[nabentre] Grant Writers

Mon Sep 19 18:38:30 UTC 2011

Dear Jim and All,

If you are an individual seeking a grant, for yourself or someone else, and 
are not part of a non-profit 501-(C)(3) organization.  There is a foundation 
directory called, "Foundations that give to Individuals," in the Foundations 
Center data base that may have a grant that you can apply for.
It is mostly for individuals seeking scholarships and help with attending 
college, studying abroad or for funding Master's and PHD projects, but there 
are a number of grants just to help the average Joe or Jane.
There are other private and family foundations that do give to individuals 
and even some federally assisted agencies such as (CIL) Centers for 
Independent Living that sometimes give grants to aid and assist individuals.
I got one of these grants years ago that helped me buy my first electronic 
note taker, a Blazie Type-N-Speak, which I still have and use.
Grants are mostly for non-profits and organizations and agencies.
I have used grants to fund equipment purchases mostly, but have used them to 
also pay for transportation, vehicle rentals, lodgings, space rentals and 
services supporting special events for my NFB chapter and State Affiliate.

I learned to write grants by accident.  I made an off handed comment one day 
to a guy at a Cub Scout meeting I was running and he responded that he could 
help me as it was his job with the local university to write grants for 
research projects there.  We talked and he agreed to show me how to do it.
It turns out that at most every state college and university, there is a 
department called" Sponsored Research."  This guy was the prof in charge of 
that department.
He and I sat down and knocked out a grant in about 2 hours and he made up a 
list of paper work I needed to collect and turn in with the grant.  I did 
this.  He told me that once I wrote my first grant, I would have most of the 
paper work together for my next grant too.
I had a computer, a Tandy 80 with 2 5.3 inch floppy drives.  I was already 
out growing this machine and it had no access software at all.
The grant I wrote took advantage of the IBM funds for Community Service and 
let me get a newer IBM desk top and a copy of "Word Perfect and a copy of FS 
"Magic for DOS and a IBM dot matrix printer.
I wrote the grant for all of this to start a monthly newsletter for the 
Chapter in my area and used the "Free Matter" mailing  method to send it out 
to all Blind people I could.
I got to use the equipment and learned how to use the access software and 
computer at the same time as producing the newsletter and other paperwork 
the chapter needed.
I then wrote a grant that let me step up our newsletter by also producing 
the newsletter on audio tape and computer disc.  We purchased a good tape 
recorder and a high speed tape duplicator along with mailers, labels and a 
large stock of blank tapes.  I also got a Blazie Blazer Braille embosser for 
producing a Braille edition and a box of Braille paper.
We also covered Internet services and long distance phone calls for me and 
other chapter officers to help us do our work for the chapter.
All of this ability to communicate and organize helped my chapter to grow 
into the largest chapter in the state and helped to improve our ability to 
fund raise and fund the chapter's and organization's activities.
Because of all of the grants I wrote, our fund raising was enhanced and 
allowed us to put more time and money into chapter projects including 
sending members to Washington for the Seminar, National Convention and other 
special events.
Grant writing can pay great dividends, but there are some hoops and hurdles 
to go over and through.Some of the regulations and restrictions on the use 
of the 501-(C)(3) status has changed and you must keep good records in case 
the IRS wants to check up on you and your dealings.
I hope that what I have said helps.
Please let me know what you are thinking ?

David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Homme, James" <james.homme at highmark.com>
To: "NFBnet NAB Entrepreneurs Mailing List" <nabentre at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, September 19, 2011 6:48 AM
Subject: Re: [nabentre] Grant Writers

> Hi,
> That's a good idea.
>
> Jim
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nabentre-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabentre-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> Behalf Of David Andrews
> Sent: Sunday, September 18, 2011 9:33 PM
> To: NFBnet NAB Entrepreneurs Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nabentre] Grant Writers
>
> What David tells you is good advice.  I would add that there is a
> place called the "grantsmanship Center" I believe, if memory
> serves.  They conduct grant writing workshops all over the
> country.  They aren't cheap, but good.
>
> I have worked as a fund-raiser, writing lots of grants, and even
> getting a few (smile.)  The hardest parts of grant writing aren't the
> actual writing, assuming you are at least an ok writer, but the
> research, and knowing how and what to ask for -- crafting the
> grant.  The actual writing is only a minor part of the whole process.
>
> You could probably find a local nonprofit for whom you could
> volunteer and get some experience.
>
> Dave
>
> At 11:52 AM 9/16/2011, you wrote:
>
>>Dear Jim,
>>
>>I am a grant writer and have written grantsfor the NFB , myself and
>>other individuals.
>>If you want to write grants, educate yourself.
>>Go to the Foundations Center web site, www.foundationscenter.org and
>>you can see some of the information that is put out by grant making
>>foundations.
>>There are many grant instruction web sites and you can even go to
>>your local library or Community Foundation HQ and get instructions
>>on how to write them.
>>For individuals it is harder as most grants are for agencies,
>>organizations and government agencies.
>>Individuals can apply for some grants, but it is limited.  It comes
>>down to what it is you are looking for.
>>
>>Normally you will want to start with a foundation directory that
>>list the names, locations and contact info for the foundations and
>>also gives you information such as what areas of Interest they give
>>grants in, What their "Mean" grant is, they IRS 990 forms, Who they
>>gave grants to last year, What geographical area they serve, How to
>>contact them and what dates begin and end their grant cycles.
>>
>>If you have questions, I will try to answer as time permits me.
>>By the way, you can go to your local library or Community Foundation
>>and look at many foundation directories and instructions on how to
>>write grants right there.
>>Let me know what you have in mind and I can advise you.
>>
>>David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
>>I-mail: drevans at bellsouth.net
>>
>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Homme, James" 
>><james.homme at highmark.com>
>>To: "NFBnet NAB Entrepreneurs Mailing List" <nabentre at nfbnet.org>
>>Sent: Friday, September 09, 2011 7:25 AM
>>Subject: [nabentre] Grant Writers
>>
>>
>>>Hi,
>>>Does anyone here know any grant writers? I want to learn about the
>>>process of grant writing.
>>>
>>>Thanks.
>>>
>>>Jim
>>>
>>>Jim Homme,
>>>Usability Services,
>>>Phone: 412-544-1810.
>
>
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