GRANT WRITING SUCCESS:

Opening the Door to Financial Opportunity

Your 30 – 60 – 90 Day Action Plan

Suzanne Mulligan
for

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 Grant Writing Success 30 – 60 – 90 Day Action Plan

Introduction
Congratulations on taking such an important step towards your freelance career as a
Grant Writer! You have made an excellent decision. I am going to personally show you
how to have your business up and running in 90 days. I have a competitive streak and I
want YOU to win the ‘Summer of Writing Challenge!’

The plan that follows is complete. This is what I did to develop my successful grant writing
business. As much as I have tried to lay it out for you in a linear fashion, feel free to take
some liberty with the timing. For instance, doing some administrative work should be
done throughout the 90 days. If you have done everything you can in a particular week,
according to the schedule, you may still have some time on your hands. Great! Start
thinking about your website, or register your business…

The important point is to keep moving forward, making a focused effort each day to work
through the plan.

The opportunity for grant writers is enormous. The types of grants vary from very simple
proposals that outline the value of supporting a worthy cause to complex proposals that
include many components and extensive evaluation design.

My goal is to help you become comfortable with the proposals you can get started with
right away. Generally these will be proposals to Foundations, Corporations and even
Service Clubs. Small Government grants may also be included. As your knowledge and
confidence builds, you will be able to branch out into the million dollar opportunities.
Either way, this 30 – 60 – 90 Day Plan will make sure you are well on your way to having
your first contract by September 6!

We often talk about breaking projects into ‘hunks, chunks and bites’. The ‘hunks’ of
your 30 - 60 - 90 Day Plan include studying AWAI’s Grant Writing Success Program and
supplementary resources; connecting with nonprofit organizations who need your grant
writing services; finding the right foundations, corporations or government grants to
meet their needs; completing the necessary administrative work to ensure you have a
professional business in place; securing contracts; writing and submitting proposals;
and finally, identifying more ways to bring value to the nonprofits who have hired you.
That’s it.

Now let’s get started. Procrastination is NOT on the 30 – 60 – 90 Day Plan!

Suzanne Mulligan

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 Weeks 1 and 2

Study the program. You have everything you need with the Grant Writing Success
Program and all of the supplementary resources.

Start thinking about the nonprofit organizations you can connect with. If you aren’t
already familiar with the wide array of services in your community, do some research.
Find a listing of all of the nonprofit organizations – through your local library, community
information services, or online. For instance, many cities publish directories that list
every local health and social service organization. They sort them alphabetically and by
category; provide a brief description of the services; list contact information; and the
website. This makes it easy to find all the programs that deal with seniors, children,
youth... It is not uncommon to find several hundred organizations, all in need of grant
money in ONE city!

Ongoing throughout the 30 – 60 – 90 Day Plan

Take time to do some of the administrative tasks.

Register your business with the appropriate government office so you are able to deduct
the costs of your business from your income at tax time.

Set up a file system to collect all of your receipts and household bills.

Develop a website. If you don’t know where to start, check out the AWAI article: ‘How
to Plan Out Your Freelance Website Content In Under an Hour’ by Rebecca Matter. It is a
great resource and helped me get started on my own site.

Have a logo designed or design your own.

Print business cards.

Write up a one-page flyer that you can hand out at networking events or email as a PDF
to prospective clients.

See Attachment #1 - a sample of a promotional flyer that you can adapt.

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 Week 3

From your research, select 20 organizations that interest you.

Find out the name of the person responsible for fundraising. It may be the Director of
Development or the Executive Director.

If the agency has a separate Foundation, note the contact information also. This will be
different than the Foundation you are asking for money from. Some agencies set up a
formal fundraising arm for their charity and register it as a Foundation.

No matter who is responsible for fundraising, they will be happy to hear from you when
you are ready to submit a proposal to write grants for them!

Generally the Director of Development is very busy with a huge array of responsibilities
such as special events, cultivating new donors, establishing a planned giving program,
setting up a direct letter appeal, keeping the website up to date, supervising volunteers…
and they don’t have time to write grant proposals! The Executive Director is spread thin
with even more demands on his or her time. Grant writing tends to become a task on the
perpetual ‘to do’ list.

In fact, this is what makes grant writing such a perfect niche and business opportunity!
Writing grants on a proactive basis – sending proposals out regularly rather than only
responding to application deadlines - is a task that does NOT appear on the ‘to do’ lists
of the fundraisers. Why? Because applying for grants proactively is not based on looming
deadlines. And let’s face it – busy people operate on what is due next, what crisis has
to be prevented… and it is all about day-to-day pressure. So when you ask someone ‘do
you send grant proposals out regularly’ the response is ‘yes… err, no… I intend to, but
something always comes up that I have to deal with.’ Perfect. You are now in business!

Test it for yourself: if you happen to be involved already with the nonprofit network in
your community, do a little detective work. Ask any contacts you may have…

• Do you submit grant proposals when you have a new project to get off the ground –
or on a regular basis, as part of your ongoing fundraising plans?
• How many grant applications do you submit in a year?

The answers to these questions should be motivating and give you confidence! You will
soon discover there IS a market for your expertise.

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 Week 4

Now, email the list of 20 people/organizations you highlighted.

See Attachment #2 - Script for the initial contact to elicit interest in your grant
writing services.

Tell them you are aware there is a huge gap within the nonprofit sector with regards
to securing funding through Grants (Foundations, Corporations, Government and
Service Clubs).

Let them know that in your experience:

• There are many untapped sources of grants available to nonprofits;

• Many nonprofits do not have the time to focus on applying for grants that are
available locally let alone nationally;
• Most nonprofits do not apply for grants on a proactive basis from the hundreds
of foundations that may be a perfect match with the group’s mission and
mandate;
• Securing funding through grants is an underdeveloped part of most of the
fundraising strategies within most nonprofits.
• You have a cost effective solution.

Follow up and ask for an appointment to meet.

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 Weeks 5 and 6

Continue to work on your administrative tasks.

Meet with the contacts you have selected.

See Attachment #3. It contains a simple checklist to help you collect the information
you need.

You want to find out:

• Do you submit grants proposals when you have a new project to get off the ground
– or as part of your ongoing fundraising plans?
• How many grant applications do you submit in a year?
• Do they tend to be to the local community foundations that have a call for
proposals once or twice a year?
• Do you have any special projects at the moment that you need funding for?
• Have you ever asked for money from a service club or a corporation in your
community?
• Do you have a current Case for Support that you can use whenever an opportunity
arises to ask for money?

Your goal is to…

• Get a sense of how much – if any – grant writing they do;

• Identify what special projects are either under-funded or waiting for funding;
• Ask for permission to do some preliminary research – at NO CHARGE – to see if
there is any potential for their organization to secure grants.

Remember…they have nothing to lose!

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 Week 7

Take the information you found out about their special needs and determine what funding
sources might be out there for each organization.

