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1. Does your organization fit the bill?
Make sure that your program is the proper fit for the funding priorities of your target organization.
- Foundations typically stick to their funding priorities and guidelines
- Please make sure that the project is within the agency founding requirements.
2. Do I contact the funder?
After you’ve reviewed its literature or posted information on the Web site, communicate with your funder.
- Most grantors will answer questions about your proposal before it’s been submitted
- Most questions are on our website for your convenience
3. Is it clear and to the point?
The abstract or brief summary is a paragraph that summarizes what your proposal is all about. It should touch clearly and briefly upon the major concepts the granting organization will need to know as it considers your projects for funding.
- Don’t assume the grantor/reader is an expert in your field or subject matter
- Explain it in laymen’s terms
- Keep it simple and make it easy to read, exciting and enjoyable for your reader
- Write persuasively. A grant proposal is a piece of salesmanship. Keep your readers foremost in mind as you prepare the document
- Your goal here is to pitch your ideas as convincingly as you can
- Remember clarity, brevity and specificity
- More is not always better
- State the idea and get to the point quickly
- Use positive, active language
4. Check the application for readability.
Receive feedback from someone who doesn’t work for your nonprofit.
- Avoid acronyms, jargon or terms that may not be understood by the general public
- Define all terms
- Use spelling- and grammar-checking tools
- Proofread
5. What should you include in your application?
- Provide a solution to a problem
- List the expected contribution to the community or society
- Describe how your program meets a critical need
- Explain how the program will be implemented
- Emphasize what your organization does and how it fits the program you are proposing
6. How are you going to show it worked?
- Pre- and post-test
- Surveys before and after
- Give realistic examples
- Results
- Share how much data you expect to gather
7. Tell how you’re going to spend the money you receive.
- Report in-kind donations/time (if applicable)
- Make sure your budget reflects your summary and narrative
- Have realistic costs and don’t put in a line item for miscellaneous cost
- Take everything into account, think hard, itemize and justify, list line items
- Review requested dollar amount to see if it’s in line with what the funder typically provides
- Please remember that our funding requirements are between $5,000 and $15,000
- Only provide the budget that is requested by the funder. If the funder asks for a project or program budget, you don’t need to provide the organization’s budget
- For online applications, attach the file first
8. Make sure all items needed are attached to your application.
Many grantors are taking the application process to an online format. If you are not familiar with the computer, seek technical assistance.
- Don’t submit information in hard copy if the grantor only provides online forms
- Create your project description, objectives, evaluation and community awareness sections in a separate document. Spell check them then cut and paste these sections into the application
- Save your work frequently
- Confirm that your e-mail address is listed correctly
- Most information on the status of your grant is provided via e-mail and confirm that your e-mail address is correct
9. What do I do if I am late meeting a deadline?
- Deadlines are typically not flexible
- Most grantors will not accept applications that are submitted late
- Online applications do not allow information to submitted after the closing time
- When planning your program, keep in mind the deadlines and when funds will be available and dispersed
- Don’t wait till the last minute
- Submit your application early
10. Should I send extra material with my application?
- No extras, just provide what is requested
- The grantor will ask for additional information if it is needed
- Typically multiple people review the grants and the information is sent out to a committee so the grantor request information in a certain format so it is easy to disperse
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