Find Grant Funding Now!

A practical, proven system for finding, applying for, and winning grants for your small business

This year alone, there is at least $350 million worth of grant money available for small businesses. But plenty of small businesses will miss out on that money because they either don't know it's there or don't know how to get it. Written by a consultant who helps individuals, local governments, and nonprofits find and receive grant money, Find Grant Funding Now! provides proven, step-by-step guidance on applying for and win the grant money they need to succeed.

Utilizing the simple five-step process that the author successfully uses for her own clients, this is virtually the only book on the market dedicated to helping small businesses get grants. It features a wealth of valuable resources and even a customized Grant Readiness Assessment Tool that helps entrepreneurs and small business owners make sure they're fully prepared before they file the paperwork.
* Includes a proven and effective Five-Step Prosperity Process for finding and landing grants
* Features sample forms, checklists, budgets, merit reviews, 30- and 60-day grant project management plans, and more
* Written by the founder of a full-service funding firm that helps entrepreneurs, communities, universities, trade associations, and cooperatives obtain grant funds from governments and foundations

If you need cash to start or expand your small business, Find Grant Funding Now! offers a practical system that gets real results.

Preface xiii
Acknowledgments xxi
About the Author xxv
Part One Navigating the Grant and Funding Landscape
1 Why Grants Now? 3
Why Grant Funding is Hot 4
Regulations, Rules, and Red Tape 10
Perspectives on Prosperity 13
2 The Five Steps to Navigating the Grant Process 15
New Ventures, Entrepreneurial Needs 18
Overview of the Five-Step Process 20
Before You Begin: The Idea 21
Step 1: Project 22
Measurable 23
Targeted Outcome 24
Aligns with the GFO's Goals 24
Has Designated, Realistic Milestones 25
Justifiable, Workable Budget 25
Demonstrates Ability to Sustain After Grant Funding 25
Shows Some Aspect of Greater Good 26
Step 2: Peruse 26
Step 3: Ponder 27
Step 4: Prepare 28
Step 5: Patience 29
Perspectives on Prosperity 30
3 What is a Grant? 31
Bringing Structure to the Grant Process 33
The Elements of a Grant 35
Award of Cash 36
Terms and Timeframe 37
Are There Ever Any Exceptions? 39
Are There Ever Any Extensions? 39
Grants are Usually a Reimbursement 40
Reporting is Required 41
Grants Can Be Recalled 41
A Grant is Always Competitive 42
What Grants are Not 42
Grants versus Loans 43
Grants versus Scholarships 45
Grants versus Rebates 45
Grants versus Tax Credits 45
Grants versus Endowments 45
Grants versus Fundraising 46
Grants are Not Free Money 46
Perspectives on Prosperity 47
4 Is There Really Money Out There? 49
Matching Your Project with the GFOs 50
Is There Enough Grant Money? 51
How Big is the Federal Grant Marketplace? 51
Government Grants 52
The Difference between State and Federal Government Grant Makers 54
How Much Grant Funding is at the State Level? 55
Foundation and Nonprofit Grants 56
Corporate Foundations 59
The Size of the Philanthropic Marketplace 59
Trade Associations 60
Perspectives on Prosperity 65
Part Two Strategies for Grant Success
5 Finding the Money 69
Effective Searching 70
Funds Follow Fit 71
Seven Key Questions for Effective Grant Agency Searching 72
Time Efficiency 72
Should I Send in Unsolicited Material? 74
Other Searching Tips 75
Create a Grant Tracking System 77
Determining Eligibility and Feasibility (Step 3) 80
Eligibility Assessment 81
Feasibility Assessment 83
Decoding Federal Grant Announcements 85
Perspectives on Prosperity 96
6 Is There a Grant for That? 97
Types of Work You can Fund with Grants 99
What Does Technical Assistance Mean? 100
What's Trending Now? 101
Unique Funding Example 103
The Real Impact: How Grant Dollars Meet a Need 104
Non-Money Reasons to Ask for Money 105
Should Grants be Used only When You Need the Money? 106
Other Values of Grants 107
To Leverage Funding 107
To Enhance Public Relations 108
To Establish Credibility and Viability 110
To Support Your Causes 110
To Gain Collaborator Buy-In 111
To Demonstrate Trustworthiness 112
Perspectives on Prosperity 113
7 The High Stakes of Winning or Losing Grants 115
Strategic Considerations Before Applying 118
Alignment of Mission and Vision 118
Financial Considerations 119
Public Relations/Marketplace Impact 120
Privacy and Intellectual Capital Exposure 121
Personal and Social Ramifications 122
Added Costs 122
Timing 124
When to Partner on an Application 125
Do Special Certifications Matter? 126
Perspectives on Prosperity 127
8 Creating a Project Team 129
The Project Team 130
Importance of a Solid Team 132
Selecting a Project Manager 133
Should I Hire a Grant Writer? 135
Assembling the Team: Roles to Fill 138
Allocating Your Time 141
Preparing the Application 142
Reviewing the Application 143
Perspectives on Prosperity 144
Part Three Application, Award, Afterward
9 Putting the Package Together 147
Grant Application Basics 148
Narratives 150
Top Narrative Components Explained 151
Tips for Narratives 154
Forms and Signatures 156
Budget and Justification 158
Supporting Documentation 163
Addendums 164
Financials 165
Matching Funds Documentation 166
Identification and Registration Numbers 167
Perspectives on Prosperity 167
10 Scoring Your Application 171
Evaluating a Grant Proposal 172
Objective and Subjective Grant Evaluation 174
Objective Scoring Items 175
Subjective Scoring Items 175
Scoring Points 175
Building Your Own (Probable) Score 176
Self-Evaluation Score 178
Grant Submission 182
Hard Copy 184
Online Submission 185
Perspectives on Prosperity 186
11 Surviving the Wait 187
Honing Your Patience 188
My Application is Turned In-Now What? 189
What To Do While You Wait 190
The Responses 191
They Said Yes! 191
Oh, No, I Got Denied! 192
What's a Resubmit? 193
Should I Appeal? 194
How Should I Answer That Question from the GFO? 195
Does No Mean No, Or Not Now? 197
The Grant Agreement 199
I Have This One Little Change . . . 199
Other Questions To Ask 201
Transitioning from Applicant to Awardee 202
When Do I Get Paid? 202
Finalizing the Grant Period and Closing Out 203
Reporting 204
Closing Out the Grant and Project Periods 205
Perspectives on Prosperity 206
Conclusion Grant Writing Secrets 207
Perspectives on Prosperity 208
Appendix A Project Evaluation Tool 211
Appendix B Grant Planning Tool 217
Index 221