Summary of Ellen Karsh's The Only Grant-Writing Book You'll Ever Need

By IRB Media

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.

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#1 Grants are hot right now, but they are also extremely misunderstood. People think that all you need to do to get grant money is to incorporate as a not-for-profit organization and wait for money to fall out of the sky.

#2 The world of grants is not like the lottery. You have to be in it to win it, but you also have to represent yourself and your organization in the best possible light. If you can’t do that, then do not apply.

#3 The US Department of Education has funded parent centers in schools for more than 20 years. These centers are supposed to be developed and run by parents, but the types of activities available to parents are chosen by the Department of Education.

#4 There are three types of organizations: grassroots, small, and large. The kind of work you want to do and the size of your organization will determine where you should look for funding.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: Mar 24, 2022
• ISBN: 9781669368106

IRB Media

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Insights on Ellen Karsh's The Only Grant-Writing Book You'll Ever Need

Contents

Insights from Chapter 1

Insights from Chapter 2

Insights from Chapter 3

Insights from Chapter 1

#1

Grants are hot right now, but they are also extremely misunderstood. People think that all you need to do to get grant money is to incorporate as a not-for-profit organization and wait for money to fall out of the sky.

#2

The world of grants is not like the lottery. You have to be in it to win it, but you also have to represent yourself and your organization in the best possible light. If you can’t do that, then do not apply.

#3

The US Department of Education has funded parent centers in schools for more than 20 years. These centers are supposed to be developed and run by parents, but the types of activities available to parents are chosen by the Department of Education.

#4

There are three types of organizations: grassroots, small, and large. The kind of work you want to do and the size of your organization will determine where you should look for funding.

#5

Social service agencies are not-for-profit organizations, local government agencies, or for-profit businesses that address the needs of groups of people of all ages and types. They range in size from a volunteer or paid staff of two serving a small neighborhood area to huge, citywide, regional, or even national agencies.

#6

The Internal Revenue Service defines many kinds of not-for-profit corporations, but the section that covers most social service organizations is 501(c)(3). Contributions to 501(c)(3)s are tax deductible, so individual donors as well as foundations and government entities are more inclined to fund this type of organization.

#7

Advocacy groups, which funders say are more important than ever, are interested in specific issues and issues that affect their community. They may be incorporated as not-for-profit organizations, but they are not 501(c)(3)s because this section of the law specifically prohibits tax-exempt organizations from lobbying the government.

#8

Grants are generally directed to specific types of organizations. Some federal grants, for example, may be awarded only to a local or state government agency, local education agency, or institution of higher education.

#9

The best way to prepare for writing a grant proposal is to know who you are and what you want to accomplish. You may not be eligible for every grant, and you may need to do a few important things before applying for a grant.

#10

There is a misconception about grants – that everyone should apply for them. However, not everyone needs money. You need volunteers, student teachers, student lawyers, or student social workers.

#11

Before you start applying for grants, you must have a problem that you want to solve, decide what you need to do to solve it, and figure out how much it might cost. The better designed your program is to address the need, and the more other funding you have raised or resources you have found to support it, the more likely you are to win grants.

#12

If you are a grant applicant, it is important to remember that all fundraising should flow from and support your mission. If you provide services for senior citizens, and then suddenly decide to apply for grants for