Minnesota Common Grant Application Form

Minnesota Common Grant Application Form
PROPOSAL NARRATIVE
Revised December 2000

Please use the following outline as a guide to your proposal narrative. Most grantmakers prefer up to five pages, excluding attachments, but be sure to ask each individual funder if they have page limitations or any additional requirements. Also, include a cover letter with your application that introduces your organization and proposal and makes the link between your proposal and the mission of the grantmaker to whom you are applying. For assistance with terms, refer to MCF's Writing a Successful Grant Proposal tutorial.

I. ORGANIZATION INFORMATION

II. PURPOSE OF GRANT

III. EVALUATION

- ATTACHMENTS

- PROPOSAL CHECKLIST

I. ORGANIZATION INFORMATION

A. Brief summary of organization history including the date your organization was established.

B. Brief summary of organization mission and goals.

C. Brief description of organization's current programs or activities, including any service statistics and strengths or accomplishments. Please highlight new or different activities, if any, for your organization.

D. Your organization’s relationship with other organizations working with similar missions. What is your organization's role relative to these organizations?

E. Number of board members, full time paid staff, part-time paid staff, and volunteers.

F. Additional information required by each individual funder.

II. PURPOSE OF GRANT

- General operating proposals: Complete Section A below and move to Part III - Evaluation.
- All other proposals: Complete Section B below and move to Part III - Evaluation.

A. General Operating Proposals

1. The opportunity, challenges, issues or need currently facing your organization.

2. Overall goal(s) of the organization for the funding period.

3. Objectives or ways in which you will meet the goal(s).

4. Activities and who will carry out these activities.

5. Time frame in which this will take place.

6. Long-tem funding strategies.

7. Additional information regarding general operating proposals required by each individual funder.

B. All Other Proposal Types

1. Situation

a. The opportunity, challenges, issue or need and the community that your proposal addresses.

b. How that focus was determined and who was involved in that decision-making process.

2. Activities

a. Overall goal(s) regarding the situation described above.

b. Objectives or ways in which you will meet the goal(s).

c. Specific activities for which you are seeking funding.

d. Who will carry out those activities.

e. Time frame in which this will take place.

f. How the proposed activities will benefit the community in which they will occur, being as clear as you can about the impact you expect to have.

g. Long-term strategies (if applicable) for sustaining this effort.

III. EVALUATION

A. Please describe your criteria for success. What do you want to happen as a result of your activities?

B. How will you measure these changes?

C. Who will be involved in evaluating this work (staff, board, constituents, community, consultants)?

D. What will you do with your evaluation results?

ATTACHMENTS

Generally the following attachments are required:

Finances (For assistance with terms, refer to MCF's Writing a Successful Grant Proposal tutorial.)
- Most recent financial statement from most recently completed fiscal year, audited if available, showing actual expenses. This information should include a balance sheet, a statement of activities (or statement of income and expenses) and functional expenses. Some funders require your most recent Form 990 tax return.
- Organization budget for current year, including income and expenses.
- Project budget, including income and expenses (if not a general operating proposal).
- Additional funders. List names of corporations and foundations from which you are requesting funds, with dollar amounts, indicating which sources are committed or pending
List of board members and their affiliations.
Brief description of key staff, including qualifications relevant to the specific request.
A copy of your current IRS determination letter (or your fiscal agent’s) indicating tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status.
If applying to a corporate funder only: if an employee of this corporation is involved with your organization, list names and involvement.

Be sure to check each funder’s guidelines and use discretion when sending additional attachments.

PROPOSAL CHECKLIST

__ Cover letter.
__ Cover sheet.
__ Proposal narrative.
__ Organization budget.
__ Project budget (if not general operating grant).
__ Financial statements, preferably audited, showing actual expenses including:

__ Balance sheet.

__ Statement of activities (income and expenses).

__ Statement of functional expenses.

__ List of additional funders.
__ List of board members and their affiliations.
__ Brief description of key staff.
__ IRS determination letter.
__ Confirmation letter of fiscal agent (if required).
__ Additional information required by each individual funder.

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Cover Sheet | Narrative | Organization Budget | Project Budget

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