Finding grant funding to run programs has never been as important as it is now. There’s no doubt it’s a competitive grant market. Besides compiling a list of grantmakers, we wanted to give you some tips on how to approach grantmakers so they’ll take you seriously. Some of these things we’ve learned while applying for grants ourselves, and others we’ve learned from grantwriting seminars and from grantmakers. If you have any questions about these tips, please contact Amy Rea at 952-288-3364, or Amy@sajaifoundation.org.
1. Do your homework. That’s the #1 thing grantmakers want grantseekers to do—research. Your time and theirs is wasted if you’re applying for a grant and clearly don’t meet their guidelines. Search the grantmaker’s website for details, and if you can’t get the answers that way, contact the grantmaker via phone, email, or letter. Some of the questions you should find answers to before applying include: a. What kinds of groups do they fund? b. What geographic area do they fund (city, county, region)? c. What types of funding do they give (capital, programming, single year, ongoing)? d. What types of programs do they support? Some might find Wise Kids® attractive, with its direct focus on nutrition and activity, while other environmental groups would be more interested in Wise Kids® Outdoors which still discusses the importance of energy balance but educates children about their environment to encourage lifelong stewardship. Make sure you refer back to their focus and how your project or program links in to the mission . e. Do they give grants all year round, or at specific times? f. How much do they fund per organization?
Build a good case. It’s not enough to say that nutrition and activity are important for children. You need specifics: a. What are the demographics in your area? For example, what is the rate of obesity in your community? It’s not enough to say obesity is an issue all over the U.S., even though it is. Instead, get specific statistics, such as “23% of youth ages 6-11 are overweight or obese in our city.” b. What will you accomplish if you get the grant? Grantmakers want to know about outcomes—not that you will teach children, but that specific percentages of children will show an increase in knowledge, change of habits, etc. c. Also be specific when explaining how you will use the grant and implement programs. It’s not enough to say you’ll run a program. What program? When? Why? What can that program do for you? d. How will you measure the outcomes? Here’s a great place to mention that Wise Kids programs include an evaluation tool that can report pre-to-post changes in your group’s values, attitudes, and behaviors surrounding healthy living and/or being outdoors. We can supply you with an example of the report if required by the funder.
Follow the instructions. They aren’t just suggestions. Many a worthy grantseeker has been turned down because they didn’t complete the application as instructed.
Pay special attention to the budget section. Many grantmakers say they look at this area of an application first. If the numbers don’t add up, or appear unrealistic, they may not go back and read the rest of the application.
Crossing the T’s and dotting the I’s: find someone in your organization who’s a good proofreader and have them go through it before you submit it. You may have worked on it so long that you don’t “see” certain errors anymore. Grantmakers report seeing some mistakes all too frequently, like misspelling the name of the grantmaker, or even forgetting to list your own contact information. If they don’t know who submitted the grant, it doesn’t matter how persuasive your case.
Don’t be angry or downhearted when (not if) you’re turned down for a grant. It will happen to every group at some point. Right now, there are more deserving organizations than there are funds to give them. Do call the grantmaker and ask for an appointment to talk to the decision-makers about why your application was rejected.
Don’t give up! Just because Grant A didn’t come through doesn’t mean you won’t be able to qualify for Grant B—or Grant C or Grant D.