Table of Contents

• What does it mean to be "incorporated?"
• Why is being incorporated important for councils?
• How do I have my council incorporated?
• How do we obtain 501(c)(3) designation (tax-exempt status)?
• What guidelines should I follow to be sure my council operates efficiently?
• What type of information should be included in my council's bylaws?
• Sample bylaws

• I have just been elected president -- now what?
• What can I do to become a more effective leader?
• What are common responsibilities and duties of council officers?
• What records should council maintain? Who keeps them? Where? For how long?
• How do I run a meeting?
• How can I reduce the possibility of conflict during my meetings?
• Can I be an effective leader? What are my strengths? Weaknesses? (A worksheet)

• How many and what types of businesses are located in my neighborhood?
• How many and what types of schools, religious institutions, and social services agencies are here?
• What types of services or charitable activities do they provide to area residents?
• What do the residents of my neighborhood look like?
• What do they want and need?
• Who among them are potential council members and/or volunteers?
• How do we organize groups in my neighborhood?
• What are some points we should know before going door-to-door?
• What are Block watch groups? How are they formed?

This section includes a community-produced directory of important neighborhood contacts and resources, as well as a brochure and booklet listing key information about county and state departments and county-wide elected representatives. Also included is a segment devoted to special programs sponsored by the City of Cincinnati.

• What is the Grants Resource Center?
• How do I get started writing a grant proposal?
• How do I determine who to ask for funds?
• What are some do's and don'ts of grant writing?
• What is an RFP? How do I use it to prepare my proposal?
• What are my responsibilities if I get funded?
• Who can apply for an Invest Merit Grant?

Leadership Manual

Grant Proposal Writing

FINAL ADVICE

Presentation plays a significant role in grant approval. Neatly typed, easy-to-follow narratives create a competent and professional impression. Good use of graphics can illustrate relationships, activities, and goals.

Organizational credibility is communicated in many ways: through the board members, through the organization's key personnel, and through letters of support. Credibility is also established through the completeness of the narrative, the demonstration that the organization is capable in the field, the feasibility of the project's goals and objectives, and the accuracy of the budget. The development of an evaluation plan aimed at a realistic assessment of the project will reinforce the credibility of the applicant. Organization credibility is important to the success of the proposal because it indicates to the funding source that the applicant organization has the capability of implementing and completing the project.

Grant proposal writing can become a major undertaking. In the nonprofit organization arena, grants provide a viable source of funding for program growth and the initiation of new thrusts in service. For this reason, outcome is certainly worth the expenditure of time and research. Government agencies fund more than four times the amount of money granted by foundations and corporations combined. Although these funds certainly require more in the way of preparation than do the shorter proposals for foundations and corporations, the monies may be more readily accessible.

---»LOCAL CORPORATIONS & FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS