How to Get Grants for Charities

There are multifarious grants for charities, and millions of dollars in grants are given each year to different charities. These grants can help with a plethora of things, including costs for operating, advertising and more. The goal of this article is to help charities learn exactly how to apply for and receive grants.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Determine the Need.
   
   The first thing a charity should do is determine the biggest need they have. For instance, there are several different things a charity could probably use, but it’s important to determine the largest need. By doing this, a charity will have a better idea of what kind of grant to apply for and how much money they will need.

2. Identify Grant Opportunities
   
   The next step in obtaining a grant for charities is to identify relevant grants. There are general grants that will allow charities to distribute the money at their own discretion and there are grants that are specifically for certain things. One great website individuals can use to find relevant grants is www.Grants.gov. This website allows individuals to search for grants with keywords, so it’s easy to find the kinds of grants that are needed.
   
   Then, one can use the details of each grant to determine if the charity would be eligible for a specific grant. Applications are available as well on this site, making it easy for charities to identify grants, check for eligibility and then apply for the grants they are seeking.
   
   There are many foundations and organizations that also give grants to charities. These are private grants and may have different requirements than those available from the government. A list of different foundations and organizations is available at http://www.charity.com/charities/Foundations__Grant_Giving_/index.shtml.

3. Fill Out Your Grant Proposals
   
   One important part of applying for grants is the grant proposal. This must be written very well, easily conveying the need for the grant as well as the benefits that will result. It’s important that the thoughts within the grant proposal are well written and outlined so that the grant review panel will easily understand them. Many organizations hire professional writers to create their grant proposals and to assist them with the application process as well. Freelance writers can be found easily through online sites such as www.Elance.com.

4. Complete Your Applications
   
   The applications should be carefully read before being filled out, so that the applicant fully understands the questions and what is required before proceeding. Once the application is completed, it’s a good idea to have it proofread to ensure that there are no errors. The grant proposal should be proofread as well.
   
   By following this information, charities can successfully find numerous grant opportunities to help them achieve their mission and financial obligations.

Resources

• Charity.com
• Elance Freelancing Site

[dinrob]

on 6/25/2009 Great article. Keep them coming!

[dmdixon]

on 6/25/2009 Very informative, I enjoyed reading this article great job.