I get it—you’re probably tired and stressed. You’ve tried to get funding, but the rejections feel discouraging. What to do?
There are five important considerations for those who are applying for any type of grant. I’ve put them in some kind of chronological order. Let’s get into it.
Tip 1: Match your proposed plan to funder priorities 🤝
You found a potential funding opportunity. Great! Let’s get that proposal written!
Not so fast. Take some time to do your research. You want to make sure that the funder is aligned with your proposed project/program. This means learning more about their priorities (community development, accessibility, research & development, outreach, etc.). Find out what projects they’ve funded in the past. Maybe reach out to successful recipients to ask about their experience. Then craft your proposal to highlight how your project/program aligns with these larger priorities. You don’t need to conform to every single one, but it should be clear to the funder that if they award your particular project/program, they’ll be advancing their own goals and impact.
Tip 2: Connect with the funder 📞
Every major funder will have someone on staff to answer questions. Reach out to them. Tell them about your proposed project/program. Share why you think it would be a good fit for them (do your research first; see tip 1). They may provide you with insight into the type of grant you should apply for (if there are multiple streams) or if specific adjustments to your proposed project/program would improve your chance of success.
⚠️ Caution: there may be deadlines to ask questions. These deadlines may be several days before the submission due date so make sure you connect ahead of time. The optics are extra good if you’re asking questions in advance, as it shows you’re taking things seriously and not rushing to submit a partially thought-out application.
Tip 3: Read the instructions 📖
Read them once. Read them again. Read them a third time. Take a highlighter and go wild (Adobe has a highlighter tool; I like to print out the more complex guides and colour code with my highlighters). Don’t let skimming ruin your chance of success!
It’s easy to scan the instructions and application questions, but slow down and avoid assuming your eligibility or what is being asked; read and re-read those instructions so you’re not disqualified on a technicality. Understanding who and what is eligible, as well as all the application requirements, will help better prepare you for planning. Which brings us to…
Tip 4: Plan ahead 📅
Everybody wins when the application is prepared within a structured timeframe. If you’re scrambling at the last minute to pull it all together, chances are things will get missed or your team won’t be able to complete everything in time.
Planning ahead means connecting with possible collaborators (whether co-applicants, community members, or colleagues) to discuss the project/program. It means carefully reviewing the application guidelines so you know what will be required and what types of questions will be asked. It means drafting responses to those questions with enough time to get feedback and make revisions. I encourage my clients to have a draft completed at least one week before the submission deadline. Then subsequent feedback and edits can be integrated to strengthen the proposal without adding too much stress or pulling an all-nighter. Say it with me: everybody wins when there’s a structured timeframe in place.
Tip 5: Budget accordingly 💰
Some grant applicants chase money and ask for the full amount on each and every grant application, regardless of the project/program. This can be a reasonable strategy if you’re able to justify needing those funds. Other times, you may find that you’re more successful if you ask for less than the full amount. For starters, this demonstrates that you’re aware of the actual costs and needs associated with your project/program. For example, if you’re pricing out airfare, pick an economy seat rather than business or first class. When it comes to staff salaries, be fair and realistic (bonus tip: include cost-of-living increases for multi-year projects/programs). You may also want to show that you’ve diversified your funding so that when this grant runs out you can sustain the project/program (if relevant, of course). Doing so may be especially important for those working with communities. We’ll get into diversification in a later post, as it’s becoming more important in the grantmaking landscape.
There are, of course, a dozen more tips that can be added to this list—and I’ll cover many of them through this blog. For now I hope this motivates you to try one new approach the next time you’re planning a grant application!
Thanks for reading! I’d love to know what resonated with you or any specific components you’d like to learn more about. Leave a comment, use the Contact page, or email me directly. Until next time!
jbr editing 