But how do you do that? In some ways this may be your biggest challenge. You need to
find the right database – one that YOU will find easy to work with – and preferably an
online version.

In the ‘old days’ we studied the hard copy Foundation Directories. If you could afford one
you bought it, or you went to the library. You can still do this – but the information cannot
be kept up to date as easily as on an online database. And the worst part – you have to
write out all of the information you need. When you find 300 potential foundations for a
particular program that is a lot of work.

My absolute favorite is Metasoft’s BIG Online Database ‘BIG’ is an easy to use searchable
database to find corporate, foundation and government grant making information. The key
word is ‘searchable’ because that is what makes your life easier. BIG provides information
on funding sources in Canada, the United States and Internationally including Mexico, the
UK, Netherlands, Israel, India and Africa.

A good search function will give you options of where to start:

• Top Foundations (20,000 in the US alone)

• Top 500 Companies
• Government Programs
• Advanced Search functions
• Top 10,000 funders by Assets
• Top 10,000 by Grants awarded
• Deadline Calendar
• Newly Registered Foundations

Of course there are other excellent products. Simply do an Internet search for a version of
‘fundraising online database’ and your country’s name.

The only problem (sorry!) is that there is generally a membership fee for a good online
database. They can be expensive. Initially you can do some digging to find the information
you need on the Internet for free. The difference will be in the limitations of the search
and sort capabilities of a free program.

Try to find someone that has a membership to a database that you can use initially. Check
the local library to see if they offer this service. I actually had access to BIG through 3 of
the organizations I had contracts with.

When you are just in the stage of demonstrating to potential contracts that there is real
opportunity through grants, you have to be creative. The trick is to find a resource to use
to do some preliminary research – enough to show the organizations that you are sending

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a proposal to that there IS money out there that matches their mission and mandate.
Once you have a few contracts, you can find the most cost effective way to gather the
information you need on an ongoing basis.

Suggestion:

When you are in the preliminary stage and you are not at the point of purchasing access
to a database, use your basic Internet research skills. Remember at this stage, you are
only trying to show the nonprofits you are contacting that there is potential out there.

In Google I entered a number of key words: ‘Foundations List’, ‘US Foundations List’ and
‘Charitable Foundations List’. ‘US Foundations List’ actually gave me the best results – on
the first page – for this exercise. I found out that adding the ‘s’ to foundation is practical
–then you do not get the many other versions for the word, such as ‘leaking basement
foundation’!

The search results included:

The Foundation Center

This website allows you do a very basic search for free. I clicked on ‘Foundation Finder’
and entered in the State of Florida. I found 5,213 foundations that I would have to sort
through to find ones that match the interests of each nonprofit I was approaching. IF this
was the only option I had for my preliminary search, I would indicate to the nonprofit that
‘there are over 5,200 Foundations in the State of Florida. A detailed analysis to find the
ones that relate to your mandate and mission would be part of our contract.”

Foundation Search – A division of Metasoft’s BIG Online

Membership required to initiate any search function.

Imagine Canada, Canadian Directory to Foundations and Corporations

They provide a list of foundations, but no search function to help you pinpoint foundations
with particular interests.

Remember you can always go to your local library and access a hard copy of the
Foundation Directory. It would at least give you the preliminary numbers you are looking
for to impress the nonprofit with the potential available.

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 Week 8

Identify the potential sources of funding.

This can be a little time consuming, but well worth the time investment. Each nonprofit
you meet with may have different interests. Foundations that support animal welfare may
not support seniors for instance. So your research on available funding sources will vary.

Here is a fictitious sample of a preliminary search and the steps that would follow:

A group has a mandate to support children with mental health issues through educational
programs for their families. I put in various key word combinations into the search function.

My initial search provided the following numbers:

Education and Florida 378 potential foundations

Children and Youth and Florida 110
Children and Youth (US wide) 499
Mental Health and Florida 76
Community Foundations and Florida 85

Note that I have not even searched for government grants or corporate donors!

There will be duplication in the above numbers: one foundation may show up in every
category – and a gem of a foundation may show up in only one.

The next step will be to look at every single foundation that appears in the above search
to isolate such critical information as:

• Eligibility criteria • Contact information

• Submission deadlines • Details regarding the assets of the funding source
• Application guidelines • Trends in previous grant awards

Surprisingly, you can do this relatively quickly. You become adept at scanning the
information. Eliminate inappropriate funding sources. For instance one Foundation may
say they only give to charitable groups in Tampa and you are in Fort Lauderdale. They get
eliminated. When one fits your needs, copy and paste the information, save it and go on
to the next Foundation.

This stage of the research will also indicate specifically what you might ask for from a
particular group when you eventually submit an application for funding. For instance,
some will indicate they fund operating costs, some will not; some will fund capital costs,
some will not; some will fund the evaluation component. In any case, you are beginning
to fine-tune the information you are collecting.

When you are ready to submit a funding proposal, your request will be in line with the
specific criteria. The foundation or corporation will know you have done your homework.

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 Week 9
Here is the step that gets you much closer to your first paid contract.

Take the information you have uncovered so far. Write a proposal, personalized to each
nonprofit organization that you met with. The proposal will make it very difficult to turn
you down!

See Attachment #4. It provides a template ‘Proposal to Increase the Submissions for
Grant Funding’ that you can adapt.

Remember:

• There is money out there;

• You can do the writing in a very cost effective manner;
• They will, over time, recoup their grant writing costs and get funds to
support their programs.

Why would they not contract with you?

Note: once you are familiar with the process and the needs of the many nonprofit
organizations, and you have some experience, you can submit a proposal without even
meeting with them! Think about it. You gather information about their various programs
from the organization’s website. You can take a very educated guess from their mission
statement, mandate and list of programs on what key words to use for a preliminary
search in the funding database. Then prepare and send a proposal to them. When you
secure a contract, you can fine tune and sort the foundation information.

Don’t jump to this step initially. Getting familiar with all of the steps in the plan will help
you develop confidence in your new role as a Grant Writer.

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 Week 10
Follow up on the Proposal you submitted. Do they need any other information in order to
make a decision? Would they like you to make a presentation to their Board of Directors
on the value and potential available through grants?

Chances are very good that you will secure a contract. Very few nonprofits will not see the
benefits of at least one of the following options. After all, you can provide varying levels of
services with corresponding fees. And the fact is that the opportunity is huge in terms of
the available funding.

Options:

• Write one proposal for them for an application that has a deadline in the near
future.
• Complete the available funding research only. I have been retained by groups who
only wanted the binder and excel spreadsheet that I could prepare for them of all
of the available foundations, corporations and government sources of funding. For
some, this was a very valuable service.
• Complete the research above and prepare personalized proposals to be sent to each
potential funding source. In this scenario, you prepare the basis of a proposal for a
particular project. Then you personalize the letter, the amount you are requesting,
and the format of the proposal to meet the specific criteria set out by each funder.
This process has great value to a nonprofit since it is time consuming for their staff
to do and needs attention to detail.
• Complete only a Case for Support – the document that includes all the information
and the rationale for supporting the organization. This gives the agency a template
of well-written material to use when they send out proposals on their own.

