[nfbmi-talk] Fwd: In Light Of Last Saturday's Meeting: A Couple Of Observations

[Kane Brolin]

Lydia:

We found out about a little-advertised opportunity, sponsored by the
State of Indiana, known as the Small Community Grant.  It was made
available this year in the amount of $20,000, which is received on a
piecemeal basis as reimbursement over a two-year period.  We had to
submit in advance a proposal for how we would use this money,
including a budget with estimated costs associated with every project
or event we aim to put on.  We also needed to list realistically at
least one or two other organizations in our region who are likely to
partner with us in carrying out our initiatives.

It is rare in Indiana for an individual chapter--or even the state
affiliate, for that matter--to apply for such a grant from a source
outside of the Federation.
We are trying to break new ground, though, and if successful this may
lead to much more sizable opportunities.

None of us ever had attempted to write a grant proposal before.  We
chose to pay a professional grant-writer $450 to make sure what we
submitted was put together properly.  But all the core
information--including the budget and the supporting facts that prove
a need for what we were arguing for--was written into the proposal by
chapter members like myself who agreed to serve on a new Grants
Committee.  Lots of time and perspiration went into this during June,
even leading into the first couple of days of National Convention.  We
e-mailed the final app from our hotel room in Orlando.

Thanks for asking.

-Kane