CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, CHICO

Department of Health and Community Services

 

Grantwriting (HCSV 579-01 and 02)

Course Syllabus

Spring 2007

 

INSTRUCTOR:           John Cannan, Executive Director

                                    Emergency Services Foundation

                                    P.O. Box 637

Anderson, CA  96007

                                    Phone:  (530) 209-4554

                                    E-mail: john@esfweb.org

                                    (Do not use my campus email, as I rarely check it.)

 

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

 

OFFICE:                      Butte 620        

 

CLASSES                   Mondays, 11 a.m. to 1:50 p.m. and 2 to 5:50 p.m.

 

TEXTS:                        Both required:

           

John Cannan

Grantwriting: Curriculum and Class Handouts

CSU, Chico, Bookstore

 

                                    Klein, Kim

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

Jan. 22

Introductions.  Overview of course.  The nonprofit sector and nonprofit organizations.

 

Feb. 1

Nonprofit organization compliance and regulation.  Organizations that fund. 

           

Feb. 5

Organizations that fund.  Planning activity.  Resource CD.

ASSIGNMENT           Five nonprofit descriptions due

 

Feb. 12

35-point quiz.  Nine Steps to Grantwriting. Components.  Writing tips.  Planning activity

 

Feb. 19

The proposal summary.  Summary activity.

 

Feb. 26

Project development week.  No class held.

 

March 5

Problem statements and needs assessments.  Group writing activity.

ASSIGNMENT:          Summary due

 

March 12

Trip to the library.  Research.  Using the internet.  The organizational introduction.

ASSIGNMENT:          Problem statement due

 

March 19

No class for spring break.

 

March 26

The objectives and methods sections.  Working with volunteers. Direct mail.

ASSIGNMENT:          Organizational introduction due

ASSIGNMENT:          Three funders assignment due

 

April 2

Boardsmanship.  The evaluation section.  Annual campaigns.

ASSIGNMENT:          Objectives and methods section due

 

April 9

The budget and future funding sections.  Income diversification.  Fundraising methods.

ASSIGNMENT:          Evaluation due

 

April 16

Money and philanthropy.  Planned giving.

ASSIGNMENT:          Budget and future funding section due

 

April 23

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

 

April 30

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

ASSIGNMENT:          Final proposals due

 

May 7

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

 

May 14-18

Final, grants returned
DUE DATES AND POINT VALUES

 

Feb. 5                          Five nonprofit descriptions                                5 points

 

Feb. 12                        35-point quiz                                                    35 points 

 

March 5                       Summary                                                          20 points

 
March 12                     Problem statement                                            20 points

 

March 26                     Organization introduction                                  20 points

Research on three funders                                 15 points

 

April 2                          Objectives                                                        20 points
Methods                                                           20 points

 

April 9                          Evaluation                                                         20 points

 

April 16                        Budget                                                             20 points

Future funding                                       20 points

 
April 30                        Final proposal                                                   100 points

 

April 23, 30 and May 7

            Presentation on proposals                                 50 points

Class evaluations                                              15 points

 

May 14-18 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 at the department office, Butte 607.  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 15 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 Jan 22 to Feb. 26.

 

 

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 attire and bearing is rewarded.