotion! These qualities really equate to the art of storytelling, which is the new way to present your organization's case (needs) to funders and win grant funding. Make every sentence one that contributes to the big picture for needing funding and implementing solutions.
What is CBI's mission statement?
The mission of CBI is to assist tribal, governmental, and nonprofit agencies who serve culturally diverse and at-risk populations build their organizational and financial capacity so they have the resources available to them and the skill sets required, to improve the quality of life for those they serve and are able to be successful in accomplishing their goals.
Where can you look for grant money to fund an international project?
US Agency for International Development (www.usaid.gov)
When opening a NOFA, how many time should you read it? What should you look for each time?
What is the most comprehensive writing section of any grant application narrative?
Usually the Program design section because this is where you write your goals, measurable objectives, implementation strategies, and timelines; create a Logic Model; develop the management plan; and comply with any additional requested by the funding agency.
What information should you include when describing an organization?
Describing WHO, WHAT, and WHERE about your organization is a great way to start your grant application.
What is CBI's budget period?
CBI’s budget period is January 1 through December 31 of each year
Does the European Foundation Centre give out grants?
NO! They do not give out grants, but provide some valuable information.
The purpose of funding or description of funding statement
What do you need to explain in the program design?
In this section, you lay out your strategy (or your program) for addressing the problem(s) presented in your statement of need. In grant applications and cooperative narratives, this section is usually weighted more heavily than any other section of the narrative (anywhere from 25 to 60 points).
1. Focus on the gaps in existing programs and services within your organization, 2. Research and write about the community's gaps or needs to amplify what's missing in the targeted area, 3. Be prepared to tell and support with recent statistics just how dire the situation is for your target population.
1. A Neat Appearance 2. Proper Demeanor 3. Social Media Savvy 4. Reliable 5. Competent 6. Communicator 7. Good Phone Etiquette 8. Poised 9. Ethical 10. Organized 11. Accountable 12. Be All that You Can Be
Is it best to email or telephone to request grant applications guidelines or forms?
BOTH! Most international funders insist you contact them via email or telephone.
What are the 'PROs' on partnerships?
PROs:1. Create new opportunities, 2. Initiate trust, 3. Expand your orgs' marketing/target-pop area, 4. Expand public image, 5. Help maximize your orgs' assets by adding leverage/resources, 6. Increase competitive advantage in the grant seeking arena, 7. provide access to broader financial/human resources
YES! Don't introduce any costs in the budget that you haven't addressed in your main application narrative. Make sure each expense is directly related to an activity necessary to reach the project's objectives.
What is a thesaurus?
A thesaurus is a wonderful tool to help you expand your vocabulary and ultimately become a better writer.
What is the difference between exempt and non-exempt employees?
The primary difference in status between exempt and non-exempt employees is their eligibility for overtime. Under federal law, that status is determined by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Exempt employees are not entitled to overtime, while non-exempt employees are.
When creating your budget, should you create one in US currency or in grant maker's country?
BOTH! First write it in US currency and then prepare a budget narrative using the currency for the grant maker's country.
When getting commitments from partners, should you ask for contributions?
YES! Either in-kind contributions (donated personnel, office/training space, transportation assistance, M&S, printing services, classroom space and other needed items) and or Cash-match monies.
When researching needs and best practices, do you need to save resources and data? Why?
YES! Creating an online e-folder for research-oriented publications and resources is best practice in grant writing. As new reports are published, replace the older reports so you have the right information at your fingertips.
How can you align your program goals and objectives with the purpose of funding?
Carefully review the funders' mission and funding priorities. Look at funding program-specific information on their websites. When writing your goal, review the funders language and keep the goal statement down to one sentence. When writing your objectives, use SMART. A winning-minded grant writer will look at the initial objective and the performance measures and create the objectives in the grant application.
What is the whistle-blower policy?
A whistleblower policy encourages staff and volunteers to come forward with credible information on illegal practices or violations of adopted policies of the organization, specifies that the organization will protect the individual from retaliation, and identifies those staff or board members or outside parties to whom such information can be reported.