Grant Writing Methods Framing and Language Tactics HOW

Grant Writing : Methods, Framing and Language

Tactics: HOW? Purpose of Learning Workbook To build skills of how to write grants To provide methods and models to support idea creation To learn how to communicate clearly and effectively

How do you talk about your IDEA? Deciding how to explain your program or project to can be difficult • You need to understand WHO your neighbourhood, community is • You need to understand WHY you provide your programs and services • You need to understand HOW you provide your programs and services

Framework: Telling a Story Climax: Identify and explain the solution Descending Action: Identify what has been learned, suggest follow-up actions Ascending Action: Identify the context, problem, characters… Every story has a beginning, a middle, and an end.

Ascending Action: Building a Case for Funding Identify the context, problem, characters This section provides a RATIONALE • What is the need/gap? • What is the evidence that it exists? • Why are you the right organisation to solve this need? • What experience do you have? • What successes have you had?

Methods: Building a Case for Funding Suggestions to strengthen your rationale: Collect information, feedback, ideas from youth, community and institutions Research for evidence; primary and secondary data Observe and document what’s happening in your community

Planning Your Program: Using a Model Before you begin writing plan out your program • Know exactly what you want • Be consistent throughout your proposal/application • Can share writing duties with your team and everyone is on the same page **For more information about program development models, check out FYI’s toolkits on theory of change and logic models.

Example : Program Planning Model Resources Activities What do you need What are you to do your work? offering to the community? Outputs Outcomes How much are you doing? How many people are attending? What changes are you trying to make in your community?

Descending Action: Building an Evaluation Use your program planning tool to build an evaluation process Evaluation Questions • • What will you measure to show success How will you measure success? What does success look like? How will you document and assess your measures?

Example: Measuring Outcomes/ Impact Indicators (Measurements) What changes are you trying to make in your community? How can you measure those changes?

Language: Telling the Story Make your ask Demonstrate the impact Build a case

The Importance Of Language Using Language to Strengthen your Grant Application

Language Use Ensure that you: • Read the grant program guidelines • Speak to a grant program manager • Explore the funder’s website You will: • Learn the language that the funder uses to describe issues, solutions, community …. • Make a connection and build a relationship with funder

Language Use If you use language that the funderstands: • there is more of a chance that they will understand your program or service • They will more easily see how your program or service fits into their mission and mandate

Language Use Do not abandon your own language, but be strategic Choose carefully what words or phrases will the funderstand KNOW what you are trying to offer and accomplish?

Language Use: Jargon and Acronyms What is jargon? • special words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand What are acronyms? • A short-form using the first letters of the name of something

Language Use: Jargon and Acronyms It’s best to start by assuming that the people reading and assessing your proposal are not from your sector or your community: • Avoid jargon (have a friend or family member read your proposal and point out words they don’t understand!) • Always provide full names of things first and show people what short form you’ll use (ex. Rest in peace (RIP) )

Simplicity is Always Best While our contexts, programs, services, communities and neighbourhoods are often complex and dynamic, using simple language helps get our point across most effectively. • !

Quiz Time! What Did You Learn? 1. 2. 3. 4. Why would you use a story framework to help outline your project ask? How do you build a case for your project? What tools can you use to develop your program and your program outcomes? How can you eliminate jargon from your application?

Got questions or concerns? Contact the CORE team at Core@foryouth. ca or follow them on twitter @fyi. CORE!