Should You Apply for a Grant?

Before deciding to apply for a grant, take the time to discuss and consider these questions with your team:

• Are we able to invest the necessary resources in writing winning grant applications?
• Can we meet the grant conditions?
• Are the activities we would conduct consistent with our mission, our aims, and our strategy?
• Can the activity continue after the grant funding ends?
• What do you need to be funded? Why is the grant necessary for your organization to continue your work?
• Do you have the right staff with the right qualifications in place to implement your program?
• Do you have outcomes related to your past work? How healthy are those outcomes?

It’s also useful to take a breather, remind yourself of your organization’s mission and vision, and review your short-term and long-term organizational goals. If you’re going to give grants a go, then they should have a clear place in your overall organizational strategy.

Source: donorbox blog, Updated November 01, 2023, Raj

A Strategic Guide to Grant Writing

Proposal development remains one of the best ways to initiate new programs and to sustain your organization’s activities. But before you plan that brainstorming session where ideas will flow freely, here are a few strategic guidelines that may add some focus to your efforts:

A vision, mission, or strategic plan is a good starting point. Identify funding gaps and overlaps in your strategic plan goals. A more thorough evaluation and re-assessment of where resources are already being applied is useful. Questions include:

• Are there expressed or implied priorities among the goals?
• Are there goals that are (or can be) adequately addressed through current policies, procedures, initiatives? By way of budgetary changes? By way of other fundraising efforts?
• Are there goals that can only be met through outside funding?

Research a variety of public and private funding opportunities, especially regional or local foundations. The latter will likely require that monies be spent in close proximity where the results of your efforts can be witnessed first-hand. For federal funding, Grants.gov is an excellent resource. A simple Google search beginning with “grants for…” is also a good idea.

Remember to consider your organization’s history of proposal-writing efforts or prior awards as well as the funder’s history. An evaluation and re-assessment of what is available is warranted. Questions include:

• Is this a new or previously existing source of funding?
• Is there a precedent for granting awards to similar agencies?
• Has the agency received prior funding? Has the agency submitted an unfunded proposal, and if so, is a re-submittal warranted?

Gain a thorough understanding of all proposal and award guidelines. Consider not only the amount and length of the award, but other factors as well. Questions include:

• Are there conditions for receiving funding?
• Is the grant renewable or continuing?
• Will funding be available over the duration of the proposed project or is there a “contingent upon” clause?
• Is any matching required?
• Is collaboration or partnership encouraged?
• Is there an expectation for sustainability after the grant period? If so, how will your organization absorb this cost over time?

Lastly, align organizational priorities with the mission and priorities of the funding agency. Ask not what the funder can do for you, but what you can do for the funder. Questions include:

• Is there a noticeable trend in the types of recent awards granted by the funder?
• Does the RFP or solicitation contain clearly-stated priorities? Are there points awarded in scoring for addressing these priorities?
• Is there a preferred target group or population to be served?

With these tips in mind, you’ll be better prepared to write a successfully funded proposal. Happy hunting and Good Luck!

Show Me the Money: What Every Non-Profit Leader Should Know Before Asking

It’s time for fundraising and you’ve perfected your elevator speech. Once-upon-a-time this may have meant that you’d do most of the talking, and you would have all the answers to the same set of highly anticipated questions. But as charitable donations have declined with tax law changes, many donors may be asking more (and tougher) questions before investing in your non-profit. Here are some suggested things to include as you make your pitch and as donors critically evaluate the causes they will support:

• Be clear on your mission, goals and objectives. Know what progress you’ve made toward achieving them.
• Know your numbers. Donors will want to quantify your worthiness. How much, how many, how long, how far, averages, medians, percent increases, percentile ranks, ROI, etc. You get the point.
• Be prepared to talk about threats, challenges, and even failures. More importantly, provide clarity on how you have (or are) addressing them.
• Distinguish how you are different from other organizations doing similar work. Be knowledgeable about how you compare to them.
• Mention any synergy, collaboration, or partnership with other organizations that is favorable. For example, talk about your public/private initiative with a local area school, church, or civic organization.
• Mention what is new. If you have new initiatives, new employees that bring a special skill, or new board members, this may be of interest.
• Talk about how your organization is managed. Focus on how you have utilized funding, improved effectiveness, expanded outreach, formed a sub-committee to address a particular concern, etc.

No leader will be able to accurately predict every question, but the guidelines above will better ensure that you are prepared to compete for dollars in a tougher environment. Good Luck!