How Do I Apply for Grant Money?
With more than 65,000 private foundations and hundreds of corporations and government agencies making billions of dollars available through a variety of grants, it is a good idea to learn how to apply for the money your organization needs to survive.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Challenging
Instructions
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Learning the Grant Game
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Find the funders you need to get grant money by joining an online foundation directory such as Foundation Search or The Foundation Center (see Resources below). Although pricey, these online directories give you instant access to the most updated information on thousands of grantmakers throughout the United States. If the price of joining an online directory is too high, purchase one of their annual print directories instead. Although you will need to do a bit more research to update the information found there, these print directories will give you the contact information of all of the foundations giving away money in your interest area.
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Define your organization and project. Competition for grants is tough, so do your best at defining both your organization and your project for prospective funders. Have a clear idea of how the grant money being applied for will be used and how it will benefit the community.
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Develop a plan of action. Once you know what you want to do with a grant, be sure that you develop a step-by-step action plan to accomplish those goals. Funders want to know that you have what it takes to get the job done and to use their money wisely.
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Begin with a letter of intent to apply. Briefly describe who you are, what your project is about, how it will benefit the community, how much money you are seeking, and what goals and objectives you have set for your project. Although the letter of intent to apply is a basic introduction of your organization and project, it must showcase your project in a way that grabs the readers' interest enough to want to learn more and solicit an invitation to submit a formal application.
Writing the Grant Proposal
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Include a cover letter. Set the tone for your entire proposal with a creative cover letter. Take a chance and really show your stuff. Written in a more informal way than the rest of the proposal, the cover letter is a way to breathe life into your request and show the funder why and how your project is worth supporting with grant monies.
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Write a cover sheet and summary. Either download a free copy from the National Network of Grantmakers (see Resources below) or write one of your own using the information below.
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Include background information. Use the background section of your proposal to tell the funder more about what you do and show off your past accomplishments in a way that highlights the many things and people that make your organization an integral part of the community.
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Explain your experience and credentials. Show funders that your staff and volunteers have the experience and credentials to turn your project into a success. Highlight any formal training, certifications, experience or talents that you and your project team bring to the table.
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State your need. Use this section to clearly state why you need the grant money. Offer some personal testimonials here, if applicable. Use whatever means necessary to make your request more personal.
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Figure out your project goals and objectives. Improve your chances of landing a grant by listing a set of measurable goals and objectives that a funder can use to gauge the success of the grant project in the future. Be very specific here. For instance, if you are are dentist who would like to offer your services to low-income children, be sure to write that with the grant you plan to give 200 children in your area two free cleanings/exams and three free fillings (if needed) in the next year.
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Add and action plan. Show potential funders that you know how to deliver what you promise with a detailed action plan. Be sure to include information on what you hope to accomplish with any funds they approve and how you plan to use it. Be very detailed here, since this will be your one and only chance at proving that you can indeed use resources wisely and can accomplish your goals.
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Develop an evaluation plan. Show funding prospects that you understand their need to see what you have accomplished with their money (and have an action plan to deal with any shortcomings you discover along the way) by providing an in depth plan to evaluate your program after the grant period has ended. Funders don't expect you not to make mistakes, but they do want to know that you have a way to evaluate your success and learn from it.
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Offer a detailed budget. Establish a detailed spending plan that covers every cost of your proposed project to show prospective funders that you know what you need and won't fall short of funds partway through your project. Be realistic here. Don't try so hard to save money that you sabotage your chances of getting a grant simply because the funder doesn't believe that you can really do the job on the funds you're asking for. On the other hand, remember the importance of frugality. No one wants to give you free money only to have you waste it. Strike a balance within your budget and increase your chances of landing the grant you need.
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List your assets. You may think you don't have any real assets if you don't own your building or have money in the bank. Look around--you may have more than you think. A solid volunteer base, monthly contribution pledges, fundraising efforts and even in-kind donations are all considered assets to the non-profit.
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Make a formal request for aid. You know that you need money, but you still need to ask for it. Be specific and don't just ask for "support." Rather, ask for "support to train 100 under-educated women with minimal marketable skills in order to help them find better opportunities in the future."
This is not the time to be shy or to downgrade your request. Go for the gold in this section--you just might get it! -
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Include assorted appendices, supplements and attachments. Add all of the other stuff that you may deem important (statistics, charts, graphs, brochures, client testimonials, etc.) in this section. These types of supporting material can be included as appendices and attachments to supplement the bulk of your proposal.
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Tips & Warnings
One you have finished writing your grant proposal, it's time to send it in. Be sure to watch deadlines carefully. Miss a grant application deadline by even an hour and your proposal will not make it further than the trash bin. Be sure to follow the foundation's application guidelines exactly as written, even if they don't seem to make much sense. Be patient. It can take weeks to hear back from a foundation once an application is submitted, so avoid making unnecessary calls to the foundation office just to "check on your proposal's progress."
Always be clear and succinct. Don't beat around the bush. Let prospective funders know what you want and why you want it. Show emotion through personal stories when applicable, but be careful not to be too mushy, which can turn some funders off.
