I have done a complete 180 in regards to where I was just a couple of weeks ago. I think my problem was that I just didn't get it. I had this very broad idea and was having a very difficult time narrowing it down. My original idea was to write an actual grant proposal for Family Connections...yeah, kind of not good. I didn't get very far with this idea because I felt as though this was a lofty goal and sure, I could write a grant proposal, but I would have no way of measuring whether or not it was any good because lets face it, grants are only so good as their success. So, I thought maybe if I picked a topic, like an event, that it would make it easier to narrow down what it was I was trying to accomplish. I figured if I create an event the two audiences I could target would be the general public (residents of Anderson) and the potential review board for the grant proposal. All I did in constructing this was create more work than could be done within the remaining weeks; it was too lofty of a goal.

I initially struggled with narrowing this field down. I knew it would be broad and that I could let it spiral out of control. However, after several conversations I finally realized what I needed to do. This didn't have to be rocket science and it didn't have to be some elaborately planned out phantom event that's entire existence rested on the shoulders of some phony grant, so I got realistic. What could I do to learn about grant proposals, and how could I go from there to a finalized product that would appeal to a lay and expert audience while helping the organization at the same time?

Having an order and some sort of structure is a comfort to me and simplifying things I have come to learn makes life so much easier, so I looked in that general direction. A lot of loose ends were tied when I finally talked to Sherry Fields. As it turns out, the organization doesn't write their own grants, their main hub in Columbia, SC does, but they want to start writing their own. Aha! There we go, two audiences, the same people, but at different stages. After my interview with Sherry, this is what I had to work with: Family Connection members prior to knowing anything about grants, to Family Connection members attempting to write them. I finally had a set direction.

So, all the way from planning an event that would only be possible based on the successfulness of a grant I would write and submit, a rather lofty and impossible thing to accomplish in say oh, about 10 weeks, my project has evolved into two reference guides that will address the needs of the members of Family Connections. But what will the two reference guides address, specifically? These are the details I am still fine tuning and will probably develop as I compile more and more research on the matter and find those things that matter most.

But since the research process is underway and I am far from knowing much about anything concerning grants I have decided to focus on the following:
For the Lay Audience:
- explain how grant proposals can provide essential funding
- where the members can look for grants which they can apply for;

For the Expert Audience:
- explain how to read the instructions
- explain how to write a proposal according to the instructions
- explain how to write the proposal using the proper syntax with regards to the audience.

These bulleted points may change or be fine-tuned as more information is brought to light, but as of now, I at least have a foundation on which to start building.

Although it took me quite a while to get here, I finally feel as though I know what I need to do, and more importantly, I know how to go about doing it. From this point forward I will continue researching grants, as well as the grant writing process, and I will use the additional contact names Sherry passed along to acquire more information. I feel as though I have a vast amount of resources to utilize and I am looking forward to seeing the final product because at this point, I haven't exactly determined what "reference guide" means. I figured the more ambiguous it is in that sense the more options I am allotted in that I can put it on a website, create a pamphlet a brochure, etc. I'll know better as I continue to talk to Sherry because I might also assist them in setting up a website for their local office. Those talks are in the work so it might shape what I eventually do, but more to come on that later...