Who loves a challenge? I do. Not really a dare, which is usually reckless, but a challenge to make myself grow and stretch just a little bit. Like the time I challenged myself to make it down the river in a canoe with my husband. Did that, but won’t be doing it again. Ever! As […]
Of course, you will need to include a budget in your grant proposal. After all, you are asking for money, so naturally, your potential funders will want to know how you plan to spend their money. And, they will want to know about all your expenses so they can determine if you are a wise […]
Let’s continue to discuss the basic components of a grant proposal. Today let’s consider the narrative. Some funders call this the methods, some the activities, or the project description. Whatever they call it, this component of the proposal should contain a clear description of the activities you plan to conduct to move toward the goals […]
Every grant proposal needs a clear statement of need or a problem statement. If there is no need to address or no problem to solve, there is really no need to set up a program or project. And, therefore, no need for funding. Identifying the need or problem is the first step in developing your […]
Today begins a new series of microblogs about the components every grant needs. Let’s discuss two that are inter-related. These are measurable objectives and evaluation methods. These two are connected because the evaluation methods are set in place to determine if the objectives have been met. Objectives should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, and Time […]
What kind of nonprofit are you working with? Over in my Facebook group, The Nonprofit Grant Writers Mastermind, we’ve been having a discussion about whether a church is a nonprofit, with or without a 501 c 3, along with other matters associated with those pesky IRS designations. One of our members is working with a […]
I’ve been a freelance grant writer for a long time. One common trait among the organizations I’ve worked for is their need for a grant calendar. They seem to react in a panic when a grant opportunity arises. It usually happens when they are in the final week before their gala or when everyone is […]
If you have family foundations in your area you may be in luck. That is, if you can get your foot in the door. In my geographic area, the secret to getting a grant from a family foundation is in building a relationship with a contact at the foundation. I suspect it’s that way everywhere. […]
Your mother taught you to say Please and Thank You when you were young, right? What about now that you are a grown-up grant writer? Thanking your funder should be high on the list of to-do’s after you get your grant. During a recent conversation with a foundation director, he mentioned with a sigh, “You’d […]
We all do it – use jargon in our grant proposals. It makes perfect sense to me, and it’s the easiest way for me to say it, right? The fact is that while you may understand the terms specific to your nonprofit, the board members of the foundation reading your grant application might not have […]