Journal #1
After reading the chapter, I see the grant-seeking process as a bit more complicated than I originally thought. There are a myriad of things to keep in mind when finding, writing, and submitting grant applications. For one, there are several aspects of an organization that grants can support, from day-to-day operations to specific programs and equipment. When looking for grants, it’s important to match the grant’s specifications to the needs of the organization. Another thing I found interesting was the need to tailor grant proposals to a specific funder rather than just creating a broad proposal that loosely fits the grant requirements. Even if you’re applying to multiple grants on the same basis, each potential funder could have different requirements. By making sure your proposal matches the requirements of the funder, you demonstrate that you are serious about your cause and are willing to do what it takes to support it.
Journal #2
There are a few things I’m hoping to get out of this class. First, I want to expand upon the types of writing I can do because I believe the ability to write a variety of things well is a very marketable skill in today’s world. More obviously, I want to be able to understand the grant writing process. I will be going into the education field, which is severely underfunded as a whole, but some districts struggle more than others. I think every student deserves the best opportunities to learn, but because of a lack of funding, not all students get that chance. Fortunately, there are plenty of grants that school districts can apply for that would provide their students with access to meaningful learning opportunities, but districts don’t always have someone that has the ability to go for those grants. My goal is to learn enough in this class that I can be that person, or at the very least, I can be helpful in the grant-seeking and writing processes.
Journal #3
In thinking about the types of non-profits I might like to be a part of, I realized early on that I would definitely want to do something with a focus on helping adolescents seeing as I’m a Secondary Education major. However, I’d be open to a few different types of organizations under this umbrella. Obviously, an education-based non-profit would be a good option because as a future educator, this is most likely the type of organization I would be involved in. Besides this, I would be interested in being involved in a non-profit that either specializes in the arts and humanities or the environment. These are two areas that I’m very passionate about. When I was growing up, I was able to figure out who I was by engaging in the arts, specifically music and writing, and I think that everyone can benefit by being involved in a creative pursuit. In regards to why I’d want to be part of a non-profit centering around the environment, I have a deep love of national parks, and I think it could be really cool if there was a non-profit that helped people to visit these locations that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to.
Journal #4
I thought the Grantspace video had a lot of useful information that will be helpful as we start writing our own grant proposals. The biggest takeaway I had from the video was the need to build relationships with funders, especially independent foundations that are run by families or other small groups within the community. These foundations usually invite organizations to apply for their grants, so in order to get funding from them, you need to make connections with members of the foundation and express interest in their grants. Networking is also a helpful way to reach out to members of these foundations because other people who work with you, including your own board members and other funders of your organization, may be able to introduce you to funders. Another thing important tip from the video was to research foundations before you begin writing a proposal. This research includes finding out a foundation’s specific interests, looking into other organizations that have received funding through that foundation, and making sure your objectives as an organization match those of the potential funder. A final note from the webinar that I found interesting was that you should have your proposal mostly finished by the time you are making contact with potential funders. Even though it’s important to tailor your proposal to specific organizations, having a base proposal that you can customize to the funder’s requirements allows you to have a working idea of the proposal when you speak with potential funders.
