Seeking external funding for Extension programs is an important investment in our future. Integral assets to Extension agents as they seek external funding are: understanding the relevance of their programming to the community, ensuring their reliability to conduct successful programming, and having the ability to communicate impact to stakeholders. An external funding strategy allows agents to speak their needs in the language of funders. Through this article, agents can examine strategic questions and logical reasoning and the theory behind them to refine an external funding proposal plan. The packaging checklist will ensure that each proposal is compiled for success

Hughes, Kristi N

Ledbetter, Lauren D

English

Clemson University: TigerPrints

The Journal of Extension Volume 47 Number 6 Article 25 12-1-2009 Creating an External Funding Strategy: How to Thrive Kristi N. Hughes University of Georgia, khughes@uga.edu Lauren D. Ledbetter UNiversity of Georgia, lauren1@uga.edu This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License. Recommended Citation Hughes, K. N., & Ledbetter, L. D. (2009). Creating an External Funding Strategy: How to Thrive. The Journal of Extension, 47(6), Article 25. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/joe/vol47/iss6/25 This Tools of the Trade is brought to you for free and open access by the Conferences at TigerPrints. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Journal of Extension by an authorized editor of TigerPrints. For more information, please contact kokeefe@clemson.edu. December 2009Volume 47 Number 6Article Number 6TOT3Return to Current IssueCreating an External Funding Strategy: How toThriveKristi N. HughesDevelopment Coordinator for Cooperative Extensionkhughes@uga.eduLauren D. LedbetterGrant Coordinator for Cooperative Extensionlauren1@uga.eduUniversity of GeorgiaAthens, GeorgiaAbstract: Seeking external funding for Extension programs is an important investment in our future. Integralassets to Extension agents as they seek external funding are: understanding the relevance of theirprogramming to the community, ensuring their reliability to conduct successful programming, and having theability to communicate impact to stakeholders. An external funding strategy allows agents to speak theirneeds in the language of funders. Through this article, agents can examine strategic questions and logicalreasoning and the theory behind them to refine an external funding proposal plan. The packaging checklistwill ensure that each proposal is compiled for success!IntroductionIn recent years our nation has been troubled by rising gas prices, a slowing economy, and massive budgetcuts. The federal budget projected decrease for Cooperative Extension programs in 2009 totals nearly 30million dollars (Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, 2007). The Bureau of LaborStatistics reveals in August 2008, the unemployment rate rose to 6.1%, which is among the highest in 16years (2008). According to the National Center for Education Statistics, only 75% of the incoming freshmanhigh school class actually makes it to graduation (2008).Cooperative Extension brings innovative university research, knowledge, and practice into communitiesacross America. Extension agents understand programming provides vital tools to shape the lives of peoplein positive ways. But how will Cooperative Extension navigate the waters of decreased federal and statedollars to deliver programming with a lasting impact on our nation? The answer is through external funding.In order to secure funding, it is essential that Extension agents be able to: understand the relevance to thecommunity of their programming, ensure reliability to conduct successful programming, and demonstrateability to communicate impact to stakeholders.Creating an External Funding Strategy: How to Thrive 12/18/09 06:50:041/4Asking Relevant QuestionsAsking strategic questions is a crucial step in the process of securing external funding. Answers to thesequestions help build appropriate rational for requesting funds, and will assist in choosing which funds topursue. Justification for the requested funds needs to include statistics to validate the need, past success ofprogramming to gain trust, and measurable ways to evaluate expected impact for accountability. While it isimportant to have a strong case for support, it is also important to make sure the offered funding truly fulfillsa need. Accepting gifts that do not fit into the mission, vision, and identified priorities of the organization canbe more hardship than reward (Jackson & Johnson, 1999).A thoughtful external funding strategy can transform Extension Agents from a programmatic to developmentmindset. An external funding strategy (EFS) allows agents to communicate needs in the language of externalfunders (Figure 1). Through this process, we examine strategic questions and the logical reasoning andtheory behind them to refine an external funding plan.Figure 1.External Funding StrategyStrategic Considerations Logical Reasoning/TheoryDescribe the critical statisticssurrounding the target issue.Referencing data builds the foundation of programdesign.Explain funding sources. Recognize funding sources to justify the need foradditional funds.Describe the partnershipssurrounding target issue.Collaboration shows connections withorganizations