When you have an agreement that your services are needed, prepare a Letter of Intent to
outline what you will do and what the organization has agreed to do; prepare a Contract
to outline the payment schedule and other details; when appropriate, prepare an invoice.

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 Weeks 11 and 12
(the end of your 30 – 60 – 90 Day Plan!)

Scenario One: You are asked to submit funding proposals for one project.

You have successfully demonstrated to an organization the benefits of contracting with

you. They agree. What do they have to lose?
They want you to submit proposals on behalf of one special project. No problem.

When you submit grant proposals to Foundations on a proactive basis, there are no
deadlines and generally no application forms. You will have to provide the requested
information under certain headings as specified by the funder.

Most Foundations will only ask for some of these headings. Much more detail is provided
in the Grant Writing Success program, but this is a quick summary.

Mission Statement
Every nonprofit organization must have a mission statement. It is generally one or two
sentences that clearly states the organization’s purpose.

Background Information
Here you want to paint a picture of the organization for the funder. What can you say
about the work they do and their history that will assure the funder they are the best
and a reputable organization?

Needs Statement
Although all nonprofit groups need money, don’t assume that the need is a given.
Describe the critical community issue(s) that the project will address. Demonstrate the
need with facts, numbers …and proof.

Goals
Goals are the overall general statement of the project’s aim or purpose. They should
reflect the mission of the organization.

Objectives
An objective is the specific statement of how you accomplish your goal. Your objectives
should be measurable.

Outcomes
Outcomes are the changes you expect to occur as a result of the project: if the
objectives are met, the desired outcomes have been achieved. Outcomes provide the
answer to the Question “How will the world be different because of this project?”

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 Strategies
The activities/strategies are the tasks necessary to implement the project: all the
steps involved in the research, planning, development, implementation and promotion
of the project.

Timelines
Put all of the activities in chronological order and assign a deadline. How long will it
take to do each; when should each step be completed.

Evaluation Plan
Indicate what you will measure to determine if you are successful. You might keep
track of statistics, use questionnaires, surveys, interviews, observations, focus groups,
and feedback from other community partners and stakeholders…

Budget
Work with the organization to brainstorm the costs to implement the project.
Everything you have referred to in the project plan should have a corresponding
budget figure. There may be opportunities to indicate that some funding is coming
from other sources or to include ‘in-kind’ contributions. For instance, a partner in
the project may be supplying the office space, phone line and Internet service.
That figure will represent an in-kind contribution.

Sustainability
This question has probably prompted the most creative thinking over the years!
The funder wants to know how the project will continue after their funding has
ended. Spend some time with the organization to identify some realistic options.

References
The organization may need to provide 2 or 3 references for the project: community
leaders who can speak to the organization’s reputation and ability to carry out
the project.

Scenario Two: The day will come when an organization calls you to say ‘we have a great
opportunity to apply for a grant that is perfect for us! We wonder if you might be available
to prepare the application?’ I used to say ‘YES!’ - Now I ask ever so cautiously, ‘when is it
due?’ and then I inevitably say ‘Yes!’

When you work on an ongoing basis with a group you will become very familiar with the
key information needed for a proposal. You will have it at your fingertips. Cutting and
pasting from annual reports and other key documents will ultimately save you time and
energy. You will be able to produce proposals relatively quickly.

But a one time proposal for someone you have not done work for will be harder and much
more time consuming. The best advice is to prepare and get organized. Remember that one
of the benefits of hiring you is that you take the stress off the fundraiser by providing grant
writing services. Don’t appear frazzled and stressed when you are faced with a deadline.

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Follow these key steps when a grant application has a looming deadline. This guarantees
that there are no surprises and everything goes smoothly.

• Ask for anything and everything that has been written about the organization
and the project. Reports, studies, promotional materials, program descriptions…
I generally leave the agency carrying a box of documents. Read everything you
can and note the material you might be able to use.

• Read the entire grant application. Will you be able to easily get all of the
information that will be needed? When you do sit down to write, you don’t want
to be missing some critical document.

• Block off time to write. You cannot do a proposal or grant application with a spare
30 minutes here and there. You need time you can dedicate to writing and time to
focus your thoughts. Constant meetings or interruptions can make you lose track
of ideas and cost valuable time.

• My golden rule? Estimate how much time you need to get it done. Now multiply
by 3! When you are under pressure, things rarely go as planned. Who hasn’t
been under tight deadlines when crisis occurs: you lose a document from your
computer, the printer cartridge is empty, and the photocopier won’t be repaired
until tomorrow…

• Back up and number every draft you are working on.

• Determine who has to sign the cover letter and the application itself. Often this is
the President of the Board, who may be quite removed from the organization’s day-
to-day activities. Are they aware of the application? Do they support it? How hard
will it be to get their signature? How much time will they need to read the proposal
before they are comfortable with signing it?

A Board President may work in another city, an hour or more away. Or they may
travel for work. Funders do not look keenly on last minute crisis phone calls telling
them you cannot get the signatures you need.

• What attachments need to be included? Print off the page that lists all of the
attachments. Make sure your contact at the agency is aware of the additional
documents you are going to need. There is nothing worse than having to depend on
a very busy staff person who does not have time to locate some of the important
documents needed. Attachments often include audited financial statements; income
statements; proof of the organization’s charitable status; a recent annual report;
signed agreements from any collaborative partners; and letters of support. Any one
of these items can turn your application process into a nightmare if you have to
ask the fundraiser or Executive Director to scramble an hour before the application
is due to find something. Also, don’t assume that the treasurer or accountant has
the financial items at their fingertips. Everyone appreciates a heads up that you will
need some piece of information by a specific date.

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 • Who is going to prepare/approve the budget for the proposal? In your role as the
Grant Writer, you can certainly rough out the budget, but the organization itself has
to be comfortable with the numbers. Totals that don’t balance can be very stressful
when the clock is ticking.

• Who on staff must review each draft? When must reviewers get the draft, and when
can they return their comments?

• What written materials already exist that you can use? There are likely documents
that outline the history of the organization, the mission, an overview of current
programs – use whatever you can.

• Are you completing an online application form or will the proposal need to be
typeset. Will you need help with that?

• When must the funder receive the proposal and in what form – email, fax, hard
copy, bound proposal with architectural drawings?

• If they require a hard copy, how will the final product be delivered? How much time
will you need for that method of delivery? There is nothing worse than planning
to send the finished proposal by courier the day before it is due, only to find you
missed the courier’s deadline.

• Remember, keep a complete copy of everything for your own records.

Expand your Business and Bring More Value to the Client

You have followed the basic action plan and you have your business up and running.
Always look for ways to improve what you do and bring more value to your clients.

