36 SEPTEMBER 2017 | RDHMAG.COM

Perseverance with the details increase the odds of being awarded a grant

BY STACI VIOLANTE, RDH, BSDH, MSDH

cording to the Foundation Center,

a nonprofit organization that main-

tains comprehensive databases on

grant makers and their grants, these

trusts and foundations are “in ex-

cess of 88,000 and disperse in excess

of $40 billion every year.”1

Although grants are the most

prevalent way for nonprofit

organizations to gain capital, there

are many other additional strategies

to increase revenue, including

mailings, e-mail blasts, social media

(e.g., Instagram, Facebook, and

Twitter), events, and workplace

fundraisers.

GRANTS AND

DENTAL HYGIENE

The Wrigley Company Founda-

tion’s community service grants

allow an American Dental Hygien-

ists’ Association (ADHA) member

the opportunity to apply and be

awarded a community grant for

those who are “involved in a specific

community health project that im-

proves the public’s oral health and

provide oral health education on

behalf of programs with these

considerations:

• Demonstrate involvement in

outstanding activities with a

community health program or

project, which includes oral

health enhancement.

Grants are funds or prod-

ucts expended by a grant

maker or funder, often a

government agency, cor-

poration, or foundation,

to a nonprofit organiza-

tion, educational institu-

tion, business, or individ-

ual. Most grants fund

explicit programs or proj-

ects and instruct some

level of conformity.

The grant-writing process in-

volves an applicant submitting a

proposal to a funder, either through

the applicant’s own action or in

response to a request for proposal

(RFP) from the funder. The funder

usually wants to know about the

scope of the project, the support

from the community, long- and

short-range impact, and overall

budget and project cost

estimates.

In the United States, grants pre-

dominantly derive from a wide

range of government, public, and

private foundations and trusts. Ac-

The grant-writing process is long, detailed, and can be extremely daunting. It is an extension of the academic environment that competes for the highest level of recognition and achievement.

1709rdh_36 36 8/28/17 4:45 PM

continued on pg. 88

STEP 1 : Establish a relationship with the funder. Building

a relationship with a funder is a great way to establish compatibility

with the grant seeker and the funder before a proposal is even

written. Once this is confirmed via e-mail inquiry, meeting, or

phone conversation stating the program plan, communication is

continuous throughout the process.

STEP 2 : Begin the grant process.5 First, identify a community

and an unmet need and scope to be addressed. Determine if needs

within the community are being met by other organizations. Then,

develop a clear plan that meets all the needs, goals, and objectives;

such a plan can greatly aid in the development of a proposal. Develop

project cost estimates and determine funding for initial start-up

and continuing operations. Match the budget with the goals and

objectives, and know your budgetary limitations.

Research funders to submit the grant proposal to, and begin to

build a relationship with them. Write a specific, clear proposal

tailored to each potential funder that supports activities consistent

with the mission of the grant agency.

STEP 3 : Write the proposal. The proposal should include a

cover letter; a summary of proposal; a statement of need (i.e., the

main focus or problem to be addressed); organizational background;

goals and objectives; a description of program and services that will

achieve the goal and objectives for the organization; an evaluation

that assesses the program; strategies for additional funding after the

grant’s term is up; and a program budget with a timeline.1

38 SEPTEMBER 2017 | RDHMAG.COM

EXPLORING THE GRANT-WRITING PROCESS

writing process is long, detailed, and can be

extremely daunting. It is an extension of the

academic environment that competes for the

highest level of recognition and achievement.

With perseverance, the grant-writing process

will become more familiar, and the task will seem

far less daunting. All efforts put forth will be

worthwhile when one receives an award that will

address an important or crucial demand in a

community or underserved population. RDH

long as six months from the time a grant proposal

is submitted to the time an organization learns

whether it has been funded. Then, if an organi-

zation is awarded a grant, it might take up to

another few weeks before funding is received.

A well-written, detailed proposal, leaving

nothing to chance and specifically following the

grant’s guidelines precisely, will grab the attention

of the funder. The more detailed, the better the

chances of being awarded the grant. The grant-

• Illustrate that oral health education is

one element of the project.

• Show that these activities enhance the

public view of the professional role dental

hygienists play in health improvement.”2

Recipients will receive an award of $2,500-

5,000 per grantee.

The Research Grant Program supports ad-

vancements in the dental hygiene profession

through professional education and develop-

ment, qualitative and quantitative research,

health services research, health promotion

and disease prevention, clinical dental hygiene

care, and occupational and health safety.2

Community service grants—Oral health

community service grants provide low- or no-

cost oral hygiene care and education to under-

served and at-risk populations. These service

grants are designed to legitimize dental hygien-

ists to improve the oral health of these under-

served populations and communities, imple-

ment community health projects, and respond

to their oral health needs and concerns.

Foundation grants—Foundation grants

are the most fundamental and paramount

source of funding to all nonprofit organizations.

Compared to other sources of revenue, foun-

dation grants are the most economical and

produce the most accolades, yet they do bring

forth some expenses, including consulting time

and research, budgeting, program planning,

and staff expenses.3

To begin the process of attaining a grant

for an organization, there are many compo-

nents that need to be considered first.4

• Research and find a nonprofit organiza-

tion. This can be accomplished via the

organization’s website, calling to speak

with staff or leaders, or both.

