VMG | Conference Agenda

Workshops

8:30 am	Doors Open: Check-in, Coffee, bagels & Networking

9:00 am	*How a Proposal is Reviewed: A Proposal Reviewer's Perspective*	DeVon Nolt Sr. Mgr., Workforce Dev. National Urban League
	As grant writers, it's only natural to ask "What does the funder want to see? How do they review proposals? What will they think about my proposal as they review it? How do they judge my proposal against others?" So, along with performing karaoke of Adele's "Hello from the Other Side", this session will cover: What the reviewer is looking for The funder is seeking something too, not just the grant seeker A partner in the work Reliable and dependable, but also innovative Reviewing experience What its like to read so many proposals Importance of brevity, clarity, formatting presentation is key! Underlying questions a progression; you must survive each one to move on to the next Is there basic sanity? Are things messy or disorganized? Is there a good match at the most basic level? Success is 90% casting. Who is this? What are they about. (Introducing the organization) What do they want to do? (How do they present their goals? Are they realistic? Is it a natural progression?) Can they pull it off? Have they done it before? (What are previous outcomes?) Can they be self-reflective? (Can they talk about previous challenges and accomplishments honestly?) Who will make this happen? (Staff, board, etc.) Is there something special? (Is there a quality of trying something new? Is there a story that really brings things home?) Q&A	DeVon Nolt Sr. Mgr., Workforce Dev. National Urban League
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10:45-12:15	Successful Grant Writing A-Z: Finding Funders & Writing Letters of Inquiry (LOI's) During this workshop, you'll get an A-Z overview of the grantwriting process and learn the core components of every grant proposal: cover letter, needs assessment, budget, methodology, and program evaluation. Participants will gain knowledge of how to identify funder requirements as stated in the funder's guidelines, and determine if the opportunity is a good fit for the program or project needing funding. Further, participants will learn how to write a Letter of Inquiry, typically a first step in introducing the funder to a project or program concept so they can then determine if they would like to see the full proposal. Many foundations request a letter of inquiry (LOI) rather than a full grant proposal. They may use the LOI to determine if they are going to invite an organization to submit a full proposal. Very frequently however, the LOI is all a grant maker may require to make a funding decision, so you definitely want to make this a compelling document. The goal of this workshop is to: 1. Provide participants with an introduction to the grant writing process. 2. Understand how to assess grant-maker guidelines to determine if the funder's priorities are aligned with the project or program the grant writer is seeking funding for. 3. Become familiar with the Letter of Inquiry and the Common Application Form, and the application of each to the grant writing process. 4. Learn how to write a persuasive letter of inquiry, including stating the need, methodology, and amount of requested funding. Participants will receive copies of presentations and various templates and resources to take home.	Julie Marks Instructor Volunteer Management Group
12:15 Lunch

1:15 - 3:00 pm	How to Write Your Proposal Narrative The key to a successful grant is the narrative component. The grant narrative summarizes the scope of the work that will be performed and the resulting impact of the completed project. The narrative should impact the decision makers with a clearly presented reason why they should support the grant application. This should include how a population or community would be served by the proposal, quantifiable outcomes, and background conditions that give rise to the need. Establishing what your goals and objectives are will be fundamental to a solid proposal. During this interactive workshop start putting pen to paper . Topics covered include goal setting, integrating key points and making it all coherent. You will learn how to make your writing professional and competitive. This workshop is designed to provide participants with an in-depth understanding of, and writing exercises to feel confident in writing the narrative of a grant proposal. Workshop exercises will address the following components of a grant proposal: 1. Needs Assessment, Problem Statement, or Significance of Project 2. Project Purpose (overall goals & objectives) Attendees are encouraged to bring their work in progress(if applicable) for an interactive discussion and facilitator feedback. Participants will receive copies of presentations and various templates and resources to take home.	Maurice Lauriano Data/Technology & Family Engagment Director, NYC Dept. of Ed.
	This is an early afternoon workshop selection. Choose between How to Write Your Proposal Narrative or How a Proposal is Reviewed: A Proposal Reviewer's Perspective below.

3:30 - 5:00 pm	Program Evaluation Planning: Measuring Impact & Outcomes Conducting program evaluations is critical for demonstrating program impact to various stakeholders. In your grant proposal, you will need to describe how you will evaluate the outcome. How can you prove you did what you set out to accomplish? Depending on the type of grant, this might include statistical reporting methodology, participant feedback surveys, or any means of objectively gauging the consequence of the activities funded by the grant. During this workshop, you will learn how to plan an evaluation, design a questionnaire, select evaluation methods, and interpret data to produce a cohesive evaluation plan and produce and evuation report. By participating in this workshop, you will then be able to: 1. Plan and implement an evaluation, analyze data and produce an evaluation report. 2. Demonstrate knowledge of the various methods of program evaluation and how they are applied. 3. Speak intelligently about different types of program evaluation methods. 4. Understand the importance of program evaluation and its implications in receiving funding, improving programs, and much more. Participants will receive copies of presentations and various templates and resources to take home.	Julie Marks Instructor Volunteer Management Group
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