Research Specialist

Understand the power of research – it makes all the difference to a winning proposal.

You will be involved in researching from a number of different angles.

Research will help you identify:

• The nonprofits you want to target;

• The foundations and corporations that are appropriate to approach;
• The facts that support the project the nonprofit is planning to implement.

This last point is important. Don’t assume the nonprofit gives you all the details that are
supported by research to prove to the funder that the project makes sense. For instance,
you will become invaluable if you go the extra mile and uncover what copywriters call the
‘golden nuggets’.

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Golden nuggets provide factual information to show that your project is well thought out.
You know a golden nugget when you see it; it is a fact or two that needs to be uncovered
by research. It gets you excited and makes the argument for the project that much more
compelling. Finding a golden nugget always makes me shout “YES!”

The organization may not even know the golden nuggets. For instance, they may want to
implement a program to get teen dads involved with their newborns. They recognize this
is important.

You do some research and find out that when teen dads are involved with their newborns
for x hours a week, the babies cry less; or they learn to talk earlier; or they score higher
on 90% of the developmental scales than babies whose teen fathers are not involved.
Those facts are golden nuggets and you now have a compelling argument!

Don’t underestimate the power of research. You bring more value to the client if you
understand this fact. If you want to really be a pro, AWAI has a new program called
‘Secrets of Becoming an Internet Research Specialist.’ It is an invaluable resource.

Secure a retainer for a year.

• Turn a contract for one grant into a retainer for a year. Suggest that you will work
for a day a week on average, for a set monthly fee. In this way you can stay on top
of submitting funding proposals and grant applications both proactively and as calls
for proposals are released.

Offer ‘How To’ Seminars

• Offer ‘how to’ seminars for local nonprofit groups. Make a power point presentation
from the Grant Writing Success program and teach the staff what you have learned.
This helps to ensure that agencies big and small know the best practices for
applying for grants.

Write the Case for Support

• Establish a niche in helping groups find their USP – Unique Selling Proposition. In
copywriting terms, the USP outlines those key elements that make them the best at
what they do – better than any other organization serving a similar target audience.
Fundraisers call this detailed document the Case for Support. A well-written Case
for Support can provide the basis for a funding application, website content or
articles because all of the information is there.

See Attachment #5 - a sample of a Case for Support for a Capital Campaign for the Active
Aldershot Society on page 27 of this doc.

— 15 —
 Congratulations!

You…
• Completed the 30 – 60 – 90 Day Plan;
• Followed every step;
• Proved that there is an important role for a someone who
specializes in grant writing;
• Secured your first contract;
• Are an AWAI trained GRANT WRITER!

Well done!

— 16 —
 Attachment #1: Promotional Flyer

Your business name

Your byline (mine is Research. Writing. Results.)

If you are an Executive Director, Fundraiser or Board Member you

may want to ask yourself a few questions:

• How many grant proposals have you submitted in the past 12 months?
Do you wish you had been able to prepare more?

• Is it difficult for your staff to find the focused time it takes to research
and write grant applications?

• Do you find more and more of your time is spent on trying to raise
revenue when it should be spent on the programs you deliver?

• Did you know there are over X # of (US, Canadian, UK …) Foundations,

Corporations and Government bodies who have philanthropy dollars
to distribute?
•

What is stopping you from getting your share of this revenue?

It’s time for a cost effective targeted solution to bring your financial needs to the attention
of the many potential funding sources who are out there.

If you want to increase your annual revenue then you need to get started now. Your
company name can reduce your workload and stress by doing the research and writing for
you. Put your needs in front of the right decision makers now!
Call for an appointment today.

Your name and contact information

Click to return to report

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 Attachment #2: Initial contact to elicit interest
in your grant writing services.

Dear ________,

As the ________ (Fundraiser, Executive Director, or ___) for _____ (organization’s name)
I suspect you find that there is never enough time in the day to get everything done. No
matter how well you plan, there is always something else that has to be done NOW.

If you are like thousands of others who are responsible for raising much needed money for
your programs, you do not have time to submit grant proposals on a regular basis. Sure
you may apply for the one or two that have specific deadlines, but what about the millions
of dollars available through grants that have no call for proposals?

Did you know…

• There are thousands of untapped sources of grants available to nonprofits.

• There are millions of dollars available that you will never hear about because
they do not include calls for proposals or deadlines.
• Most nonprofits do not apply for grants on a proactive basis from the hundreds
of foundations that may be a perfect match with the group’s mission and
mandate.
• Securing funding through grants is an underdeveloped part of the fundraising
strategies within most nonprofits.
• If you set up a proactive way to regularly send out grant proposals, you can
add much needed money to your programs and special projects in a very cost
effective / cost recovery manner.

I am Grant Writing Specialist. I work on a freelance basis, helping to add desperately

needed revenue to budgets of nonprofit organizations like yours.

May I come in a talk with you about your programs and special projects? If I can have 30
minutes of your time, I can do some preliminary research for you. I will provide a detailed
report to outline the potential money that is available for groups with your mission and
mandate.

Although the cost to meet with me is nil, the benefit of meeting with me may be priceless.

Please email or phone me with some potential times when it would be convenient to meet.

Sincerely,

Grant Writing Specialist

Click to return to report

— 18 —
 Attachment #3: Checklist for collecting preliminary
information from each nonprofit organization.

Here are some questions to help you collect the information you will need to present a
well thought out proposal for each nonprofit group you meet with. If meeting with the
appropriate staff person is not practical, you can always collect the same information
through a phone or email interview.

Your goal is to…

• Get a sense of how much – if any – grant writing they do;

• Identify what special projects are either under-funded or in need of funding;
• Ask for permission to do some preliminary research – at NO CHARGE – to see if
there is any potential for their organization to secure grants.

1. Do you submit grants proposals when you have a new project to get off the ground
– or as part of your ongoing fundraising plans?

2. How many grant applications do you submit in a year?

3. Do they tend to be to the local community foundations that have a call for
proposals once or twice a year?

4. Do you have any special projects at the moment that you need funding for?

5. Have you ever asked for money from a service club or a corporation in your
community?

6. Do you have a current Case for Support that you can use whenever an opportunity
arises to ask for money?

7. Any other observations:

Click to return to report

— 19 —
Attachment #4: Proposal to Increase the Submissions
for Grant Funding

Prepared on behalf of the

(Name of the nonprofit organization)

Prepared by _______

Copywriter specializing in Grant and Proposal Writing

Phone
Cell
E-mail
Website

— 20 —
Executive Summary

This proposal provides an outline of the opportunities available to BLANK with regard to
raising revenue through grant submissions. In general there are over XX# of sources
of grant funding available to the nonprofit and charitable sector from foundations,
corporations, and government sources in (name of your country).

