Building a Winning Grant Application Strategy

Innovative NonProfit is a Nonprofit Connect Business Premium Member. They are a full-service agency focused on helping nonprofits thrive by providing software, consulting, and hands-on support. Learn more about their services here.

Now, more than ever, nonprofits are feeling the pressure to secure funding. Grants can be a saving grace, but applying can be intimidating. We’ve put together some tips to ensure your nonprofit is set up for the best possible chance to secure a grant.

Identify the needs of your organization

Generally, grantors are looking for specific projects or missions to fund, as opposed to broader needs like operating costs. You will likely need to demonstrate not only need, but measurable outcomes. Strategic plans and needs assessments can help clearly identify gaps in services and narrow your focus.
 

Develop an action plan

An action plan is where your narrative shifts from “what” you are going to do, to “how” you are going to accomplish it. Thoughtful planning demonstrates that your proposal is attainable. This will be your road map for measuring your outcomes.  Also keep in mind that many funders require matching funds, so a well-thought out plan to achieve that measure will be necessary before proceeding. Talk to your board before moving any further if this is a requirement.
 

Research available grants

When you have a solid idea of needs and the actions required to meet them, how do you find the grantmaking organizations to fund them? Simply put, you’ll need to research your options. That’s a job unto itself but there are a number of resources that can help you although sites may charge a fee to access detailed grant information.
We should add that it’s also important to have your DUNS number registered and ready. What is a DUNS number? It’s effectively like your organization’s FICO score. It’s used by lenders and potential business partners to help predict the reliability and/or financial stability of an organization and will be required for any governmental grants and for many larger foundation grants as well. Also note that the DUNS number is changing in April of this year and will become known as a UEI number instead.
 

Know your funder

Every funder has its own mission and sphere of influence, and it would be a waste of your valuable time and theirs to apply when your missions don’t align.
Keep these things in mind:

• What projects have they funded in the past?
• What initiatives do they typically support?
• Who is on their board and what do they historically support?

Tip: pay close attention to their reporting requirements as well. It will give you insight into what outcomes they wish to see.

Build your case and share your story

Illustrate how many people will be served, demographic data, cost of goods and services, a budget, and if you can calculate savings or benefits to the community overall by virtue of your efforts, include that as well.
Be specific in your outcomes. Generalized results like “Community Center X will be renovated” means very little. Instead, offer details like, “When Community Center X is renovated, an additional 50 children will have access to after-school activities thereby providing at-risk youth with a safe place to go while parents are at work, reducing exposure to negative influences in a neighborhood with high crime rates.”  Providing statistics will aid this argument even further.

Success!

You’ve been selected as an award recipient and your goals are that much closer to fruition! Now what?  Thank, thank, and thank some more. Go out of your way to acknowledge your funder in every appropriate way to show evidence of their generosity. (Be sure to ask if and how they want to be acknowledged first)
Example: A feature article or post about one person/place/thing/group that benefited from their gift will show your funder that they made a real difference.
 
Also, most funders will require some form of report-backs and you’re going to want to illustrate that in the most thorough way possible, primarily with data.
Key things to let a funder know how far their dollar reached:

• Numbers served
• Resulting community benefits
• Health and social outcomes

A single report-back may be all that’s required, but particularly for those local relationships, be sure to keep reaching out to let them know you’re still appreciative of their partnership and express interest in continuing to be involved in their good works.

Need more help?

We've just launched our new grants service - Your Grant Companion™ - to help alleviate the stress that comes with grant research and writing. Please reach out if you need assistance finding the right grants to apply for, or if you need help with writing grant applications. We want to make your lives a little easier and free up your time to deliver your mission.
Click here to learn more: https://www.innovnp.com/yourgrantcompanion or contact us at info@innovnp.com.
 
Innovative NonProfit is a full-service agency focused on helping nonprofits thrive by providing software, consulting, and hands-on support.  We are uniquely equipped to be your partner in fundraising, organizational structure and strategy, and accountability to help you focus your fundraising, plan for growth, and deliver your mission.



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