| Grant writing is one of those activities that all nonprofits | | | | have. Once you have identified all of your questions, |
| must undertake in order to secure revenue to develop | | | | re-contact the funder's representative to seek |
| or operate programs and services. Grant writing itself | | | | clarification and get the answers you need. Make sure |
| is not that difficult as most applications request the | | | | that all of your questions are answered before you |
| same types of information. However, there are some | | | | begin to write the grant. |
| items (e.g., poor planning) that can prevent you from | | | | Before contacting funders, make sure that your |
| getting the funding you need. To increase your | | | | branding is consistent on all of your marketing |
| success to secure funds via your grant writing | | | | materials, that all of these documents have been |
| activities, it is important that you take time to carefully | | | | updated, and that your Internet presence is current. |
| research funders who are interested in your mission, | | | | Make sure that your website contains the |
| and follow their guidelines to ensure you are providing | | | | organization's most recent vision statement, mission |
| the exact information they need to consider and fund | | | | statement, and core values; that it contains an |
| your proposal. | | | | accurate description of your current programs and |
| When you are looking for funding to start up or | | | | services; that it provides updated information regarding |
| continue a program or service, find out who has an | | | | staff and board members; that it contains your latest |
| interest in your organization and its mission, and who | | | | Form 990; etc. Funders will review your website and |
| would be willing to invest funds in your specific | | | | any other information they can get their hands on prior |
| programs and services. Research individual | | | | to considering your proposal for funding. If your |
| philanthropists, foundations, and corporations. Talk to | | | | information is outdated, inconsistent, or they don't like |
| other individuals in the nonprofit community who have | | | | what they see, they will not fund your proposal. |
| worked with philanthropists, and foundation and | | | | Prior to writing a grant, identify other organizations that |
| corporate representatives. Exchange information about | | | | share a similar mission or provide services to similar |
| who funds what types of programs and services, | | | | clients. Speak with them about collaborating and writing |
| what facilitates or prevents a funder from considering | | | | a grant that will benefit both of your clients. Funders |
| and/or funding a proposal, and other pertinent | | | | are always interested in seeing organizations |
| information that may help you to secure funds from a | | | | collaborate with each other in an attempt to pool |
| specific entity. | | | | resources and stretch their dollars as far as possible. |
| Some resources to find foundations or other entities | | | | Many funders give preference to grant proposals that |
| interested in your organization's mission may include: | | | | demonstrate collaboration between two or more |
| CharityNet USA is a "One Stop", nonprofit resource | | | | organizations. |
| center that offers fundraising solutions. It can also help | | | | Once you have researched and identified funders |
| with grant proposal writing and foundation research to | | | | interested in your mission and programs and services, |
| help find donors for your charity or nonprofit | | | | carefully reviewed the grant application and got all of |
| organization. | | | | your questions answered, updated all of your |
| Fundsnet Services Online provides grant writing and | | | | marketing materials for accuracy and consistency, and |
| fundraising resource information and assistance to | | | | identified other organizations to collaborate with in |
| those in need of funding for their programs and | | | | writing a grant, it is time to turn your attention to |
| initiatives. They have a Fundraising & Grants Directory | | | | planning. You should meet with all collaborative |
| that is free of charge. They also have a list of | | | | partners and other important stakeholders to discuss |
| fundraising programs and grants by categories, | | | | each component of the grant proposal prior to writing |
| fundraising articles, a fundraising directory, and a free | | | | it. Everyone should be on the same page in terms of |
| fundraising kit. | | | | the proposal's overall intent; each section's content; |
| The Council on Foundations is a nonprofit membership | | | | who is responsible for completion of each section; who |
| association of 2,100 grant-making foundations and | | | | will solicit the letters of recommendation; and other |
| corporations. As the voice for philanthropy, the Council | | | | items that need to be discussed and addressed prior |
| brings people together in a philanthropic endeavor, | | | | to writing the grant. |
| including private, community, operating, and public | | | | All too often, organizations wait until the last minute to |
| foundations, corporate foundations and giving | | | | write a grant. This could result in sections of the grant |
| programs, and emerging giving and grant-making | | | | being incomplete or inaccurate, a lack of flow |
| organizations. | | | | throughout the proposal, or a sloppy proposal where it |
| GrantsUSA offers the most comprehensive, | | | | is evident that the grant was written at the last |
| affordable grants resources available for Arizona | | | | moment. If you have conducted your research, you will |
| grant-seekers. The "Guide to Grants Online" for each | | | | know the funding cycles of those foundations |
| state offers in-depth profiles of private foundations | | | | corporations in which you are most interested. This will |
| and corporations that make grants to nonprofits and | | | | enable you to begin meeting with potential grant |
| community organizations. The Arizona "Guide" contains | | | | partners early on, providing sufficient time to plan and |
| over 1,800 funders. | | | | develop a thorough grant proposal that will increase |
| Once you identify potential funders, contact their | | | | your chances of receiving funding. Funders are not |
| designated representative to introduce yourself, briefly | | | | interested in incomplete or messy proposals. In addition, |
| describe your organization and its mission, verify that | | | | just as nonprofit professionals talk to one another |
| what they fund is relevant to your mission and | | | | about funders, funders talk to each other about |
| programs and services, and request an application. | | | | nonprofit organizations. Because of this, it is important |
| Although it takes time, be sure to carefully and | | | | to have a good reputation with funders. That means |
| thoroughly review the funder's guidelines. You'll want to | | | | following their guidelines and submitting thorough and |
| make sure that you are clear about what they are | | | | well written grant applications. |
| requesting before you write the grant. As you peruse | | | | Copyright 2010 © Sharon L. Mikrut, All rights |
| the application, write down any questions you may | | | | reserved. |