Grant writing requires an enormous amount of time, a specific skill set and dedicated,
focussed time to prepare a submission. The lead-time between preparation, submission
and final decision of the funding source can be quite extensive. However, if you don’t
prepare and submit regular grant proposals, Foundations and Corporations will never be a
source of funding.

The key recommendations outlined within this report includes the following observation:

Grant submissions should be made on a proactive basis: available sources of

funding should be regularly and actively researched so that as projects evolve
the funding can be sought from as many sources as possible, and as quickly
as possible. The ongoing and special projects outlined by BLANK represent an
excellent opportunity to begin the process.

Insert a sentence promoting you and your business.

The objectives for contracting with Your Business would include:

• increasing funding potential from grant submissions

• recovering the cost of the fees paid for the services of Your Business
• funding projects that would otherwise not have had financial support
• leaving with the BLANK Board of Directors a model that can be followed to
research and write future grant submissions.

It is being proposed that Your Business be engaged on a project fee basis. The full details
are included in the proposal.

This proposal represents a valuable opportunity to access much-needed funds that will
aim to enhance the overall budget of the PROJECT.

Your Name

Date

— 21 —
Overview of Your Business

YOUR BUSINESS provides specialized expertise to the non profit sector: we take the
mystery and work out of grant and proposal writing for non profit agencies by researching,
writing and submitting requests to raise much needed revenue.

This business complements the other specialized segments that have evolved in the not
for profit sector. Specifically, in order to be cost and time efficient with ever decreasing
resources, many organizations are subcontracting segments of their fund raising needs.
New freelance businesses have evolved that specialize in such components as direct
mail, special events, email and website campaigns, telemarketing and planned giving.
A business specializing in grant and proposal writing is a logical extension of this trend.
Unfortunately, the demand for professional grant writers far exceeds the number
available.

Organizations contract with Your Business to ensure they are accessing their share of
the available philanthropic dollars. Many staff and board members are unaware of the
available grants and corporate donations; likewise they are unaware of where to begin to
research such availability. This business provides a unique service: matching charity needs
in a targeted fashion with donor availability.

Your Business has the experience and knowledge to:

• access key information on potential donors
• network with decision makers
• communicate with the not for profit sector
• match organization needs and donor needs
• prepare well written proposals
• provide a cost effective solution to funding challenges

Your Business provides a specialized service to address an integral component of your

fund raising needs.

Background

• Insert a sentence or two about the initial meeting, email or phone contact you had with
the organization.
• Typically an organization has to “spend money to make money” and this is no different.
• A major goal of any fund raising initiative is to recoup the initial investment, plus earn
revenue that the organization could not otherwise access. It was determined that there
were a large number of foundations that could be approached.

— 22 —
Steps Involved in Submitting Grant Proposals

A targeted approach to grant submissions would start with a general search of

foundations, corporations and government departments that might match the themes
of the organization’s projects.

I access detailed information through the following databases: ______ ________.

The individual foundation, corporation, or government body would then be further

researched to identify such critical information as;
• eligibility criteria
• submission deadlines
• application guidelines
• contact information
• details regarding the assets of the funding source
• trends in previous grant awards

Inappropriate funding sources are eliminated, further narrowing the potential submissions.

It will be noted that the numbers of potentially interested funding sources varies greatly
depending on the specifics of the key words used to do the initial search. In many cases
this fact allows you to slant your request to the interests of the funding source. The
proposal itself will not necessarily change, unless one source has a very specific application
form that must be completed. In that case the information is the same but the format
changes – all of which is time consuming none the less. This stage of the research will also
indicate specifically what you might ask for from a particular group. For instance, some
will fund operating costs, some will not; some will fund capital costs, some will not; some
will fund the evaluation component. In any case, your request will then be in line with the
specific criteria. The foundation or corporation will know you have done your homework.

The third level involves contact with the potential funding source by mail, telephone or in
person (when practical).

Finally, a well written proposal is developed. For most foundations the proposal will
generally include the following information:

• Mission Statement
• Background Information
• Needs Statement
• Goals
• Objectives
• Outcomes
• Strategies
• Timelines
• Evaluation Plan
• Budget
• References
• Appendices

— 23 —
In some cases, particularly with government sources, the applicant has to follow a
standard application form. The questions will ultimately cover the above information.

A well laid out document commonly referred to as the “Case for Support” should also be
prepared for each project in need of funding. The Case for Support outlines the rationale
for a potential funding group to invest in your organization. It becomes the written
justification to show that your organization is a worthwhile investment ‘opportunity’.
The Case for Support should elicit excitement for your project.

Unfortunately there are no guarantees in this process. Every step should be taken to
ensure you are submitting a well researched and written proposal that meets the criteria
of the funding source. But at the end of the day each submission is dependent upon a
number of factors, some of which are out of your control.

Note of Caution: individual funders specify who is eligible to receive grants. In some
cases the wording states, “Grants are available only to registered charitable organizations
who possess a charitable registration number.” It is our understanding that the BLANK is
a registered charitable organization with a charitable number. (Note: this language will
change according to the country you are working in.)

Recommendations

1. The BLANK should make every opportunity to access all available sources of income
available to the not for profit and charitable sector. Specifically, partnerships should be
fostered with foundations, corporations and service clubs.

2. Grant submissions should be made on a proactive basis: available sources of funding

should be regularly and actively researched so that as projects evolve the funding can
be sought from as many sources as possible, and as quickly as possible.

3. Eligibility criteria and deadlines should be monitored in a coordinated fashion to ensure

opportunities are not missed.

4. The time needed to prepare a detailed submission should be capitalized on by

submitting the proposal to as many funding sources as possible. The positive side of
approaching several sources is that each funder will see that there are a number of
potential funding partners; the negative side is that some projects may be funded in a
piecemeal fashion, as the money sometimes appears to “trickle in”.

5. A “Case for Support” should be prepared for each project in need of funding.

In summary, grant writing should be an integral part of the funding plans of the
Blank. A coordinated proactive approach will pay off in dividends over time. Grant
writing is not a quick fix to funding needs, but if properly planned and executed
can play a respectable part in the organization’s operations.

— 24 —
What Your Business Can Offer

There appears to be an opportunity for grant writing to meet some of the needs of the
organization through a contract position.

Your Business could be engaged to assist in the research of funding sources, and the
preparation of the Case for Support and grant proposal submissions for the ABC PROJECT.

The objectives of contracting with Your Business would include:

• to increase funding potential from grant submissions

• to recover the cost of the fees paid for the services of Your Business
• to fund projects that would otherwise not have had financial support
• to leave with the organization a model that can be followed to research and write
future grant submissions.

