I'm resending this message because some of you didn't get it and also
SOMEHOW it ended up going to the ebase listsupport group -- I haven't the
faintest idea how that happened. Hopefully it won't happen again this time.
Yesterday's message follows:
This weekend while taking some time off I went to the ocean to visit with
some friends from Alaska. One of my friends is the grant writer for ACAT
(Alaska Community Action on Toxics) and my other friend is the Executive
Director. Dr. Lorraine Eckstein (the grant writer) has successfully
obtained hundreds of thousands of funding through grants. She is also an
excellent writer -- a cultural anthropologist by training.
I have been dissatisfied with the Case Statement in its final draft. It
has been a good exercise and we have pulled together important information
but it has continued to feel disjointed and "messy." Lorraine looked it
over and gave me excellent insights into the problems with it. She helped
me make some major revisions in how I thought about what PAS does and in
the process we threw out most of the content that was driving me a little
nuts (specifically the poorly written and unclear goals that I had pulled
together from a variety of sources.)
It has gone through a major overhaul. A few of her suggestions were --
forget about objectives unless a foundation requires them. Objectives are
desired outcomes and we can provide them if requested. Think of programs
-- what are your programs and what are the activities you engage in in
those programs. Limit yourself to a few programs, write the goals of the
program (short and sweet) and then list your activities and
accomplishments. That's the basic of a grant proposal which is then
tweaked for each foundation's application. Write in the present tense as
much as possible, be positive, use personal pronouns except "I".
I was amazed at how much clarity I got as I began to think in terms of
programs instead of goals and objectives. It seemed to me we had four
programs and all of the activities we had on the Case Statement fit under
one of them. The four programs are: SmartGrowth, Forest Issues, Habitat
Protection and Birds. Suddenly it all came together for me and I could
make the leap to thinking about actual grant writing.
Actually I've given up the idea of a Case Statement and am thinking more in
terms of a written document for internal use only that will have most of
the information that we would need to complete an application.
I am cleaning up the draft and as soon as I have it finished I will forward
to you for your feedback. It's much less wordy, more concise and clear. I
think the Grant Group will need to meet again to discuss this new approach
before we give it to the Board. I'm even thinking that this kind of
document won't need nearly as much work by the Board. It will be obvious
and won't need much more than their review and feedback as to wording or
program activities. The goals are so short and clear that some wording may
need work but it will be limited.
It's a very different approach from the goals and objectives PAS has done
in the past but I think it is a much more effective approach than what we
have come up with so far.
Lorraine is going to send me some samples of grant proposals she has done
and she will be happy to go over any of our proposals to give us feedback.
Also did some networking with Pam Miller, the Ex. Dir., in terms of
foundation people she knows in Seattle. Just the kind of thing Al
suggested we do. They were both impressed to hear we have had Bullitt
grants. Guess we've done a few things right!!!
Will forward the new draft to you, hopefully some time this week before I
go on vacation.
Ileen
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