Grant writing isn’t some arcane art. For nonprofit leaders, writing a grant proposal might seem like a scary and big mystery. But it shouldn’t be. Even though grants don’t have the fastest turnaround time and take effort to obtain, your agency has solid sources of income. That means your nonprofit can get some grant-based cash. For that reason, proposal writing is an important aspect that shouldn’t be ignored.
Reasons to apply for grants
Furthermore, grants look good. If your cause can get huge sums of money, your organization’s reputation can get major boasts. Since everyone understands that grants are given competitively, and other donors tend to take the mission seriously whenever you get governmental, corporate, or foundational. Besides, it’s a snowball effect. After you get the first grant, it’s easier to get others.
How do you write a grant proposal?
Research
It would help if you started by researching the potential grant-giving companies to approach. Then, learn everything about the donors. A common mistake most nonprofits make is getting in touch with the wrong donor. While this may sound obvious, you can make things easy by ensuring your prospect’s mission matches yours. Check out the projects your potential donors have financed previously. If they match yours, that’s a good sign. So, review the deadline and the fine print about qualification to ensure you are eligible.
Get in touch
Find out the donor’s preferred mode of communication and get in touch via email, phone, Skype, WhatsApp, or whatever. Even though it might sound daunting, getting in touch with donors before you send proposals is common. This helps you gather background data, and this will save you time.
After you get their attention, you can ask if you can send in your proposal.
Write the proposal
Your grant proposal should be clear, have information, and create an import. Make sure you are clear about your mission and what you need to achieve. Here are the components of the successful grant proposal.
Cover letter
The cover letter is your grant proposal’s first impression. Therefore, make sure it counts. Besides, grantmakers are busy individuals and read several proposals daily. So, make it easy on these people by clearly delivering a strong case.
Executive summary
Summarize your grant proposal in a couple of sentences. Explain what you do, what your proposed program will do, and how the money will be assigned. Finalize by describing how the agency will assess the program’s success.
Introduce your organization
That’s where you go into details about your organization’s mission. Explain your work, fundraising efforts, and impact on society and engagement trends. Stick to a single paragraph.
Statement of need
This is an important section of the proposal because it’s about a specific program that the grant will finance and why the program is essential. This section shouldn’t be long.
- Outline the issue
- Explain why your organization is uniquely suited to address the issue
- Strike the right tone
Program plan
This part is for the essentials of your potential activity or project. Irrespective of the program’s aim, the donor wants a crystal-clear image of your organization’s steps to achieve your goals.
Budget
Offer a detailed cost breakdown for all your project’s costs, preferably in spreadsheet form. Include other funding sources of income you want to apply.
Evaluation
At the conclusion, explain how your nonprofit will measure the success of your program.
Edit and re-edit
Ensure you allocate enough time to proofread the grant proposal and remove the tiny errors.
A grant proposal helps you get funds from essential projects. So, knowing how to write them is important. We’ve shared some steps to help you craft a winning proposal.
