6 Tips I Learned on Grant Writing

By Rafael Maga?a

With ever-shrinking budgets and annual operating costs on the rise, one of the best ways to meet the important needs of your non-profit agency is through grant funding.

Before you start writing your first proposal, it is important to understand the basics of preparing to write a grant.

Here are six recommendations for getting started that I've learned along the way:

1. Identify Local Funders

Take some time to research corporations with ties to your area. Some ideas for developing a list of potential funders include searching for companies with department stores, restaurants, manufacturing plants, and other establishments in your area.

Other possible local funders may include utility companies, cable and Internet providers, and community foundations. Funders in your general area may already be familiar with your organization and often have annual budgets for giving back to their communities.

2. Be Aware of Preferred Causes

Many corporations have selected favorite causes that they have chosen to contribute to.

For example, a popular restaurant chain may exclusively donate to causes aimed at eliminating hunger, while other corporations may solely focus on literacy, community improvement, senior citizens, the arts and other causes.

To increase your chances of receiving funding for your grant proposal, research funders with preferred causes that are good match for your project.

If you have problems finding a suitable match, keep in mind that some corporations will accept proposals for any nonprofit cause.

3. Expanding the Search for Funds

After exploring the available options in your area, consider researching national organizations or corporations with grant programs. Online searches will turn up thousands of options.

Begin by selecting a few potential matches and becoming familiar with the application requirements of each one. In addition to online searching, check with your local community foundation or public library for possible access to online databases and print directories of potential funders.

Some online databases are available on a subscription basis, but use caution and research any company before making a purchase.

4. One Size Does Not Fit All

Whether local or national, it is important to follow the submission guidelines for each funder. Some organizations request a letter of inquiry to introduce the basic details of your request and determine if they will invite you to apply, others have online submission systems, and some may request a written proposal subject to specific formatting.

While you may be able to reuse some portions of any proposal, such as a paragraph describing your agency, simply copying and submitting the same proposal to multiple corporations is a poor practice likely to result in failed funding attempts.

5. Avoid Duplicate Efforts

Grant funders want to make the most of their philanthropic dollars.

For this reason, they are often reluctant to fund projects which duplicate other services in the same geographic area.

For example, if you are interested in launching a transportation service for senior citizens and another agency across town has received funding to offer the same service, the funder is likely to deny your request.

In this case the funder would much rather see two agencies working together to provide services.

6. Garner Community Support

Often, an important factor in final grant decisions is how much community support a project demonstrates.

For example, if you are writing a grant for computer equipment for a senior citizens center, is there someone willing to volunteer time to teach computer skills to seniors? If so, ask him or her to write a letter to accompany your proposal. Using the example of computers for a senior center, there are multiple ways to demonstrate community support.

Some other examples include a dietitian volunteering time to show senior citizens where to search for healthy recipes or a Medicare representative volunteering to work with senior citizens on accessing Medicare's online features.

When you have secured community support, document it in your proposal or as attached letters from those willing to help with your project. In addition, if you have other funders willing to contribute some of the cash you need, it is very important to mention this in your proposal as it also demonstrates community support.

It is important to understand that the pre-planning you do before writing a grant proposal can make a huge impact on the quality of your grant proposal and your odds of receiving funding. By understanding the key components of how to get started in grant writing, you will be well on your way to funding success.

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Copyright March 23, 2015 by Rafael Maga?a. Contact for usage license.

Rafael Maga?a helps organizations grow. Helps leaders accelerate strategy implementation in their organizations. Specializes in donor-centered Philanthropy. Major Gift Officer -Veritus Scholar. Director of Development & Communications at the Emphysema Foundation of America and Breathe Southern California. Enjoys writing about leadership, management and careers. Founder of Latino Professionals, Latina Professionals, & Latinx Professionals. He resides in California. Follow Rafael on LinkedIn (18,300+ followers) and on Twitter: @RafaelMagana

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