I'm asking my Boomer friends for help. I have a friend at work, who is working with a man setting up a place for inner city kids. Kids that don't get breakfast at home, a place where they can be helped with homework, have someone to talk to that will listen, and mentoring. He's trying to expand to have a place where single mothers can come and learn not only parenting skills, but also skills they can use in the work force. They also need encouragement to be the parent they need and want to be.

Anyway, I know there are grants out there, but I don't have a clue as to how to write a grant letter. If anyone can help me out by sending me a sample, I'm sure I can write (I think!) This is based in a church that was sold to them for $1 so God has already blessed them. I want to help them, I asked my friend if they could use some help from a "white woman." She laughed, she said they would take all the help they could get.

Thanks,

Sherri

Sherri, I bet smile can help.

Have you done a Google search. Sometimes you can get sample letters online.

No I didn't think of that, but I will. I knew there had to be someone who could help me out!!
Thanks Dotsie

Sherri

Sherri,
Look at some of my posts to Debi about grants for her magazine for websites. Programs similar to the one you describe are funded by the Department of Labor. You should check the DOL programs in your area first though. There may already be something similar in the local Employment office. If your program is a duplication, it would be unlikely to receive funding though you might sub-contract or otherwise be an extension of an existing service.

Some Federal grants are now available to churches under the new Faith Initiatives legislation. However, any church looking at Federal funding should consider it very carefully. Once you let the government in, they take over and it is not always a good thing.
Soon the "needy" become 'constituents' and both the church and the the people they serve become dependent upon the government. Generosity is replaced by obligation and gratitude becomes expectation. Government regulation affects every level of the church and everyone involved misses a blessing.
Just my observations.
smile

THanks Smile,

I think we might have a problem with getting a grant because they do duplicate existing programs. Just in a different area. They will have to figure out what makes them different from the other groups, Homework Hangout, Boys and Girls Clubs, Scouts, etc. Ok, thanks for the help.

Sherri

Hi Sherri, I have a moderate amount of experience writing grants. Basically what you want to do is show how your newly funded program is going to solve a certain problem and then include a budget. Using hard data is always good- for instance "50% of these children go without a breakfast 5 days a week" or whatever it is you're targeting to solve. You also have to show how your program will impact the children in other ways, for instance, eating a hot breakfast will lead to improved performance in school, better health, and how that will eventually lead to less costs for the community rather than more.

Hope that helps.

Kelly

Thanks for your advice Kelly. I'll be attending a meeting next Monday, so I will see what they are actually doing as an outreach ministry.