to conduct effective programs.Utilize partners' network for external funding.Explain the strengths of theprogram.This demonstrates dependability in programmingand builds rapport.Describe a personal storyrelated to the target issue.This pulls on the heart strings of potential fundersand creates personal connectionsDescribe the ideal impact forthis program pertaining to thetarget issue.Focus on impact rather than means to accomplishyour goal (staffing, supplies, travel).Explain the steps needed toaccomplish your goal.Utilize tools such as logic models to assist you toorganize, prioritize, and visualize a holisticprogram design.List potential funders based onyour relationships and networks.Think about key stakeholders who have a vestedinterest in the impact of the program.Speaking Funders' LanguageCreating an External Funding Strategy: How to Thrive 12/18/09 06:50:042/4Once agents have completed the EFS and understand the logical reasoning and theory behind their strategicconsiderations, it is important to move forward by communicating this information in the funders' language.Some detective work can help prepare a proposal. Do they want a written proposal or personal interaction?Do they want to hear heartfelt stories or cold, hard facts? Find out how the donor prefers to communicate andwhich individual should steward the relationship. The best person to lead the funding proposal is theindividual who is hardest for the funder to decline.When communicating through written proposals or face-to-face visits, explain the funding need in acompelling way to pull on the heartstrings of the funder. Pay special attention to the interest and languagethat the funder uses, including specific buzzwords. Whether you are sitting face to face in conversation witha donor or reading the latest Request for Proposal from a Foundation, notice the language and non-verbalcues that will allow you to customize the funding request. It is important for Extension agents to be ableto communicate what they will be able to accomplish with the new funding and the impact it will have.After completing the EFS, make sure the proposal information is packaged in an articulate manner. The wayexternal funds are requested can be the key to receive funding. Figure 2 describes the information that shouldbe considered when preparing a proposal for potential donors.Figure 2.Packaging ChecklistStatisticsProgram EvaluationsAligns with the Mission of your OrganizationAligns with the Mission of the Funding SourceFits within Personal Areas of Interest to the FunderIntegrates a Heartfelt Personal StoryFormatted Clearly and ConciselyConclusionDonors are interested in improving communities through their gifts and want to know how your good workcan create change with the help of their funding. As Mother Teresa said, "Let us more and more insist ofraising funds of love, of kindness, of understanding, of peace. The rest will be given."It is about how the fundable idea is presented to donors. Sell the priceless impact of the gift. Instead offocusing on needing a bus for 4-H members, talk about positive youth development skills that they wouldmiss. Rather than talking about the need for Family and Consumer Sciences staff, present the increase inemployee retention rates due to Extension programming in housing and healthy living. Instead of asking foranother Agricultural and Natural Resources specialist, talk about the need for critical research in bio-energytechnology.Winning funding awards is about how the story is told. A proposal organized using the EFS along with thePackaging Checklist, will increase the chances for securing critical external funding for programmaticCreating an External Funding Strategy: How to Thrive 12/18/09 06:50:043/4success!ReferencesBureau of Labor Statistics (2008). Employment status of the civilian noninstitutional population by sex, age,and seasonally adjusted. Retrieved November 4, 2008 from: http://www.bls.gov/web/cpseea3.pdfCooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (2007). USDA budget congressionaljustifications. Retrieved November 4, 2008 from: http://www.obpa.usda.gov/11-09-CSREES.pdfJackson, D., & Johnson, L. (1999). When to look a gift horse in the mouth. Journal of Extension. [On line],37(4) Article 4COM2. Available at: http://www.joe.org/joe/1999august/comm2.phpNational Center for Education Statistics (2005). Drop out rates in the united states: 2005. RetrievedNovember 4, 2008, from: http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2007/dropout05/tables/table_01.aspCopyright © by Extension Journal, Inc. ISSN 1077-5315. Articles appearing in the Journal become theproperty of the Journal. Single copies of articles may be reproduced in electronic or print form for use ineducational or training activities. Inclusion of articles in other publications, electronic sources, or systematiclarge-scale distribution may be done only with prior electronic or written permission of the Journal EditorialOffice, joe-ed@joe.org.If you have difficulties viewing or printing this page, please contact JOE Technical Support.Creating an External Funding Strategy: How to Thrive 12/18/09 06:50:044/4

Creating an External Funding Strategy: How to Thrive

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Creating an External Funding Strategy: How to Thrive

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