Find Grant Funding Now!

As a Certified Grant Administrator, SARAH BETH AUBREY has written over 400 successful grants in 38 states, Puerto Rico, and Canada; funding for these awards has yielded nearly $55 million since 2008. Sarah specializes in grant strategy and uses a process-oriented approach to navigating the grant funding process with state, federal, and foundation funding sources. Her expertise lies heavily in the areas of energy, agriculture, sustainability/environment, and food production, yet she sources grants of all kinds specific to the client's needs—working to make the program fit the project. Besides application and loan guarantee assistance, Sarah's firm, Prosperity Consulting, offers services in market research, business planning, feasibility studies, and training. As a member of the National Speakers Association (NSA), Sarah also speaks frequently on the topic of navigating the grant funding process to corporate clients, trade groups, and entrepreneurs. She is also the author of The Profitable Hobby Farm, also from Wiley.

• Preface xiiiAcknowledgments xxiAbout the Author xxvPart One Navigating the Grant and Funding Landscape1 Why Grants Now? 3Why Grant Funding is Hot 4Regulations, Rules, and Red Tape 10Perspectives on Prosperity 132 The Five Steps to Navigating the Grant Process 15New Ventures, Entrepreneurial Needs 18Overview of the Five-Step Process 20Before You Begin: The Idea 21Step 1: Project 22Measurable 23Targeted Outcome 24Aligns with the GFO’s Goals 24Has Designated, Realistic Milestones 25Justifiable, Workable Budget 25Demonstrates Ability to Sustain After Grant Funding 25Shows Some Aspect of Greater Good 26Step 2: Peruse 26Step 3: Ponder 27Step 4: Prepare 28Step 5: Patience 29Perspectives on Prosperity 303 What is a Grant? 31Bringing Structure to the Grant Process 33The Elements of a Grant 35Award of Cash 36Terms and Timeframe 37Are There Ever Any Exceptions? 39Are There Ever Any Extensions? 39Grants are Usually a Reimbursement 40Reporting is Required 41Grants Can Be Recalled 41A Grant is Always Competitive 42What Grants are Not 42Grants versus Loans 43Grants versus Scholarships 45Grants versus Rebates 45Grants versus Tax Credits 45Grants versus Endowments 45Grants versus Fundraising 46Grants are Not Free Money 46Perspectives on Prosperity 474 Is There Really Money Out There? 49Matching Your Project with the GFOs 50Is There Enough Grant Money? 51How Big is the Federal Grant Marketplace? 51Government Grants 52The Difference between State and Federal Government Grant Makers 54How Much Grant Funding is at the State Level? 55Foundation and Nonprofit Grants 56Corporate Foundations 59The Size of the Philanthropic Marketplace 59Trade Associations 60Perspectives on Prosperity 65Part Two Strategies for Grant Success5 Finding the Money 69Effective Searching 70Funds Follow Fit 71Seven Key Questions for Effective Grant Agency Searching 72Time Efficiency 72Should I Send in Unsolicited Material? 74Other Searching Tips 75Create a Grant Tracking System 77Determining Eligibility and Feasibility (Step 3) 80Eligibility Assessment 81Feasibility Assessment 83Decoding Federal Grant Announcements 85Perspectives on Prosperity 966 Is There a Grant for That? 97Types of Work You can Fund with Grants 99What Does Technical Assistance Mean? 100What’s Trending Now? 101Unique Funding Example 103The Real Impact: How Grant Dollars Meet a Need 104Non-Money Reasons to Ask for Money 105Should Grants be Used only When You Need the Money? 106Other Values of Grants 107To Leverage Funding 107To Enhance Public Relations 108To Establish Credibility and Viability 110To Support Your Causes 110To Gain Collaborator Buy-In 111To Demonstrate Trustworthiness 112Perspectives on Prosperity 1137 The High Stakes of Winning or Losing Grants 115Strategic Considerations Before Applying 118Alignment of Mission and Vision 118Financial Considerations 119Public Relations/Marketplace Impact 120Privacy and Intellectual Capital Exposure 121Personal and Social Ramifications 122Added Costs 122Timing 124When to Partner on an Application 125Do Special Certifications Matter? 126Perspectives on Prosperity 1278 Creating a Project Team 129The Project Team 130Importance of a Solid Team 132Selecting a Project Manager 133Should I Hire a Grant Writer? 135Assembling the Team: Roles to Fill 138Allocating Your Time 141Preparing the Application 142Reviewing the Application 143Perspectives on Prosperity 144Part Three Application, Award, Afterward9 Putting the Package Together 147Grant Application Basics 148Narratives 150Top Narrative Components Explained 151Tips for Narratives 154Forms and Signatures 156Budget and Justification 158Supporting Documentation 163Addendums 164Financials 165Matching Funds Documentation 166Identification and Registration Numbers 167Perspectives on Prosperity 16710 Scoring Your Application 171Evaluating a Grant Proposal 172Objective and Subjective Grant Evaluation 174Objective Scoring Items 175Subjective Scoring Items 175Scoring Points 175Building Your Own (Probable) Score 176Self-Evaluation Score 178Grant Submission 182Hard Copy 184Online Submission 185Perspectives on Prosperity 18611 Surviving the Wait 187Honing Your Patience 188My Application is Turned In—Now What? 189What To Do While You Wait 190The Responses 191They Said Yes! 191Oh, No, I Got Denied! 192What’s a Resubmit? 193Should I Appeal? 194How Should I Answer That Question from the GFO? 195Does No Mean No, Or Not Now? 197The Grant Agreement 199I Have This One Little Change . . . 199Other Questions To Ask 201Transitioning from Applicant to Awardee 202When Do I Get Paid? 202Finalizing the Grant Period and Closing Out 203Reporting 204Closing Out the Grant and Project Periods 205Perspectives on Prosperity 206Conclusion Grant Writing Secrets 207Perspectives on Prosperity 208Appendix A Project Evaluation Tool 211Appendix B Grant Planning Tool 217Index 221