6 Steps for Grant Writing Success in 2010

It’s not too late to plan for a successful 2010. I think there are many things that non-for-profit organizations and NGO’s can do to help ensure grant writing success:

1. Take a step back; focus on your core competencies, what it is you do best. Make sure that the programs and services you are seeking funding for are viable and serve a well-documented need in the community. When you are seeking funding, it helps tremendously to have a track record of success, meaning you can demonstrate successful outcomes or at least that you are on track for success in the future.
If you have peripheral programs that are taking resources away from your more successful programs, consider cutting or reducing their scope. This will allow you to focus on the things that you do best, which will be more likely to lead to success.

Are there others with whom you can collaborate? This is a buzz-word for many funders now, who have started to encourage collaborative proposals to get the biggest bang for their buck. This can take some time and effort but could lead to a more competitive proposal and more potential sources of funding. Many funders are requiring collaboration to be competitive.

Also, if you didn’t send year-end stewardship reports, now is the time to send those reports and thank you letters to those who HAVE funded your programs in 2009. It doesn’t have to be long, just a short letter highlighting your accomplishments and showing how their support has made a difference. I can’t stress enough how much value can be gotten from developing relationships with existing and potential funders. It can make or break you in your fund raising efforts.

2. Once you’ve determined that you have the most successful programs in place and explored potential collaborations, it’s time to start researching viable funding sources. This can be done on the internet or at your local library or Center for Nonprofit Management. Also you need to determine when you need the money and when the funding source will make a decision. Try to find sources that have a variety of deadlines so that you have a chance of securing funding sooner rather than later.

3. Armed with a list of potential funding sources, thoroughly read the guidelines and start crafting proposals that follow the grant guidelines to the letter; make sure they are persuasive and well-thought-out; and are concise and to the point. Usually it’s not a good idea to include items that are not specifically requested, such as videos or brochures.

4. If possible, connect with someone at the funding source before you submit a request to make sure they are still accepting requests or to see if their guidelines have changed. Also if they are open to questions, see if you can discuss your project with them and what they think of it. This isn’t always possible but if so make the most of it. Developing relationships with potential funders is a key piece to your success.
5. Make sure that you submit the grant proposal ahead of the deadline if there is one. Send it certified mail or return receipt so you know that it was received in the funder’s office and for proof that you have met their deadline.

6. Follow up with them if you haven’t heard in a reasonable amount of time. And even if they say no to your proposal, ALWAYS send a thank you note. This could help you if you decide to apply again. The people who work at foundations are people too, and they like being treated with respect.

Please watch this space for more tips for grant writing success!