Possible options: Your Business will be responsible to:

• Complete initial research to identify all potential funding sources;

• Gather additional information for proposal writing;
• Research Foundations, Corporations and other appropriate sources to identify
suitable matches;
• Develop a database report to include all key information including deadlines, and
contact information;
• Write the appropriate Case for Support documents;
• Prepare and submit an application to any other specific grant source that may have
a pending deadline;
• Write Draft Proposals and / or Letters of Intent for the initiative;
• Present Drafts to the organization;
• Incorporate changes/typeset proposals;
• Adapt proposals to specific criteria as identified by potential funding sources;
• Write cover letter customized for each proposal;
• Recommend to the organization what steps they should take to complement this
process, e.g. meeting with potential funding sources;
• Attend meetings as required;
• Deliver completed proposals to contract organization for Courier / mail
arrangements;
• Initiate follow up phone calls to Funding Sources or recommend follow-up calls be
made by the appropriate personnel;
• Continually research and identify new potential sources of funding and bring to the
attention of the contract organization;
• Provide work in a timely fashion;
• Monitor results;
• Report regularly to the board of directors or designate on status and progress;
• Add or subtract options as needed.

— 25 —
The BLANK agrees to:

• Provide the necessary information and feedback to ensure the content is accurate
and relevant;
• Approve final documents before submission;
• Make phone contact or attend meetings with potential funders as recommended by
Your Business;
• Provide access to photocopying of drafts and finished products as required;
• Mail or courier to the identified funders;.
• Notify Your Business when any correspondence is received from funders/potential
funders;
• Notify Your Business when grants are approved for the PROJECT.
• Add or subtract options as needed.

Fee Schedule

We will prepare a fee schedule based upon your feedback re the extent of grant writing
services that you require. As a general rule, we find that either a project fee basis or a
retainer system is the most practical and cost effective for the organization.

Conclusion

The BLANK has numerous opportunities to apply for funding for special projects through
grant submissions. Grant writing is a specialized skill that consumes many hours of
focussed time. A contract with Your Business will provide the opportunity to apply for
much needed funds. The inclusion of administration costs in all funding proposals will help
to ensure that the fees paid to Your Business are ultimately recouped by the organization.

In the confrontation between the stream and the rock,

the stream always wins…not through strength,
but through persistence.

The same could be said for grant writing!

Respectfully submitted by _______

Date

Click to return to report

— 26 —
 Attachment #5: Active Aldershot Recreation
and Community Centre Capital Campaign
The cover letter written by Active Aldershot and the fully formatted Case for Support
written on behalf of the group is available on your myAWAI Member Page.

A CASE FOR SUPPORT

An Investment in Active Aldershot is an Investment in our Community’s Future

Active Aldershot – A Unique Community Resource

It has long been recognized that the village of Aldershot is a unique treasure within the
City of Burlington and the Region of Halton. It is no surprise than that the area is home to
a one of a kind community based recreation centre known as Active Aldershot.

The Active Aldershot Society was incorporated as a not for profit in October 2007. Before
the incorporation, the organization had been operating for 3 years bringing much needed
recreational activities into the community. Active Aldershot promotes health and wellness
through physical activity for ALL ages – from young children to seniors.

The founders of Active Aldershot, Ron and Tracy Angus, are proud to live and work in
Aldershot. Their family operated facility is a mainstay of the community.

In this day and age of economic restraints and the desire to find cost effective ways
to provide quality services, many organizations are finding the value of working
together more than ever before. Active Aldershot supports the approach of working in a
collaborative and integrated manner to better serve children, youth and families. When
a program is community based it has the advantage of being flexible and responsive
to the community’s needs. That is evident by the fact that the programs offered have
evolved, based upon what the local residents and community have needed. Over the
past few years programming such as safe weight lifting for teens, after school programs,
March Break and summer camps, instruction in judo and swimming, physical literacy for
school aged children and most recently a unique ‘Active for Life’ program for seniors have
evolved. Planned activities are not decided upon at a corporate level but rather locally,
in conversation with the same people who use the services. Ron and Tracy actively
participate with community partners to plan the array of services. Rather than operating
in a straight line, they modify their service delivery based upon conversations with the
local community about need. This makes Active Aldershot a truly unique organization. The
synergy of this approach is obvious in the results that are achieved.

Working in partnership with the community also ensures that the programs are accessible.
Barriers that might prevent someone from participating in a program are identified and
then removed. For instance, United Way funding ensures that isolated seniors are included
in quality programs that are fun to attend. Active Aldershot collaborates with other

— 27 —
community groups such as the Our Kids Network Aldershot Hub. The Hub works with
Active Aldershot to ensure children and youth who want to attend camps with a focus on
physical fitness are not turned away due to financial barriers. A community is stronger and
everyone benefits when its members plan and work together.

Programs that run through Active Aldershot are evidence based, expert lead, holistic and
participant driven.

• Evidence Based
o The programs and training offered are based upon the principles outlined
by Sport Canada’s Long Term Athlete Development Model of ‘Active for Life’.
The most current methodologies in physical fitness training are implemented.

• Expert Led:
o Ron Angus is a Master Judo Coach, Judo and Physical Literacy Instructor
and Motivational Speaker on ‘Living an Active and Healthy Lifestyle’. He has
competed in 23 consecutive Senior National Judo Championships and in 11
World Masters Championships. Recently Ron was named the 2010 Coaches
Association of Ontario Grassroots/Recreation Male Coach of the Year.

o Tracy Angus is a graduate of the National Coaching Institute with a Diploma

in High Performance Coaching. She was awarded the 1990 New Zealand
Commemorative Medal for Services to Sport. Tracy has an extensive
background in International Competition both as a competitor and coach. She
is also a public speaker; advocate for the benefit of girls and women staying
active for life; and a passionate supporter for community sport and an active
lifestyle.

• Holistic:
o Classes and programs are well rounded and consider the whole individual
by taking into account the physical, social and emotional well -being of the
participants.

• Participant Driven:
o The individuals who participate in programs help to identify what they want
to learn. Seniors who started out with simple stretching routines to increase
mobility have asked for weight training and line dancing! The programming is
responsive to the wants of the community.

— 28 —
It is my pleasure to write a few words about the impact the Seniors Program has had on
my parents. Thank you for asking me Tracy.

Looking from the outside, I can see the brightness this program has brought to my
parents.

I am the daughter of two Burlington Seniors: my Dad is 77 and Mum is 75. I only have
great things to say about the exercise program they attend. Not only has my Mum gained
an inch back in her height but the spin offs from this one program have done so much for
them both - from the physical, emotional and social standpoints.

It thrills me to hear them say they went for coffee with their new friends and that Mum is
volunteering at places she would have shied away from in the past. The self-confidence
she has gained has astounded me. My Dad actually has more interest to see his new
friends rather than sticking his head in his books as has been his norm. Listening to my
parents speak of Ron and Tracy themselves is touching. They truly have something special
to give to the seniors. Never in a million years did I think I would hear my Dad talk about
how many leg lifts he did. Just recently I have had the honor of chatting with others from
this group (I am planning a surprise 75th Birthday Tea for my Mum.) Prior to this class
we would have had just our small family and about 5 other people. But now…we are at 52
and still counting! I love what you have provided to the seniors and I thank you.

