query: writing grants for organizing

Wed Jun 4 21:22:14 CDT 2008

[ed:  thanks to Larry and Dick for responding to Sarah's query.]

From:  Larry Yates <lamaryates at igc.org>

Sarah

I think this is a good opportunity for you (and the organization's 
leadership) to really think strategically about what you are doing.

Clearly you have not "made a mistake" if you shift from one issue or 
campaign to another. But if this is true, then clearly you have a larger 
vision that can be served by more than one campaign or issue. Your 
larger vision may be defined by a large goal for a specific community, 
for example, substantially increasing civic activism and empowered 
leadership in the DowntroddenTown neighborhood. Or transforming the 
local network serving people with disabilities so that people with 
disabilities have a say in all major decisions. Or.....

Whatever that larger vision is, it should not be a secret, either to 
your leadership or to your funders. It's true that the first time you 
knock on someone's door, or when you talk to the media, that vision may 
not be what you talk about. But those who really support you (e.g. 
leaders, funders and allies) should "get" that your specific campaigns 
and issue fights are part of a larger concept, not an end in themselves.

You also presumably have a process in place for deciding when to move 
from one campaign or issue to another. Developing that decision-making 
process is another goal that both leaders and funders should be 
conscious of and supportive of. If you switch from one campaign to 
another because of a cursory staff meeting discussion, or because of the 
whim of a national group, you have a problem -- and not just a funder 
communication problem. But if your Board, or an annual Congress, is the 
final decisionmaker, and engages constituents and allies in the process, 
you have a process going on that you can be proud of, and that at least 
some funders will be pleased to support.

After all, all issue wins are temporary. But when you change 
relationships of power, and people's understanding of their own power, 
you have made a change that will last at least a lifetime, if not 
beyond. I don't want to idealize funders, some of whom are indeed caught 
up in a specific issue or short-term results, but certainly the ones you 
can build a longterm relationship with -- the ones that will help you 
find other funders and otherwise go beyond just providing a grant -- are 
the ones who get what you are fundamentally about. But they won't get it 
if you don't tell them. And it's hard to tell them if you haven't had 
that conversation explicitly within your leadership.

To put this preaching in simple terms _- changing your issues and your 
campaigns is neither good nor bad, whether from a funder's point of view 
or your organization's. The important question is whether such decisions 
reflect an overall consistent organizational goal, and happen in a way 
that is democratic, transparent, and relationship-building. If those are 
true, claim them proudly to your funders, and tell them what they really 
would be funding, which goas far beyond a random series of campaigns.

Note: Sarah, this goes beyond what you may need, because it is going to 
comm-org and a broader audience. I hope it does help you, and you can 
always contact me individually to complain or get clarifications.

************************

From: Dick Schoech <schoech at uta.edu>

Sarah
    Here is a link to a one page handout on writing goals and objectives
http://www2.uta.edu/cussn/courses/3306/coursepack/writing_goals_objectives.pdf
It gives the basics and a way to fill in the blanks to get where you 
need to go.
You might also look at developing a logic model
http://www2.uta.edu/cussn/courses/3306/coursepack/Logic-models.htm

Dick Schoech schoech at uta.edu <mailto:schoech at uta.edu>

U. TX Arlington, Box 19129, 211 S Cooper, Arlington TX 76019-0129

http://www.uta.edu/cussn <http://www.uta.edu/cussn/> 
 http://www.husita.org  http://www.substanceabuseprevention.org

Discussion list for COMM-ORG wrote:
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> This is a COMM-ORG 'colist' message.
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>  
> [ed:  please feel welcomed to copy COMM-ORG with responses to Sarah's 
> query.  And apologies to Sarah for letting this one slip through the 
> cracks last week.]
>
> From: "Sarah Phillips" <sphillips at cityyear.org>
>
>
> Hello All,
>
> I have a few questions about grant writing for organizing groups.  Does
> anyone have any tips or resources to pass along regarding framing
> objectives for good organizing grants, particularly when campaigns tend
> to change when strategies don't work.  Also, I'm working with a
> particularly grassroots organization and campaigns and strategies change
> often.  Does anyone have any tips about writing proposals in this
> context?  Lastly, anyone got any good ideas about foundations or
> corporations funding organizing work in Mali or, better yet, suggestions
> about where to look for these folks?  
>
> Thanks so much!  -Sarah
>
> Sarah Phillips
> Service Director
> City Year Rhode Island
> 77 Eddy St.  2nd Floor
> Providence, RI 02903
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> sphillips at cityyear.org
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