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Copper Corridor residents flocked to Superior last week to take part in a workshop for grant writing presented by Cathy Melvin, a member of U.S. Representative Ann Kirkpatrick’s staff. Gerry Kaufhold | Submitted
By Gerry Kaufhold
Ahandful of lucky people had an opportunity to learn everything you need to know to get started writing grants.
On Monday, Aug. 24, Cathy Melvin, who works in State District 1 Representative Ann Kirkpatrick’s office, provided an intense introductory workshop about writing grants. The class was hosted by the Superior Chamber of Commerce in its new building on Main Street. Some attendees drove from as far away as San Manuel, which demonstrates the rising importance of the need for grant writers. With the price of copper falling as China’s economy slows down, towns, schools, civic organizations and arts groups are all looking for ways improve their funding options by applying for grants.
Melvin provided a wide-ranging set of slides titled “Grant Writing 101.” The first thing to do is make a plan that accurately reflects the needs and capabilities of your particular organization. You need to identify specific items that your group needs. Then you do research through a variety of grant-related search engines to match an advertised grant with your specific needs. If you discover a match, your work is just beginning.
A grant Request for Proposal, or RFP, usually provides itemized restrictions about what the grant money will be used for, and also has a very detail-oriented application process. It’s important to pick the right RFP to go after, because there is a lot of work involved. It’s also important to have some “outside eyes” to proof read your application.
Melvin shared some insights from her personal grant writing experience. Sometimes, she explained, it’s worth the effort to build up a grant proposal even if you can’t meet the deadline, because when that grant comes up next year, you will be better prepared to build a winning response.
Another key item is that modern grants typically do not provide up-front cash for a project. Usually the organization needs to win the grant, use their own money to do all the work, and then apply for reimbursement. This puts a high value on an organization’s ability to get all the work done on time, and be able to document each aspect that qualifies for reimbursement. Arizona does not have a great track record for completing grant-funded projects on time, so our state sometimes sends money back because it wasn’t spent in time to qualify for reimbursement.
Melvin provided copies of the slides as well as a detailed seven-page handout about how to prepare a competitive grant proposal. She also recommended a 47-page PDF file that is available on Representative Kirkpatrick’s web site at: http://1.usa.gov/1Kp1Zbe.
There is also an organization called The Grantsmanship Center that offers training to people who want to become more professional and successful in their quest for grant funding. https://www.tgci.com/
Upcoming Grant Writing Classes are scheduled on Wednesday, Sept. 16, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Oracle Fire Station located at 1475 W. American Ave. and on the evening of Thursday, Sept. 24, 6-8 p.m. at the Globe-Miami Chamber of Commerce located at 1360 N. Broad St., Globe. You can RSVP to attend one of these classes by emailing Cathy Melvin at Cathy.Melvin@mail.house.gov or call her at 928-402-4318.
Finally, if you know somebody who is writing a grant, give them a hug, they’ve earned it!
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
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