The Complete Idiot's Guide to Grant Writing, 2nd Edition [Paperback]

Waddy Thompson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1592575897 | ISBN-13: 978-1592575893 | Publication Date: January 2, 2007 | Edition: 2nd

With this comprehensive guide, individuals as well as grant seekers for companies/organizations will learn each step of the grant writing process, including how to determine who can receive a grant and for what; find government, corporate, and foundation donors; create a budget; write a compelling proposal and solicit feedback; overcome obstacles, and more.
--New edition includes a CD-ROM with sample materials and a fully functional trial membership to an online grant research database

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A fun and informative read from first chapter to last, [it] is also an invaluable reference tool for grant writers of any experience level."

Paula Roth, Writer

New York, NY

--The Foundation Center

About the Author

Waddy Thompson is director of development at Symphony Space in New York City, where he oversees fundraising activities from individuals, foundations, corporations, and government sources, bringing in $2 million a year, and has worked as a grant writer for such organizations as Poets & Writers, Inc., Second Stage Theatre, and the Whitney Museum of American Art.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Alpha; 2nd edition (January 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592575897
• ISBN-13: 978-1592575893
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #271,656 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Although a native of South Carolina, I have made my home in New York City since 1979, where I have worked for a variety of arts organizations, including Interschool Orchestras (currently) and Symphony Space, OPERA America, New York Foundation for the Arts, Poets & Writers, and Whitney Museum of American Art. I also teach grant writing for New York University's Heyman Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising.

Like most people, I fell into fundraising by accident, first writing grants to support my life as a composer. It is amazingly satisfying to know that you are responsible for making a nonprofit organization thrive, for people to be employed, for artists to create work, etc. I highly recommend it.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Terrific Resource With As Much or As Little Information as You Need!, January 27, 2007

By 

B. Flynn (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Grant Writing, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

As someone who writes grants on a regular basis, I found Waddy Thompson's book to be both a great refresher of the basics, as well as a deep resource for the more detailed information that a professional grantswriter uses regularly. The CD-ROM also has some great templates and research guides for the first-time grantswriter starting from scratch. The layout of the book allows for easy "flipping through" to glean as much or as little info as you need, and for easy review. Clean, light writing that gets to the point; overall, a terrific resource for anyone writing for themselves or an organization who is entering the sometimes tricky world of grants.

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Resource, September 22, 2007

By 

Robert Kall "Rob Kall of Opednews.com" (Newtown, PA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Grant Writing, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

Last December, we took our project non-profit, really easily, by affiliating with a fiscal sponsor (explained in the book.)

I found the book in February. Three weeks later, I wrote my first grant, depending a great deal upon the advice, tips and forms and charts in the book. Two months later the check came in. The grant was approved.

I can't say enough good things about the book. I've always thought this genre of books was for total novices... which I was, when I started reading this book, but after talking with people who have applied for grants, I discovered this book had really educated me to the point I knew more than some of them.

Since then, I've been working with a part timer grant writer, helping me to apply for more grants. The book has helped me support my ideas-- even straightening out the consultant I'm working with, when it came to my rationale for funding overhead costs for one project.

I know at least three or four other colleagues have bought the book at my advice. I think anyone doing NGO non-profit work would benefit from reading the book and using the approaches it suggests to better understand the process of fund raising, how foundations operate and think, and how to create proposals that will persuade foundations to make contributions to support your work.

Last but not least, there's a coupon in it that gets you a month's free subscription to a foundation database. That alone is worth more than the price of the book. You can't lose. Now, go out, buy the book, get some funding and heal the world. Good luck. <G>

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Complete Idiot's Guide to Grant Writing, August 17, 2008

By 

mary (San Diego) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Grant Writing, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

LOTS of information in a very conversational style. Easy to read and understand. If you are NOT a non-profit, i.e. looking for funding for a documentary, etc., it will give you good general info but you will need other resources.