CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, CHICO

Department of Health and Community Services

HCSV 579-01 & 02

Grantwriting and Fundraising Strategies

Course Syllabus

Fall 2006

 

INSTRUCTOR:           John Cannan, Executive Director

                                    Emergency Services Foundation

                                    Phone:  (530) 209-4554

                                    E-mail: jdcannan@sbcglobal.net

 

OFFICE HOURS:       Monday, 9 to 11 a.m.

 

OFFICE:                      Butte 620        

 

CLASSES                   Monday, 11 a.m. to 1:50 p.m.

                                                    2 to 4:50 p.m.

 

TEXTS:                        Both required:

           

John Cannan (2002)

Grantwriting: Curriculum and Class Handouts

CSU, Chico, Bookstore

 

                                    Klein, Kim (2001)

Fundraising for Social Change

Chardon Press

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES

 

By the end of the one semester course, each student will:

 

1.                  Become familiar with nonprofit organizations and how they operate.

 

2.                  Know how to research corporations, private foundations and other funding organizations.

 

3.                  Understand how funders operate charitable giving programs.

 

4.                  Become familiar with project planning.

 

5.                  Develop a grant proposal that will include all of the following sections: summary, needs statement, introduction, objectives, methods, evaluation, future funding and budget.

 

6.                  Make presentations to the class on a grant and on other nonprofit management topics.

 

7.                  Learn about fundraising methods other than grantwriting.

 

8.                  Understand the basics of developing a diverse funding plan.

 

9.                  Know techniques to recruit volunteers and maintain a volunteer program.

 

10.              Understand the basics of how boards of directors operate.

 

11.              Be introduced to planned giving and charitable remainder trusts.

 

12.              Be exposed to many of the fiduciary requirements of nonprofit organizations.

 

COURSE OUTLINE

Aug. 21

Class starts

 

Aug. 28

Syllabus.  The nonprofit sector.  Types of agencies.  Nonprofit funding sources

           

Sept. 4

Grant projects.  Organizations that give grants.  Nonprofit requirements.

 

Sept. 11

Guest presenter

 

Sept. 18

Nine Steps to Grantwriting.  Components.  The proposal summary.  Summary activity.

ASSIGNMENT           Five nonprofit descriptions due

 

Sept. 25

Writing tips.  Grant formats.  Description of short presentation assignment.

ASSIGNMENT           Summary due

 

Oct. 2

Problem statements.  Group writing activity.  Review for quiz.

 

Oct. 9

35- point quiz.  Organization introduction section

ASSIGNMENT:          Problem statements due

 

Oct. 16

Objectives and methods sections.  Boardsmanship

ASSIGNMENT:          Organization introduction section due

 

Oct. 23

Trip to library.  The budget and future funding sections. 

ASSIGNMENT:          Objective, methods sections due

 

Oc.t 30

Evaluation section.   Income diversification.  Fundraising methods.

ASSIGNMENT:          Budget and future funding section due

 

Nov. 6

Planned giving.  Money and philanthropy.

ASSIGNMENT:          Evaluation section due

 

 

Nov. 13

Presentation of grant proposals.  Evaluate proposals.  Review for final.

ASSIGNMENT:          Three funders assignment due

 

 

Nov. 20

Break for Thanksgiving

 

Nov. 27

Presentation of grant proposals.  Evaluate proposals.  Review for final.

ASSIGNMENT:          Final proposals due

 

Dec. 4

Presentation of grant proposals.  Evaluate proposals.  Review for final.

 

Dec. 11-15 TBA

Final, grants returned
DUE DATES AND POINT VALUES

 

Sept. 18                       Five nonprofit descriptions                                5 points

 

Sept. 25                       Summary                                                          20 points

 

Oct. 9                          35-point quiz                                                    35 points 
 
Oct. 9                          Problem statement                                            20 points

 

Oct. 16                                    Organization introduction                                  20 points

 

Oct. 23                                    Objectives                                                        20 points
Methods                                                           20 points

 

Oct. 30                                    Budget                                                             20 points

Future funding                                       20 points

 

Nov. 6                         Evaluation                                                         20 points

 

Nov. 13                       Research on three funders                                 15 points

 
Nov. 27                       Final proposal                                                   100 points

 

Nov. 13, 27, and Dec. 4

            Presentation on proposals                                 50 points

Class evaluations                                              15 points

 

Dec. 11-15 TBA          Final                                                                 100 points

 

 

During the semester              Talk on nonprofits                                 20 points

Each student will give a presentation on a news article about a nonprofit issue, a funding organization, a trend or another topic pertaining to our class studies.  Please avoid features on typical nonprofits, such as the Boys and Girls Club or the Red Cross.  While those are great organizations, such presentations generally don’t bring much new information to the class.  Look for something newsworthy or unique.  The presentation should be three to seven minutes.

 
Scale for final grades

500 to 450                   A

449 to 400                   B

399 to 350                   C

349 to 300                   D

Below 300                   F

Late assignments

All assignments are due on the date listed.  Assignments submitted within 24 hours of the due date will receive no more than half credit.  Assignments submitted after that will receive no credit.  The exception to this is class presentations, which can be given for half credit or less one week after the due date.  Assignments can be turned in at class or FAXed to 527-4106.  Email assignments will not be accepted without prior approval of the professor.

 

Absence, tardiness

Your grade may be reduced by 10 points if you miss more than two sessions.  A fourth absence will reduce your grade by 20 points.  Tardiness counts as one-half an absence (two “tardies” equal one day absent).  You may be dropped if you miss more than four sessions or if you miss two or more sessions from Aug. 28 to Sept. 25

 

 

Other special instructions

 

Description of five nonprofits

Give nonprofit name and a brief description of the mission (one or two sentences).  An easy assignment.

 

Research on three funders

Give name, address, phone, contact person, internet information, amount (funded yearly or total endowment), fields of interest and area commonly funded.  The funder must make grants in Northern California.

 

Final grant presentation

Seven to 12 minutes.  Presenters should cover each section besides the summary.  The best way to start is usually the “who, how much and what for.”  The class will be serving as the Board of Directors of a funding organization and will give each presenter written feedback.  Professional composure and attire rewarded.  Cover all sections, except the summary (the presentation is essentially a summary) and the evaluation section.