Grant writing (Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island: attorney, unemployed, exemption)

[safepointsinnebraska]

Does anyone know anything abou grantwriting? Any advice would be appreciated.

[Gunluvver2]

Personally I know very little about it but I would bet if you put an ad up on Craig's List in either Omaha or Lincoln you could find some unemployed grant writer willing to do it for you at reasonable costs.

GL2

[Dave1215]

I know a little about it. What aspect is it that you want advice on?

First piece of advice: Watch your spelling. Simple things like "grant writing" not "grantwriting". It is a very competitive process and small details can count.

[safepointsinnebraska]

That's very good advice. Thank you.

[safepointsinnebraska]

I opened a needle exchange in the Grand Island area.I got a grant for $1200 of supplies. So I am set with that. I just found a business that only gives grants to needle exchanges. They are called The Comer Foundation. I hope to get a $20,000 grant to do program development and staff development. I need to get a letter from the IRS saying that I am non-profit. I don't know how to do that. I have to show the purpose of the poject, the description of the organization, do a program budget, etc.

I started out with a hundred syringes and got IDUs to trade in their old used points for new ones. Now I have 80 cases of syringes and a bunch of other supplies.

I believe I am the first needle exchange that has been operated since Dec. 2009 when the federal ban for syringe exchange funding was lifted.

If you can help me, that would be great. But I have some investigating to do to get the statistics for the amount of IDUs in the area.

Thanks,
Catheine Marggraf
S.P.I.N.
(308)745-0236

Originally Posted by Dave1215

I know a little about it. What aspect is it that you want advice on?

First piece of advice: Watch your spelling. Simple things like "grant writing" not "grantwriting". It is a very competitive process and small details can count.

[Dave1215]

Originally Posted by safepointsinnebraska

I need to get a letter from the IRS saying that I am non-profit. I don't know how to do that. I have to show the purpose of the poject, the description of the organization, do a program budget, etc.

This is the most important part - but can be frustrating and expensive.

My first recommendation is to see if you have a "Community Foundation" in your area - there may be multiple.

Some Community Foundations actually have a service where they will act as an umbrella organization for small start-up not-for-profits... they allow you to fall under their IRS exemption.

If they don't let that happen, some will actually handle the IRS 501(c)3 application for you. That will reduce your legal expense a little and also speed up the process.

If that doesn't work then I would suggest a local attorney that is familiar with 501(c)3 applications and enlist their help.

If you loca area doesn't have a "Community Foundation" there is a large one in Omaha that provides these services. I would assume they'd help any Nebraska based charity.

Reach out to Omaha Community Foundation and I think they call that program "philanthropic services". Here is a link to their website:
Home - Omaha Community Foundation (http://www.omahacf.org/index.cfm - broken link)

[Dave1215]

Originally Posted by safepointsinnebraska

But I have some investigating to do to get the statistics for the amount of IDUs in the area.

For research (and potential funding ideas), I would reach out to your local hospital, regional hospital, and the regional Red Cross just to jump start the research.