Four Must-Haves of Grant Writing By Teresa Huff, MS Ed.
If you’re in nonprofit work at all, you’ve probably heard well-meaning advice like, “Why don’t you just get a grant for that?” as if it’s as easy as picking up milk at the grocery store. You may be wondering, “If there’s so much grant money out there, why can’t I find it?”
Restrictions mean you need to spend the money the way you outlined in your grant proposal budget. By accepting the grant funds, you’re committing to fulfill the agreement within their guidelines. Responsibility means you will implement the program according to how you said you would in the application. If you requested funding for medicine and supplies for your health clinic, you can’t turn around and use the money to put a new roof on the building. Stay within the same umbrella of what you requested. Use responsible management as you’re implementing the program and managing the project. Reporting is required by most grant awards. Follow up and track the data so the funder knows you’re implementing the program properly. They’ll likely have deadlines and a format to follow. Grantmakers don’t hand over the money and say, “See you later. Thanks for applying.” Funders want to know their money is going where they expect. This is their way of investing in the community.
Relationships are a key piece of the grant writing puzzle. Grant funders are people, not ATM machines. We need to build relationships and write for the person. On the flip side, they want to see that we’re humans too - that our nonprofit is making a difference in the world, we aren’t perfect, and we’re deeply passionate about our mission. Grant funders are looking for their ROI. In the business world, that’s a Return on Investment, but in the grant world it’s a Return on Impact. Rather than multiplying their money, they’re looking for ways to multiply their impact. Their investment in your nonprofit work is creating a bigger ripple effect than if they were keeping the money to themselves. While grant writing isn’t as easy as it sounds, it can be a worthwhile way to help nonprofits build sustainable funding when done strategically. To learn more, listen to the Grant Writing Simplified Podcast at www.teresahuff.com.
Before we can answer those questions, we need to start with the basics. What is a grant? Grants are a process of applying for funding designated to a specific cause and are generally given to 501(c)(3) public charities. For example, this might be a food pantry or a local homeless shelter, but the key is that they are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Schools or government agencies such as a health department or library may also be eligible depending on the opportunity. How do you apply for grants? Most grants have a competitive application process similar to a scholarship application. Each grantmaker has an application, typically on their website, that outlines specific guidelines to follow in order to apply. The guidelines define who can apply, what organizations are not eligible, deadlines, geographical restrictions, funding priorities, and other parameters. These vary from one funder to another. Are grants free money? Unfortunately grants aren’t a free- for-all. Grants involve four Rs: Restrictions, Responsibility, Reporting, and Relationships.
Let’s create a ripple effect to change the world!
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