Susan Clark
The Daughter of Bill and Sylvia

A Much Needed Capital Campaign

Strengthening neighborhoods is vital because ‘families do well when neighborhoods do

well’ (Hamilton-Burlington United Way, 2009). The quality of life in a neighbourhood
is influenced by a number of factors, one of which is the accessibility of services and
activities offered within the local community.

The objective of expanding the “Aldershot Recreation and Community Center” is to meet
the growing demand and to fill a well-documented need in our community. Ongoing
feedback from service providers, seniors, families, and youth confirm the fact that our
community does not have adequate facilities to ensure that all residents have access to
affordable sport and recreation opportunities. Recent research conducted by the Our Kids
Network reinforced the fact that there is a lack of recreational infrastructure within the
boundaries of the Aldershot Area of Burlington. There is no infrastructure to adequately
meet the needs of the ever-increasing population. Significant levels of lower income and
single parent families, at-risk youth and a relatively high proportion of senior citizens
characterize the demographic makeup of Aldershot.

As reported in the ‘Vision for Children in Halton Report Card, 2008’ published by Our Kids
Network, neighborhoods and communities play a critical role in the healthy development
of children and youth. Current Canadian physical activity recommendations encourage

— 29 —
children and youth to exercise for 90 minutes per day; in 2006 in Aldershot, Burlington
only 31% of 12 year olds and 18% of 15 year olds reported that they exercised at the
current recommended levels. Barriers such as affordability and close proximity to a facility
that can support safe physical activity are factors that prevent more children, youth and
families from participating.

Between 2001 and 2006 the City of Burlington had a 12% increase in the number of
youth between the ages of 12 and 18 years; 66% of Aldershot children aged 12 years
old consider themselves to be overweight or obese. These youth need affordable and
accessible sport and recreation programming that would be possible through the expansion
of the current building.

A recent United Way Report indicates that between 1996 and 2006 the number of older
persons in Burlington has increased by 44%. This represents 15% of the total population,
making one in seven Burlington residents a senior. Over 46% of the Region of Halton’s
seniors live in Burlington and a large proportion live in Aldershot. In fact, the number of
older persons in Aldershot will be increasing even more as several new housing facilities
are currently planned. United Way also noted that older persons are more likely to live
alone – about half of the seniors 85 years old and over live by themselves. Social and
physical activity supports for this segment of the population are critical.

Our Plans

The development of the new Active Aldershot and Community Recreation Centre
will replace a 50+ year old building and provide a multi-purpose 2 story facility with
approximately 7,000 square feet of space. The main floor, covering 3,000 square feet
will be suitable for community meetings and exercise classes, ancillary office space and
change rooms. The second floor will provide a large gymnasium, an open area covering
4,000 square feet.

The Aldershot neighborhood is rapidly transitioning into a balanced mix of residential and
commercial development. This project would be in keeping with the City’s new Mixed Use
Corridor Zoning and Urban Design Guidelines. Exterior improvements would dramatically
improve the current streetscape.

The new building will meet or exceed current Ontario Building Code requirements for
energy efficiency: new windows will be thermo-pane, Energy Star windows; insulation
in walls, roof and floors will meet or exceed current code requirements; new plumbing
fixtures will be water conserving, low flow type; and new heating and cooling systems will
be high efficiency.

The building will be wheelchair accessible, including handicapped washrooms and parking.
This project will improve the accessibility to recreation programs for seniors, at-risk
youth, low income and single parent families. The facility will be accessible to the public
throughout the entire day and evening. It will be designed to meet and exceed the safety
standards set out by Sport Canada.

The expansion of the Active Aldershot Recreation and Community Center will increase the
opportunity for offering more programs. For instance, activities for the senior population

— 30 —
in the morning, mothers with young children in the afternoon, after-school programs for
school aged children, and local community sports programs in the evening. The physical
expansion of the facility, variety of programs, quality of instruction and reputation will
provide a draw for residents both within the local community and beyond.

An Investment in Active Aldershot is an Investment in our

Community’s Future

“I have been in Judo with Ron and Tracy as far back as I can remember, and it has been
a life changing experience.  The structure and discipline, as well as the fun environment
they create fosters focus, confidence and strong beliefs in oneself.  I would not
have achieved my goal of becoming a teacher without their continued support.”

Jon

Active Aldershot has a strong history of working with local stakeholders and of reaching
hard to engage members of our community. Their track record is impressive; the support
of this capital campaign on behalf of Active Aldershot will provide a long-term endowment
in the local community by investing in the health and wellness of our citizens - from
children to senior citizens.

The Community Will Benefit

Following Sport Canada’s Long Term Athlete Development Model of “Active for Life”, the
new facility will ensure access to programs for all age levels from young children to youth,
adults and seniors. “Putting physical activity behaviors into the broader context of citizen
and community participation confirms that people who are physically active and engaged
will be active in other areas of society as well. Physically active people will volunteer, join
clubs, care for their neighbors, and become involved in their community.”

Communities are stronger when persons of all ages participate in physical activity.
Physical activity and recreation programs for youth provides important leadership
opportunities and contributes to building a sense of community and belonging (Kerr,
1996). The report ‘Aging Actively in Burlington’ outlines the value of seniors engaging in
their local community through public spaces in their neighborhood. The ability to provide
services where seniors actually live contributes to community connectedness which is a
cornerstone of a healthy community and healthy residents.

Participation in recreation and sporting activities has been acknowledged by a number

of research studies to improve both physical and mental health for people of all ages.
Physical activity is seen as a method of involving socially and economically vulnerable
persons in improving their quality of life.

The report “What Sport Can Do: The True Sport Report” is a comprehensive document
outlining the public benefits of community sport. It provides conclusive proof of how
good sport can be used intentionally to positively influence a wide range of societal goals,
including child and youth development, crime prevention, education, social inclusion and

— 31 —
economic and environmental sustainability.

The report demonstrates that the deliberate use of sport, with collaboration from all sectors,
can be used to the benefit of Canadian communities – for the benefit of our community.

An Investment in Health

• Increasing physical activity levels by just 10 per cent would save Canadians over
$150 million annually in direct health costs alone.

• Participation in sport can stem the tide of child obesity – 10 per cent of Canadian
children aged 7 -13 are currently at risk of disability, disease and premature death
because they are obese.

• Daily exercise can also help to combat many illnesses that plague senior citizens,
including:

• arthritis
• osteoporosis
• heart disease
• high blood pressure
• diabetes
• depression

An Investment in Social Development

• Sport can help to strengthen communities by building social capital and fostering
greater inclusion of marginalized groups such as the disabled and senior citizens.

• Sport can help to facilitate the integration of newcomers into a community.

An Investment in Economic Development

• Sport plays a significant role in the economy of Canadian communities by providing

jobs and enhancing skills and productivity.

