Saturday, November 29, 2014

Free grant writing tips and help (no cost grant funding tips)

Grant funding can be very helpful to non-profits to help grow and expand services for a good cause.  But grant applications can be complicated and difficult to navigate.

After writing several grants (both successful and not successful), here are some simple tips that ensured the success of the projects that were funded.

1. MISSION STATEMENT: Have a strong mission statement. Start all your efforts by revising your organization's mission statement.  This is your guiding light and should highlight the focus of all your efforts.  If you don't have a mission statement, be sure to write one before you try any grant writing.

2. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: Develop clear goals and objectives for your organization.  Do not think in terms of what you want to buy. Think in terms of what you want to accomplish as an organization.  Explore questions such as:

Who are you helping? 
What do you want to change? 
How are you improving your community? 
Which groups benefit the most from your organization?
Where do you want to focus your efforts?

3. Find grant funding applications that match your mission, goals and objectives.  Do NOT find a grant and apply for things you don't need.  I've seen this done too often and it creates a lot of problems.  It's important your organization stays focused and does not create a project or program just to get money. The money must be used in very specific ways so be sure they are for something you really need. Funding should not be used for other purposes other than what is applied for.

4. Plan for additional staff for large grants. If you receive a great deal of funding, it can have a major impact on your budget and may require additional employees.  Ideally, you'll want to fund these employees within the grant. 

5. Involve your entire organization in planning for a grant.  Include as many people as possible in the entire process.  Get input from as many people as possible for the mission, goals and objectives.  And when you select a grant to apply for, involve as many people as possible in the writing of the grant. You never want to write a grant without talking with the people who are affected by it. If everyone is not on board, there can be a lot of problems with carrying out the purpose of the grant.  This could hurt your chances of getting more funding in the future.

Need free grant funding tips and help?  Post your questions below or email doug@freedrama.net with your questions.





Nervous about giving a speech? Feeling some nervousness before giving a speech is natural and even beneficial,10 Tips for Public Speaking from the Toastmasters

10 Tips for Public Speaking
From the Toastmasters website:
"Feeling some nervousness before giving a speech is natural and even beneficial, but too much nervousness can be detrimental. Here are some proven tips on how to control your butterflies and give better presentations:
1. Know your material. Pick a topic you are interested in. Know more about it than you include in your speech. Use humor, personal stories and conversational language – that way you won’t easily forget what to say.
2. Practice. Practice. Practice! Rehearse out loud with all equipment you plan on using. Revise as necessary. Work to control filler words; Practice, pause and breathe. Practice with a timer and allow time for the unexpected.
3. Know the audience. Greet some of the audience members as they arrive. It’s easier to speak to a group of friends than to strangers.
4. Know the room. Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone and any visual aids.
5. Relax. Begin by addressing the audience. It buys you time and calms your nerves. Pause, smile and count to three before saying anything. ("One one-thousand, two one-thousand, three one-thousand. Pause. Begin.) Transform nervous energy into enthusiasm.
6. Visualize yourself giving your speech. Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear and confident. Visualize the audience clapping – it will boost your confidence.
7. Realize that people want you to succeed. Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative and entertaining. They’re rooting for you.
8. Don’t apologize for any nervousness or problem – the audience probably never noticed it.
9. Concentrate on the message – not the medium. Focus your attention away from your own anxieties and concentrate on your message and your audience.
10. Gain experience. Mainly, your speech should represent you — as an authority and as a person. Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking. A Toastmasters club can provide the experience you need in a safe and friendly environment."
Another way to practice is using monologues, memorizing them and recording yourself performing them. Watch your recording and you'll see things you'll want to improve about your gestures and body language.  Check out free monologues at http://www.freedrama.net/small1.html
Nervous about giving a speech? Feeling some nervousness before giving a speech is natural and even beneficial,10 Tips for Public Speaking from the Toastmasters