June 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 30

MEMBER TO MEMBER

Some Grant-Writing Insights:
Grant writers provide oversight of the funding from the application process to
implementing the funds. They're also the ones who prepare any required reports or summaries for the grant provider. Many organizations have a full-time
grant writer, but, often, grant writing is within the job description of an agency
employee. Having a dedicated grant writer can be a definite benefit to park and
recreation agencies. Following are some insights about the application process:
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The standard required information for most grants includes statistics about
the town, its location and the agency, along with demographic and budget
data. Other information will be specific to the project or grant itself. Some
grants target specific areas of need (health-related issues, land conservation or preservation, food insecurity), specific demographics (seniors, youth,
under-represented groups) or specific locations (rural, metropolitan, high poverty).
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The grant application process frequently has a quick turnaround time. Once
the requests for proposals are published, grant writers may have a few days
to a few weeks to complete the application. So, immediate knowledge of
your community's assets and those collaborative relationships can help
streamline the application process.
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Careful reading of the requirements and RFP specifications is critically
important. Gathering the necessary information and documentation and
preparing as much of the application as possible before actually completing
it saves time and effort. Sometimes, information from one application can be
useful on another application.
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Applications can vary from a single page to multiple pages accompanied by
letters of support. Occasionally, photographs, diagrams or map coordinates
are also requested.
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Google searches are great starting points for exploring grant possibilities.
Search topics related to the agency's vision or goals or search local, regional
or national foundations and organizations to discover the areas of interest
each group funds. Professional publications and media outlets frequently
highlight grant opportunities. Talking to colleagues, friends and other professionals at meetings, workshops and conferences usually results in potential
funding sources.
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Funded grants require implementation reports and summaries once the project is complete. Grant providers want to see the impact of the funding, how
it is benefiting the recipient, successes and accomplishments, and lessons
learned. Keeping accurate, ongoing data is important.

Parks & Recreation

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pathways. Each pathway works on
an individual aspect of community
health, while all work simultaneously toward the goal of improved
health. The Pathways grant has
allowed us to establish a complete
bike route around town; promote
healthy eating through a community garden, farmers market and grocery store; implement a community bike share program; and develop
worksite wellness programs at 10
local businesses and industries that
employ more than 1,000 people.
A missing piece in our community health initiative was a kitchen
facility at the Chanute Recreation
Center to provide education in food
planting, production, preparation
and preservation. What's more, a
grant helped us achieve our goal!
Last year, we received a $35,000
Commit to Health grant from
NRPA to establish a kitchen facility
and to implement nutrition education with children in our afterschool
and summer day camp programs.
Successes and Lessons Learned
Our grant successes are changing
the culture of our community. Establishing Lakeview Recreational
Area has provided the community
with a place for multiple outdoor
activities, from disc golf to hiking
to fitness to fishing. There is now
an active community bike-share
program at Lakeview, along with a
Monday night Move It Bike Club
with 30-40 riders - the oldest of
whom is 93 - consistently participating. Last year, the Move It
Bike Club participants rode a total
of 3,800 miles from April to October. The NRPA Commit to Health
grant has allowed us to successfully implement nutrition education
with Rec Center afterschool and

June 2019 - Parks & Recreation

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