Updates are still a bit slow on my projects, but at least I now have two (well, pretty much) concrete projects determined. I am very excited to be working with Habitat for Horses' regular grant writer (who happens to be a full time grant writer for the American Heart Association)- I know I will be able to learn a lot from her this semester. She sent me a great spreadsheet of all the grants/funding opportunities they are currently looking into, and I will try to get it posted on here as soon as Excel and I learn to cooperate. I have also had a chance to review their two recent successful proposals, and some letters of intent they have written.
Our first grant is going to be either looking for a tractor/backhoe or the funds to purchase one. One possible tractor is the 2000 CASE 580SL Backhoe Loader- for a new one, we're looking at around $25,000; a used one in decent condition would probably be around $15,000. I'd like to approach some local companies like Tractor Supply and Bechtel to see if they would be willing to help out or make an equipment donation.
The second grant is not really for a project, but rather for operating funds. I know Dr. Rice has said most foundations will not award grants just for operating funds, so this may be a little more difficult. The farm was recently audited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries who recommended that the farm should have at least $115,000 cash on hand at any given point in case of emergency. The farm's annual budget is about $300,000 per year, and it costs approximately $1000 per day to maintain the farm, so there is obviously not much of a cushion right now.
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Sounds like you're making good progress. While the operating funds grant may be a more difficult one, I know there are some grants out there that fund this need, so I bet you can find something that meets the Habitats needs. If you can find a way to post their spreadsheet of funding opportunities, I'd love to see it.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that the grant writer is working with you. If you can, talk her into joining our course as a guest speaker! Would love to have her and get her ideas on what is most important in grant writing. If you like, put me in contact with her via email. If she has a grants database that she could show us, too, knowing that we wouldn't use it for collection of RFPs, that'd be very helpful.
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