Strategies
For Successful Grant Writing
By
Michelle Pearson
In the wonderful
world of fundraising, there are countless opportunities for an
organization to raise money for their respective charities. While
some creative thinking will set your organization apart from your
competitors, traditional grant writing is an area we advise our
clients to focus on. Most major corporations, in America and beyond,
have grants that your organization would be eligible for.
Grants are
one of the most overlooked aspects of fundraising. For many organizations,
the grant application process can be overwhelming. Most organizations
are working within tight budgets and timelines, and it can be
challenging to allocate the necessary resources to grant research.
While it may seem logical to devote resources to new fundraising
initiatives, traditional grants should not be overlooked in favor
of the latest fundraising trends. It's all about creating multiple
income streams for your organization.
Preparation
Preparation
is the key to fundraising success. We cannot stress this point
enough. The prospect of writing an extensive dossier on the relative
merits of your charity can be a daunting task, but if you have
done your research and preparation it will undoubtedly pay off.
The best advice we can give you is to devote some time to researching
available grants in your niche. Before attempting a first-draft,
be sure that you understand the guidelines of the grant-maker.
Once the research has been completed, the easy part is drafting
the grant proposal and application.
A well-written
grant proposal is absolutely critical for success. Be concise.
Stay focused on your message. What will set your organization
apart from the others? You must establish that your organization
has a legitimate need of the highest priority within the first
paragraph of your proposal, in order to capture the interest of
your potential donor. Remember, that your proposal is but one
of potentially hundreds. You have only one chance to convince
them that your organization deserves their kind assistance. Get
it right...the first time!
What
To Address
We are continually
amazed at how many of our clients become intently focused on the
minutiae of their projects at the expense of clarity. There are
a few core issues you must address in your proposal:
Who are you,
and what organization do you represent? What factors determine
your eligibility for the grant in question? What is the problem
your organization hopes to address? Who stands to benefit from
your efforts? What are your specific objectives, and how will
the grant support your organizational needs? How will you monitor
and track the results of your efforts? How does your grant request
tie in with the overall goals of your potential donor? Answer
these pertinent questions, and you will be well on your way to
a successful grant proposal.
Michelle
Pearson is a fundraising professional with over 15 years of experience
in the non-profit sector. She is also a regular contributor to
the internet's preeminent fundraising magazine, fundraisingknowhow.com
- a wonderful website with creative fundraising ideas, fundraising
books, fundraising tools and more.
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