• Does the organization have long-standing

goals, a mission and a purpose?

• Does the organization have concrete

financial measures?

• Does the organization have the funda-

mental staff and leadership to convey its

declared goals and objectives?

• Is the organization prepared to track,

provide reports, train staff, evaluate the

program, disperse funds as affirmed,

communicate with funders, and meet all

grant expectations and requirements?

If a foundation meets all of these stipulations,

then the applicant can begin the grant process.

Keep in mind that some grant cycles take as

1709rdh_38 38 8/28/17 4:45 PM

88 SEPTEMBER 2017 | RDHMAG.COM

KAREN DAVIS

continued from pg. 31

that can significantly increase value and treat-

ment acceptance.

I’ve never met any dentist or dental hygien-

ist who strives to be less than comprehensive

in their ongoing care of patients, but I have

observed many dental practices that do not

routinely perform comprehensive assessments

or evaluations on patients who have been in

the practice for decades or more. As patients’

needs and desires change, so should their

evaluations to assess esthetic desires, TMJ

dysfunction, occlusal disease, obstructive sleep

apnea, gingival recession, restorative needs,

periodontal health, the need for dietary coun-

seling or tobacco cessation support, and so on.

It is unrealistic within the context of the

periodic evaluation to pay adequate attention

to a host of dental and health issues, but the

return to comprehensive reevaluation is an

untapped resource in most dental practices

that you can begin tapping into right away to

accomplish exactly that! RDH

EXPLORING THE GRANT-WRITING PROCESS continued from pg. 38

Staci Violante, RDH, BSDH, MSDH, graduated

from the New York University College of

Dentistry Dental Hygiene Program in 1997. She

went on to complete her master’s degree at the

Fones School of Dental Hygiene at the University

of Bridgeport. She has been a practicing clinical

dental hygienist for the past 20 years, as well as

serving as clinical professor in the dental

hygiene department at New York University

College of Dentistry. She is currently pursuing

her doctorate of health science in education.

REFERENCES

1. Foundation Center. Retrieved from: http://foundation-

center.org/about-us/mission-vision-values.

2. Wrigley Company Foundation Community Service

Grants. ADHA website. http://www.adha.org/ioh-

wrigley-application.

3. Forum of Regional Associations of Grant Makers.

Retrieved from: https://www.unitedphilforum.org/

philanthropy-education.

4. Sinclair C. Grant writing tips for nonprofits—how to

get your grant accepted. http://www.nonprofitkinect.

org/article/3307-grant-writing-tips-for-nonprofits. Pub-

lished March 5, 2013.

5. O’Neal-McElrath T. Winning Grants Step by Step:

The Complete Workbook for Planning, Developing and

Writing Successful Proposals. 4th ed. San Francisco,

CA: Jossey-Bass; 2013.

How to be successful in submitting a grant application

• Be unique: Begin with fresh ideas. This is a great opportunity

to articulate your ideas and thoughts to make an impact.

• Present background and preliminary data: Persuade reviewers that

the work proposed needs to be fulfilled—and you’re the best candidate

to do it. Various grant programs require differing measures of preliminary

data justifying the work before the grant is awarded. To a reviewer, alluring

results relate directly to the specific goals and objectives of your proposal,

and demonstrate your expertise.

• Provide research and design: This section constitutes the major portion

of the grant proposal. The purpose of this section is to depict the proposed

project in detail, indicating to the reviewers’ efficiency in fulfilling the project.

This affirms to the reviewers that the applicants are considerate in anticipat-

ing difficulty and limitations associated with the project.

• Acquire the applicable funding mechanism (e.g., research, equip-

ment): Most organizations assist in finding the appropriate funding

programs and opportunities to suit your grant.

• Follow the guidelines for grant submission: Grants that do not

comply with the particular guidelines can irritate reviewers and leave an

unfavorable impression no matter how exemplary the applicant may be.

• Be clear and concise: Be forthright with respect to your goals and

objectives—keep them short and sweet. Grant seekers are frequently too

enthusiastic in their proposals. Don’t make this misstep: be realistic.

• Summarize well: Oftentimes, reviewers can miss key points. It is best to

summarize and format wisely so key points won’t go unnoticed. In each

section, restate key points from the previous summary if applicable.

• Choose your timing well: Be mindful and realistic of deadlines. Give

yourself the appropriate amount of time to review, reread, get feedback

from peers, and revise a completed draft. Be explicit about the duration

of the project (e.g., 12 or 18 months). Feedback can be extremely valu-

able.

• Delegate management wisely: Be specific about who will do what jobs

and who will have what responsibilities and obligations.

• Proofread your documents: It is imperative to proofread the grant

proposal multiple times, for content, grammar, and punctuation. Have

colleagues, peers, and friends read and comment. Print the completed

proposal and make notes of any changes that may be needed. Head-

ings should be on the same page as their paragraphs; figures and charts

should be numbered correctly and appropriately inserted into the text.

Once it has been proofread over and over, you are ready to submit your

grant proposal.

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