GRADUATE SCHOOL OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

LIS 450: GRANTSMANSHIP

Summer 1997

Day 1 - May 23

Topic and Aproximate Times

8:00 - 9:00

INTRODUCTIONS Who we are (see information sheet) Why we're here What you may gain from this course Grantsmanship as a matching process

9:00 - 12:00

BEGIN AT HOME WITH A CONCEPT The Context Description of agency, department, and/or unit Size, organizational structure, clientele, other relevant factors What is unique about context? In-class group exercise. Organizational description (Case statement). Task: To produce 1-2 page description to turn in. Desireable ways to use a grant Infrastructure needs Enhancement to program Attract new clientele Develop new service(s) Idea Development Techniques Brainstorming What If technique Focus groups Other methods In-class exercise. Group by organizational similarity and generate 9-10 ideas. In pairs or trios, sort list into size categories (small=>$5,000, medium=$5-30,000, large=$30-100,000, very large=over $100,000) Task: To generate size-sorted list of several good grant ideas The Proposed Solution The Concept -- Definition and description Catchy title or short name Scope of Proposal Ballpark cost estimate (in dollars) Existing resources available? Facility? People? Equipment?

LUNCH

1:00 - 1:30

LOOKING FOR FUNDS Funding Sources Private Sector Funding Possibilities Foundations Corporations Public Funds Federal, state, local government agencies Societies and Associations Competitive Research Grant Programs - e.g., OCLC In-House Funding

1:30 - 3:00

FOCUS ON FOUNDATIONS The Foundation Center Types of Foundations Criteria to select target foundation Eligibility and restrictions Type of support sought (Building, equipment, start-up, operational) Central Purpose - Subject, Geographic, Population group(s) Potential Contacts Developing a Prospect List Name, address, contact person, telephone Deadline dates for proposal submission (if any) Past record of giving Subject/geographical/type of support focus & limitations Types of organization funded and sample grant Guidelines

Break. In-class exercise. Investigate funding sources and begin developing prospect list.

3:00 - 4:00

LETTER PROPOSAL Elements of a letter proposal Relationship of problem to sponsor's interest Proposed solution and organizational capability Budget request

Homework. Due May 30. All students will have three assignments to turn in next week and some reading.

All Students: In Miner & Griffith text, review Chapters 1, 3 and 5 (material covered on Day 1). Read Chapters 3, 4, 7, and 8 for May 30.
Refine list of grant ideas developed earlier and categorize ideas as infrastructure, enhancement, new clientele, or new service.
Select one of these grant ideas and develop a first draft concept paper. Paper should include organizational description, brief statement of need, categories of people and/or geographical areas affected, proposed solution, how proposal relates to organizational mission and estimated cost. (See p.8 of Miner & Griffith text for sample format).

For 1/2 unit: (1) Do reading and refined list of grant ideas as described above. (2) For a selected grant idea, locate one foundation or other private funding source that you think would be relevant to your proposal idea. Describe your search strategy and your reason for selecting source given your proposed idea.
(3) Draft concept paper as described above.

For 1 unit: (1) Do reading and refined list of grant ideas as described above.
(2) For one or more grant ideas, locate and list 3 foundation or other private funding sources relevant to your proposed idea(s). Provide a separate sheet for each funding source with information elements suggested above under prospect list. Append a cover sheet describing your search strategies and your reasons for selecting each of the sources.
(3) Draft concept paper as described above.

NOTE l: All work for class may be completed individually or as a team of two or three persons. If the latter, all members will earn the same grade unless there is strong evidence that it should be otherwise.

NOTE 2: Please make two copies of all work you hand in. I will retain one copy with comments and grade; I will keep the other copy for the duration of the course (possibly longer with your permission). In this way, I will have a file of all your work. If you wish to communicate with me between classes by email or phone, I will be able to refer to your earlier work.

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