• Sport contributes to economic development and renewal. For example, in 2004

Canadian households spent $15.8 billion on sport.

An Investment in the Local Environment

• Many investments in community sport are investments in green space, with users
often becoming advocates for their protection, proper maintenance and expansion.

• New greener standards for sport and recreation facilities are helping to ensure that
sport is doing its part to make our communities more sustainable.

— 32 —
Creating a Life Long Love Affair with Physical Activity

Active Aldershot has developed a trusted reputation for working with children and youth
in the area of ‘physical literacy.’ Physical literacy is the development of fundamental
movement skills and fundamental sport skills that permit a child to move confidently
and with a wide range of physical activity, rhythmic (dance) and sport situations. It is
sad to note that many children no longer know the basic skills that are the roots of all
recreational and sporting activities: running, throwing and catching balls, or the rules of
simple games such as baseball, volleyball or basketball. The physical literacy programs
that have been implemented by Active Aldershot have been very successful; the outcomes
achieved relate to increased confidence, skill building, team building, and social skills
demonstrated by the boys and girls.

A life long love affair with physical activity does not end with youth. Seniors also need to
be reconnected with exercise. Too many seniors are becoming increasingly at risk for falls,
social isolation and an array of illnesses caused by physical inactivity.

Active Aldershot is developing a focused niche to engage isolated seniors in exercise.

The new Active Aldershot Community Centre will support seniors in the neighborhood
where they live. Physical activity is one of the most important things seniors can do
to maintain their physical and mental health, quality of life, independence and dignity.
Inactivity leads to decline in bone strength, muscle strength, heart / lung fitness and
flexibility. Programming includes reaching out to isolated seniors to engage them in
regularly scheduled activities that include stretching, targeted exercise to keep their
muscles in good condition, resistance training to improve muscle mass and strength, and
socialization.

The success of the capital campaign will ensure continued outreach to this vulnerable
population. An investment in prevention is crucial. According to a recent Mayo Clinic
review, no single lifestyle choice has as much impact on aging and Alzheimer’s disease as
exercise. In a 2009 review of literature from the International Journal of Clinical Practice,
scientists documented that over time, physical activity effectively reduces the probability
of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Additional research shows those with existing
cognitive problems and dementias receive a protective benefit from regular exercise.

Starting and sticking with a regular exercise program is often the most difficult lifestyle
change to make. Targeting isolated seniors, one person at a time, and supporting them
with easy to follow instruction while providing an opportunity for socialization achieves
outcomes. The advertising works through word of mouth, one person to the next. The
number of active participants has grown from 3 to 18-20 in just over a year. Active
Aldershot is making a difference.

— 33 —
You asked if participating in your Seniors Program made a difference? Seriously Ron, just
getting out of bed, dressing to look sharp, driving , or walking to take part in a half hour -
twice a week program does a lot  of good for Ilene and myself.

That is before any sort of exercise...that is the icing on the cake. Meeting new friends,
and feeling even better after exercising is a bonus.

Thanks to the United Way for the sponsorship of the Seniors Program.  Since the time
we started taking part in the exercise program, we have also benefited from the ‘Seniors
Lunch and Learns’ that provided us with socializing, the opportunity to discover a local
business, hearing from the local fire department and police department - advising us
of items of interest in maintaining our home and / or apartment so we can be aware of
conditions that affect our safety.

So Ron, thank you for providing such wonderful and needed exercise, and thanks to
the United Way for making this program accessible. Oh yes, we even took in the
Geritol Follies!

Ed and Ilene

Your Financial Support Will Make the Difference

Active Aldershot needs to build a new facility and they need your help. But 2/3 of the
funding is already in place! Active Aldershot Recreation and Community Center was
selected to receive joint federal and provincial funding to improve community recreational
infrastructure. This grant was announced under the Recreational Infrastructure Canada
program in Ontario and Recreation Ontario.

This capital campaign is a relatively small campaign. The goal is to raise $250,000…
not millions of dollars. The goal has been set. The various levels of government are
committed. Your help is needed to finish the job.

— 34 —
Donor Recognition

Donations will be recognized at a variety of levels. In addition to many sincere

‘thank you’s’ and tax receipts, donors will be recognized in a number of ways:
 
Bronze
$100 . . . . . . $1,000
• Recognition on the Website
• Certificate of Appreciation  
          
Silver                        
$1,001 . . . . . $4,999
• Recognition on the Donor Walls on both the Website and the main room in the Centre
Certificate of Appreciation
 •
Emerald
$5,000 . . . . . $9,999
• Recognition on the Donor Walls on both the Website and the main room in the Centre
• Certificate of Appreciation
• Name and logo on all print materials
 
Gold
$10,000 . . . $19,999
• Recognition on the Donor Walls on both the Website and the main room in the Centre
• Plaque
• Name and logo on all print materials
 
Platinum
$20,000 . . . $49,999
• Recognition on the Donor Walls on both the Website and the main room in the Centre
• Plaque
• Name and logo on all print materials
• Naming opportunity for a room in the Centre
• Signage at the grand opening
 
Diamond
$50,000
• Recognition on the Donor Walls on both the Website and the main room in the Centre
• Plaque
• Name and logo on all print materials
• Naming opportunity for a room in the Centre
• Signage at the grand opening
• Dedication of our landscaped grounds with appropriate signage.   

In addition to the above schedule, please feel free to offer your ideas for recognition
whether you are a corporation, small business owner or an individual. Ron and Tracy want
to help make your contribution to this campaign meaningful.

— 35 —
“Recreational facilities and programs such as Active Aldershot are essential social
and athletic hubs in our communities. They bring us together as families, friends and
neighbors to have fun and to stay active. By investing in these types of projects, our
government is investing in the health and well-being of residents across Ontario.”
Federal MP Mike Wallace.

“Investment in recreational facilities to stimulate Ontario’s economy through infrastructure

spending will have far reaching benefits to our communities. This assistance will benefit so
many and comes at a time when our economy can use this vital stimulation.”
Provincial MPP Ted McMeekin

“Ron Angus is a huge asset to Aldershot. He has taken his judo expertise as a world
champion, coach and fitness expert and leveraged it at the neighbourhood level. He is
deeply involved with a variety of local non-profit organizations which help to build health
and well being in our community.”
City and Regional Councilor Rick Craven

“This generous grant is a wonderful example of how a great team can work together
to build an active and vibrant community. By combining the resources of the federal,
provincial and local levels of government, in collaboration with community partners, we
will be able to meet the needs of the Aldershot Community by building a much required
recreation centre. This project will help provide all ages with quality programs and
activities that will be affordable and accessible for years to come.”
Ron Angus, Active Aldershot

We look forward to celebrating the grand opening of the

Active Aldershot Recreation and Community Centre with YOU!

Case for Support written by Suzanne Mulligan

SMB Copywriting
905 312-9303
Suzanne@smbcopywriting.com
www.smbcopywriting.com

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