Carol R. Hegeman

We (Carol Hegeman and William Lane) created Grant Writing for Aging Services and Programs to share what we have learned from over 60 combined years of experience in writing and managing grants in the field of aging.

As reviewers of governmental grants, we have seen too many good proposal concepts rejected because applicants were simply unskilled in planning their grant well and/or presenting their concept and management plan effectively to reviewers.

Also, there was no existing book focused specifically on grant writing in the aging field. We wanted to share what we have learned over the years with other professionals in aging. On this topic, my co-author, William C. Lane, PhD, and I were recently invited to participate in a podcast about our book. Our podcast host, Gene Mitchell of Leading Age, asked us this question: "Your book is focused specifically on grant writing for the aging services field, although it is applicable to other sectors. Why do you think our field needs that special focus?

We had several responses in the pod cast, but the one we wanted to share most was the following:

Small grants can provide funding for creative options of community outreach services that can (a) attract more private pay clients (b) increase client base and (c) make a provider the agency of choice for healthy younger seniors who take part in enrichment programs and may later use your services for themselves or others, This kind of grant is an investment in the future of your organization.

The link below will take to you an article entitled Demonstrating Value to Donors. Scroll down in the article until you see a green box labeled Grant Writing Book Discussion with Carol Hegeman and Wm. Lane. Click on the red arrow in the box and the podcast will start.

http://www.leadingage.org/magazine/march-april-2018/Demonstrating-Value-to-Donors-V8N2

Even though the examples in the book are from the field of aging, other grant writers will find it useful as well. We have good and practical ideas we have not seen published elsewhere.

This question and answer encapsulates a central theme of the book:

Q: What is worse that working terribly hard and long on a grant and being rejected?

A: Getting a grant award you are not prepared to manage well

The book is in four parts:

Part I: Creating a grant-ready organization, including the critical differences between fundraising and grant writing. Getting critical feedback on your grant concept before you begin writing. Understanding the multiple roles of a grant writer.

Part II: We analyze a Request for Proposal (RFP) describing how to understand what the funder really wants. It includes descriptions of three diverse aging providers whose responses to the RFP are detailed in the next section. Even if you are not in the field of aging, these responses will give you clear ideas of what a good response to sections of a grant proposal should be.

Part III: Understanding the different parts of the grant narrative and budget, with most chapters having sample responses from aging service providers that readers can use for ideas for their own applications. The section also includes letters of intent, cover letters and “tricks of the trade.”

Part IV: Finding and Working with Funders in Aging and Processes to Follow after Funding. This section includes: types of funders, how to find them, and a great tip for reaching funders who do not normally fund aging services and a guide to manage your new grant.

Who are we?

Carol Hegeman was, for over 30 years, the Director of Research at the Foundation for Long Term Care in Albany, part of what is now LeadingAgeNY, a statewide association of providers of services to the aging. In that position, she conceived, wrote and managed over 30 grants, five of which won state or national awards. She received the American Society on Aging’s (ASA) 2008 Gloria Cavanagh Education & Training Award. Carol now operates Hegeman Consulting, a small firm focused primarily on grant writing training and coaching, curriculum development and training in the field of aging.

William C. Lane retired after 25 years as a member of the faculty at State University of New York (SUNY) at Cortland and as Director of its Center for Aging and Human Services. He is a past president of the State Society of Aging of New York, as well as a past Treasurer and Fellow in the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education. Bill is now CEO of William Lane Associates LLC, a consulting firm located in Homer, NY. (www.williamlaneassociates.com)

We just finished conducting 9 workshops across New York State for the NYS Office for the Aging on business acumen, grant writing and fund raising. We love talking about what is in our book!