This assignment asks you to identify and evaluate potential funding sources. A g

This assignment asks you to identify and evaluate potential funding sources. A grant sponsor will publicize the opportunity and requirements for funding, and if a nonprofit organization thinks it is a good fit they will respond with a request for funding (grant application). This step will prepare you to communicate persuasively with a specific grant opportunity in mind.
Background: Various types of entities offer grant funds, including governments, foundations, and corporations. These funding sources have their own philanthropic missions and usually concentrate their giving in predetermined issue areas, such as education, healthcare, or the environment. Organizations must use their resources wisely to apply for grants that they are most likely to secure, and grant writers are often asked to locate and analyze the funding sources for which they are most qualified.
While all proposal arguments should be written with a specific audience in mind (Lunsford, Ruszkiewicz, Walters, 2016), grant writers must pay special attention to audience and incorporate the funder’s priorities, values, and needs into the proposal (in seeking funding, developing the project, and writing the proposal). The audience analysis should help you to pay special attention to details in the funding guidelines that will help you demonstrate your qualifications later. Understand the funders’ requirements for deadlines, proposal formatting, page limits, contents outline, assurances, compliance, budgeting, accounting and information sharing.
Your Task: Your task is to identify and evaluate a prospective funding source for your project idea. This assignment has two parts. First, you will conduct prospect research using the suggested resources/funding databases to locate potential funders for your project or program. In the second part, you will choose a funder and complete a 200-word audience analysis to determine its potential for fit with your program.
Part 1. Use government, foundation, and corporate websites to research available funding opportunities and select a prospective sponsor. Consider going to the Grantsmanship Center’s website for a list of state-by-state grant resources to find a local funder in your area: https://www.tgci.com/funding-sources. Click on your state to visit a link to “Top Giving Foundations” in each state. You will write a 100-word funder summary that includes the sponsor name, website, and contact name, if available. Also, locate and include the following essential information: what is the funding cycle schedule and/or application deadline? Does the announcement include an award ceiling or floor? That is, how much money is being awarded? What is the process for submission? Identify the first step in the grant application process (phone call, letter of inquiry/intent, proposal summary, complete application, etc.). Consider calling the sponsor if this information is not listed on the application website.
Part 2. Once you have chosen a potential sponsor, conduct a 200-word audience analysis that describes the following:
What is the sponsor’s philanthropic mission? In what program issue area(s) does the funder award grants?
Does the sponsor post any previous awardees or example grantee projects? How do the previously sponsored projects seem to fit or respond to the foundation’s mission, objectives, or funding application materials?
What can you discern about the funder’s needs for return on investment? For example, how does the funder want to receive recognition?
In your audience analysis essay you will need to use your knowledge of rhetorical analysis to better understand the funder’s priorities, assumptions, and values. Provide evidence/analysis to substantiate your claim of the organization’s fit with your project or program.
Sources to use:
• Grantsmanship Center: https://www.tgci.com/funding-sources
• www.grants.gov
• Use additional resources as needed.
• The Foundation Center: http://fconline.foundationcenter.org/ *This resource is optional, and is available through paid subscription only*
Length: 300 words, two paragraphs