From The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Summary:
- Don’t apply for every grant out there
- Focus on the future
- Try to get meetings at conferences and through email introductions
- In proposals, start with the larger narrative about why your charity exists, what its big dream or vision is, how you want to achieve that, and how you’ve done that so far. Provide context beyond the duration of the grant.
- Look at every element of the proposal with the lens of that particular funder, and make sure that you’re making the strongest case possible to them.
- Demonstrate resilience by explaining how you’ve handled uncertain times in the past.
- Ban the boilerplate – tailor each application to address the specific ecosystem that the grant maker cares about.
Write for skimmers. - Use A.I. to streamline to help with tasks such as organizing and editing your proposal or finding facts for your statement of need. But be aware of potential misinformation and privacy concerns.
- Spell out your organization’s “why.”
- Plan your responses carefully. Most applications are now online, but it’s best to download the questions and take time to think about them before responding.
- Put the spotlight on your community.
- When speaking about the people your group serves, make sure to do so in a respectful and meaningful way.
- Be honest.
- After you get a grant, stay in touch with the program officer.