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Grant centers helping nonprofits find funding

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

Lynette Newton of the Voluntary Action Center teaches a grant writing workshop at Vision Beloit in Beloit.

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

Fred Buggs, Chief Professional Officer of Stateline Boys & Girls Clubs discusses his experiences with writing grant proposals during a workshop in Beloit.

BELOIT — Grant money can't be picked from trees.

Many organizations need it, but only those who know how to ask get it.

Two successful examples:

-- $30,000 to recruit churches and enhance program and service delivery to homeless families through Hands of Faith in Beloit.

-- $3,000 to help buy a system to keep accurate statistics about senior center use so The Gathering Place in Milton can apply for grants.

Boosting the success of the local nonprofits was the topic of a Grant Center workshop at the Voluntary Action Center, 611 E. Grand Ave.

The difference between getting nothing and getting money is being competitive in the grant-writing process, said Lynnette Newton, executive director of VAC.

And that competition is fiercer than ever, said Paula Schutt, executive director of the Gathering Place.

"It's getting harder and harder to get grants with the economy, and … nonprofits' budgets are shrinking and depending more on grants," she said.

"There is less grant money (available) and more people who want it," Newton said.

Success found

Jeff Hoyt, executive director of Hands of Faith in Beloit, enrolled in Grant Center training in 2004 to tap into the expertise of Newton and her staff.

His time and investment paid off, he said.

"I worked diligently with Lynette and one of her staff on a federal grant, and we ended up getting over $30,000. I was elated," Hoyt said.

The homeless shelter used the money to recruit new church host sites and support congregations, he said.

Since taking that grant workshop five years ago, Hoyt has written numerous grant proposals and estimated he's been successful in obtaining $80,000.

"I'm constantly writing foundation grants and have been successful enough to where we continue to maintain operations all these years," he said.

Schutt took a Grant Center workshop two years ago and since has written one grant proposal, co-written another and was awarded $1,300. The money, she said, helped fund an intergenerational program plus the senior check-in computer program. She has no doubt the workshop added to her success.

"There's so many nuances to writing grants and what you need to know. My skills have definitely been sharpened. The workshop made everything easier," she said.

Skills learned

Hoyt has honed his skills in being concise on the grant proposals since taking the workshop.

"You don't want to stray from the point you're trying to make and the point the grant is looking for. In other words, really be focused on supporting statements with facts and using facts to come to the overall purpose of what you're applying for," he said.

Schutt said she might enroll in a second workshop because the first was so beneficial.

"There's always new things to learn. VAC should be the first place to call if you are in need of learning how to write a grant. It's been a wonderful resource for me," she said.

Workshops focus on preparing for grant writing, advanced grant writing, fund development, budgeting for nonprofits and fundraising. Workshops are offered up to three times a year.

Benefits gained

Among grant sources are private, community and corporate foundations, nonprofit organizations and county, state and federal government, Newton said.

To get noticed, proposals have to rise to the top.

"People are being more careful with their money," Schutt said. "When you apply for the grant, you're telling them what you're going to do with their money and why you deserve it over and above someone else. So having those skills to shine the spotlight on your agency is really valuable."

GRANT-PROPOSAL WRITING TIPS

The Voluntary Action Center in Beloit has a grant center that offers workshops. Lynette Newton, executive director of VAC, shared these grant-proposal writing tips:

n Details—Pay attention to details and follow directions. That's because federal grants, for example, require a specific format including margins, fonts and page limits.

"There are people who are paid to go through these proposals and reject any that don't meet those physical formats," Newton said.

"You need to show that donor you respect what they want. It also shows you can follow directions and would be responsible in spending someone else's money."

-- Accuracy—If you're writing a cover letter, make sure the address is correct, names are spelled correctly and the person's gender is correct, too.

-- Write well—Make the proposal clear and precise.

"Clarity and telling a compelling story, making the writing flow and being logical are much more important than emotional appeals," Newton said.

"You're inviting an investment and telling the grantor you want them to invest their money in this charitable project, and if (they) do, these measurable things will happen," she said.

There's also no reason you can't tell a compelling story with statistics, Newton said.

"You can make people cry with statistics, but you have to have documentation and it has to be clear," she said.

Make your proposal readable and not a page of solid words, Newton said.

"Break it up into shorter graphs to make it pleasant to read," she said.

-- Tricks—When you write your proposal, do it in the same manner you would if you were to meet the grantor in person, Newton said.