Receiving Funding From A Grant Or Other Source ✓ Solved

Receiving funding from a grant or other source of funds

Receiving funding from a grant or other source of funds is a great accomplishment. Once the funding is received, the human services organization must be able to manage the funds effectively. The organization must also develop a plan to sustain the program after the funding period ends or the potential for change from the funded program may be limited. For this Discussion, review the budget provided in the grant proposal that you discussed in Discussion 1 of this Week. Consider how you would prioritize budgetary needs and fundraise to continue covering costs of this program after the grant period has ended.

Post(2 to 3 pages) a brief description of the budget presented in the grant proposal you selected. Describe how you might alter the budget after the grant ended or which budget items you would prioritize as you sought additional funding to continue the program. Explain why you would make these changes or prioritize specific budget items. Finally, explain how you would fundraise to meet the budget priorities. Support your post with specific references to the resources.

Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references.

Required Readings

• Lauffer, A. (2011). Understanding your social agency (3rd ed.). Washington, DC: Sage. Chapter 9, “Fundraising and Development” (pp. 285–320)
• Bowman, W. (2011). Financial capacity and sustainability of ordinary nonprofits. Nonprofit Management & Leadership, 22(1), 37–51.
• LeRoux, K. (2009). Managing stakeholder demands: Balancing responsiveness to clients and funding agents in nonprofit social service organizations. Administration & Society, 41(2), 158–184.
• Barasa, E. W., Cleary, S., Molyneux, S., & English, M. (2017). Setting healthcare priorities: a description and evaluation of the budgeting and planning process in county hospitals in Kenya. Health policy and planning, 32(3).
• Nelson, D., & Ruffalo, L. (2017). Grant writing: Moving from generating ideas to applying to grants that matter. The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 52(3).
• Foundation Center. (2018). GrantSpace: Sample documents. Retrieved from Note: You will need to create a log-in to the website to access and download the documents. This is a free service.

Paper For Above Instructions

Receiving funding through grants or other external sources is not just a milestone for human services organizations; it also poses unique fiscal management challenges. Once funding is secured, the ability to manage these funds efficiently becomes crucial to support ongoing operations and ensure program sustainability. This paper discusses a hypothetical budget scenario based on a grant proposal, with considerations for post-grant financial adjustments and strategies for subsequent fundraising efforts.

Overview of the Grant Budget

The proposal budget identified several essential categories: personnel costs, program supplies, operational expenses, and overhead. Personnel costs, which account for approximately 50% of the total budget, included salaries for program staff, whose expertise is vital for service delivery. Program supplies, encompassing materials necessary for workshops and community outreach, represented about 20% of the budget. Operational expenses, covering utilities and communications, made up 15%, while overhead accounted for the remaining 15%, primarily to ensure compliance with grant regulations.

Post-Grant Budget Alterations

As the funding period draws to a close, it becomes imperative to reassess these line items to ensure program continuity. One area where I would propose adjustments is within personnel costs. Though staff are essential, if funding constraints arise, a mix of full-time and part-time staff could be introduced to reduce expenses without sacrificing quality. Additionally, I would prioritize investing in staff training and professional development, as skilled personnel are fundamental to maintaining service quality (Bowman, 2011).

Program supplies must also be scrutinized closely. I would prioritize the allocation of funds towards materials that directly impact client engagement and outcomes. This might require evaluating the current inventory and adjusting the budget to eliminate unnecessary items, thus redirecting funds where they matter most (LeRoux, 2009).

Moreover, operational expenses could be streamlined by negotiating better rates for services like utilities or by implementing energy-efficient practices, which could significantly decrease costs over time (Barasa et al., 2017). Maintaining oversight on overhead will be equally critical; seeking partnerships to share resources can help distribute some of these costs.

Prioritizing Budget Items for Additional Funding

As the program transitions out of the grant cycle, my focus would be on obtaining funding for priority areas that directly contribute to mission fulfillment. This includes personnel and training, as retaining qualified staff is imperative to continuity and quality. In terms of resources, I would prioritize engaging with community stakeholders who have a vested interest in the program’s success. Building partnerships will foster a sense of shared purpose and could lead to collaborative funding initiatives.

Fundraising Strategies

To effectively fundraise, I intend to develop a multi-faceted approach leveraging both traditional and innovative techniques. One viable strategy is to launch targeted campaigns aimed at local businesses, exploring sponsorship or in-kind donations in exchange for marketing benefits (Nelson & Ruffalo, 2017). Digital fundraising efforts, such as crowdfunding campaigns, can also engage a broader audience and generate enthusiasm for the program (Foundation Center, 2018).

Additionally, organizing community events can generate both awareness and funds, transforming the community into stakeholders. Engaging local celebrities or influencers in these events could further amplify visibility and participation. Finally, creating a donor recognition program can incentivize giving, encouraging past supporters to contribute again or at higher levels.

Conclusion

Securing grant funding is a vital step for human services organizations, but the true challenge lies in managing and sustaining these resources beyond the initial funding period. By intentionally prioritizing budgetary needs, reevaluating expenses, and developing innovative fundraising strategies, organizations can navigate the transition effectively. Through collaboration and community engagement, the long-term sustainability of programs can be ensured, making a lasting impact on the populations served.

References

• Barasa, E. W., Cleary, S., Molyneux, S., & English, M. (2017). Setting healthcare priorities: a description and evaluation of the budgeting and planning process in county hospitals in Kenya. Health policy and planning, 32(3).
• Bowman, W. (2011). Financial capacity and sustainability of ordinary nonprofits. Nonprofit Management & Leadership, 22(1), 37–51.
• Foundation Center. (2018). GrantSpace: Sample documents. Retrieved from [URL]
• Lauffer, A. (2011). Understanding your social agency (3rd ed.). Washington, DC: Sage.
• LeRoux, K. (2009). Managing stakeholder demands: Balancing responsiveness to clients and funding agents in nonprofit social service organizations. Administration & Society, 41(2), 158–184.
• Nelson, D., & Ruffalo, L. (2017). Grant writing: Moving from generating ideas to applying to grants that matter. The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 52(3).