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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Grant Writing
An updated and revised edition-offering new information on some of the most popular topics in grant writing.
This new edition of The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Grant Writing provides essential information on how to start a freelance business, covering such topics as getting that first assignment, pricing, state regulations, organizing and customizing proposals, researching funders, sponsorship, and much more.
? In the current economic environment, government and private sector grants will continue to be an important way to acquire funds for projects.
Includes grant writing samples.
This book's templates and other resources will now be easy to find and use on idiotsguides.com. The third edition was published in 2011.
This new edition of The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Grant Writing provides essential information on how to start a freelance business, covering such topics as getting that first assignment, pricing, state regulations, organizing and customizing proposals, researching funders, sponsorship, and much more.
? In the current economic environment, government and private sector grants will continue to be an important way to acquire funds for projects.
Includes grant writing samples.
This book's templates and other resources will now be easy to find and use on idiotsguides.com. The third edition was published in 2011.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 6, 2004
3 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Waddy Thompson
9 booksWaddy Thompson’s 35-year career in arts administration encompassed work for a wide variety of organizations serving music, dance, theatre, literature, and visual arts. He has held positions at The Whitney Museum of American Art, InterSchool Orchestras of New York, New York Foundation for the Arts, Poets & Writers, OPERA American, Second Stage Theatre, Symphony Space, and (currently) the Authors Guild Foundation. His responsibilities at these organizations have included fundraising, donor-advised funds, marketing, communications, and various administrative areas. He has secured donations, grants, and bequests up to one million dollars from the full spectrum of funding sources.
He is also the author of the predecessor volume to The Wise Guide to Winning Grants, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Grant Writing, and numerous articles in The NonProfit Times and other periodicals. He has taught grant writing for New York University’s Heyman Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising. He has also been a guest speaker and/or workshop presenter for several university programs and various arts councils and conferences.
Mr. Thompson is also a composer, and holds degrees from Eastman School of Music (B.M.) and Florida State University (M.M. and D.M.).
He is also the author of the predecessor volume to The Wise Guide to Winning Grants, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Grant Writing, and numerous articles in The NonProfit Times and other periodicals. He has taught grant writing for New York University’s Heyman Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising. He has also been a guest speaker and/or workshop presenter for several university programs and various arts councils and conferences.
Mr. Thompson is also a composer, and holds degrees from Eastman School of Music (B.M.) and Florida State University (M.M. and D.M.).
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 28, 2018
This is a great resource for learning everything there is to know: from how to write a grant, grant etiquette, the different kinds of grants, corporations that provide grants, etc. The book has a great index to take you directly to the specific information that you need. It also comes with a DVD. You will have the edge above others who aren't aware of all that is available in grant money available to them.
October 5, 2016
It is yet to be seen if this book adequately prepared me for writing grants. But it certainly made me feel like I am, so 5 stars until further notice!
August 5, 2015
As I read Thompson's book after reading David Bauer's "The "How to" Guide to Grants," it has colored my thoughts on the book. Note that this text is geared towards two audiences: 1) The independent/contractor grant writer and 2) the charity grant writer. (In contrast, Bauer's book is geared towards the academic scientist grant writer.)
Like other texts in the "Idiot's Guide" series, this book is well written with a fun, engaging tone. The author writes as if s/he is having a conversation with you.
Strengths of this book that I appreciate as compared to other books I have read include the following items:
1) Researching People/Foundations. The author provides a number of free and paid databases and methods on how to find and research possible grantors and their charitable interests. They also show you when a possible researched interest is actually one that will not be repeated, so that you don't end up following false leads.
2) Relationship building with people at the grantor organization: The author includes the basics like how/when to contact and schedule a meeting, etc. Crucially, Thompson provides information on how to find and research a) possible grantors b) grantors' charitable interests and c) how to work with the point of contact at the grantor organization.
3) Budget. The author discusses issues that would be a red flag in budgets, such as amounts of indirect costs. (Do note that you will need to run the math yourself. I have found mistakes--for example on the top line of page 178. It states that $104,000/$640,000 = 0.1875. This indicates the original indirect cost of $120,000 used on page 177.)
4) One stop shop--you should be able to get an overview of everything you need to do to write and put together the grant submission package.
5) Ten appendices include but are not limited to: glossary, resources including other published guides, useful organizations, etc (and it's a curated list, so there's not everything and the kitchen sink in here), internet resources (again, groups should be good, but links could be out of date), several types of sample proposals, etc.
***
Note that this book has links to out of date sites and files, just as any book that publishes lists of web sites. To access the 6 document templates offered with the book (as of 08.05.2015) go to: Idiot's Guide to Grants page.
Like other texts in the "Idiot's Guide" series, this book is well written with a fun, engaging tone. The author writes as if s/he is having a conversation with you.
Strengths of this book that I appreciate as compared to other books I have read include the following items:
1) Researching People/Foundations. The author provides a number of free and paid databases and methods on how to find and research possible grantors and their charitable interests. They also show you when a possible researched interest is actually one that will not be repeated, so that you don't end up following false leads.
2) Relationship building with people at the grantor organization: The author includes the basics like how/when to contact and schedule a meeting, etc. Crucially, Thompson provides information on how to find and research a) possible grantors b) grantors' charitable interests and c) how to work with the point of contact at the grantor organization.
3) Budget. The author discusses issues that would be a red flag in budgets, such as amounts of indirect costs. (Do note that you will need to run the math yourself. I have found mistakes--for example on the top line of page 178. It states that $104,000/$640,000 = 0.1875. This indicates the original indirect cost of $120,000 used on page 177.)
4) One stop shop--you should be able to get an overview of everything you need to do to write and put together the grant submission package.
5) Ten appendices include but are not limited to: glossary, resources including other published guides, useful organizations, etc (and it's a curated list, so there's not everything and the kitchen sink in here), internet resources (again, groups should be good, but links could be out of date), several types of sample proposals, etc.
***
Note that this book has links to out of date sites and files, just as any book that publishes lists of web sites. To access the 6 document templates offered with the book (as of 08.05.2015) go to: Idiot's Guide to Grants page.
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February 8, 2017This book is out-of-print
November 12, 2013
Who knew there were so many people and groups trying to give away money? This was a very good basic start with many resources listed. It made it seem like anyone can do it, which I guess is the point.
September 6, 2011
I could never do it!
February 1, 2013
Good if you have no idea what a grant is, nor how to write at all. Advanced writers skip this book.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews