Learn How to Apply for a Grant
Grant-seekers are often surprised to learn that anyone can apply for a grant. While grant applications may require additional items like a budget, a grant application is normally just a series of questions to be answered in your own words. In short, if you have basic reading and writing skills paired with a genuine passion for your cause, you can easily apply for a grant. Real people are reading your application, so there is no reason you can’t organically connect with these individuals through your grant application. While there’s no guarantee you’ll win a grant, if you follow the steps below, you will learn what it takes to successfully apply for one in the hope of securing funding for your cause.
1. Ensure Eligibility – Are You Grant-Ready?
First off, there is absolutely no need to apply for a grant you are not eligible for. After completing your FREE Grant Readiness Assessment you will discover what type of grants you are eligible for. For example, if a grant requires you to be a nonprofit to apply, the next step is to register as a 501(c)3 tax-exempt entity. You can also consider campaigning to an organization to serve as your fiscal sponsor. Furthermore, in most cases, grant funders also ask for an organization’s EIN (Employer Identification Number). By the same token, before you can apply for federal grants your organization must register at Grants.gov and Sam.gov. When you find a grant that speaks to you, thoroughly read through grant-eligibility requirements before you decide to proceed. Your grant application will be thrown out if you are not eligible.
2. Prepare A Mission Statement
Funders need to know what you are doing and why you are doing it. What’s more, they need to know you have a real passion for the work. Throughout your application, you must convey your passion for your cause. Having a concisely written mission statement prepared before applying for a grant is the best way to ensure you are presenting a coherent plan to funders. To present a viable plan, it is critical to re-enforce how you stand out among other organizations working towards similar goals. Unquestionably, funders want to fund organizations that do not duplicate or overlap successful programs and services in the community.
3. Provide ROI
Your job is to demonstrate, with proof, how you are the best candidate for the grant funders to award their grant to. Foremost, your cause must fit the guidelines provided by the funder. Put yourself in the shoes of the funding source. Use real data to highlight the importance of your work. Answer the following questions: What problem are you trying to solve? Who is benefitting from this project, program, or initiative? How will this impact the greater community? Finally, keep in mind that because there are relatively few grants for individuals, they can be incredibly competitive.
4. Research The Funder
Understand the needs of the organization that is funding your grant. Your program should fit in with their guidelines and not the other way around. Use GrantWatch’s 990 Finder and Foundation Search to locate nonprofit 990 reports. Furthermore, take note of keywords or phrases you might need to keep referring to in your application. Analyzing the data provides insight into the types of grants and grantees favored by the foundation. Focus on a funder’s mission to understand their core values so that you can ensure that your application is in line with the funder’s core goal for the grant.
5. Check & Re-Check Your Application
While grant funders look for many things, application reviewers are primarily simply seeking proof to see if you have the resources and experience to follow through on your promises. These promises should be concisely outlined in your answers on your application. Avoid rushing through an application or cutting corners. Before you submit your application check your spelling, calculations, and dates. Include required forms and documents. Let friends and family members who know little to nothing about your cause read your application before you actually apply for a grant. Does your application leave the reader with more questions than answers? If so, you need to re-work your wording.
6. Build A Grant Cycle
Always keep applying! There is a limited amount of funding and grants are very competitive. Because of this, having a pipeline of grants to apply for is the best way to secure funding for your organization. You will likely be compared to dozens or even thousands of extremely qualified applicants. As an illustration, some funders may want to see that you have grown or registered with the IRS since your last grant application was submitted before awarding you a grant. While applying for grants is hard work, if you build a grant cycle and dedicate time to applying to grants regularly, you will likely secure the funding you need for your cause. Do not get discouraged. Most seekers do not win a grant on their first try. There are many grant funding opportunities. Keep in mind, you will always be learning valuable and impactful lessons throughout the grant-seeking process.
Need More Help? Hire A Professional Grant Writer
Now that you know how to apply for a grant, one question remains. Do you hire a grant writer or do you apply for a grant on your own? Consider your writer as an extension of your organization. They will coach you throughout the entire process and curate the project to fit your needs. If you would like to hire a professional grant writer, visit GrantWriterTeam.com and post a classified ad. Be sure to vet your candidates and hire the individual who has the qualifications you need. A good grant writer has industry knowledge, creativity, strong writing skills, and a proven track record.
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