Foundation Funding and Grant Proposals
Writing Grants and seeking funding from foundations is a complex task. Learn how to search for foundations and write grant proposals.
Grant Proposals - Tips from Readers
Readers share their favorite tips for writing a grant proposal.
Readers share their favorite tips for writing a grant proposal.
Finding Funders - Readers' Favorite Tip and Resources
Readers contribute their favorite resources and tips for researching/finding funders for their grants.
Readers contribute their favorite resources and tips for researching/finding funders for their grants.
Foundation Prospect Worksheet - Sample
Nonprofits with active grants programs should be continually searching for grant opportunities. Spending 3-4 hours a week on this task is probably minimum.
Nonprofits with active grants programs should be continually searching for grant opportunities. Spending 3-4 hours a week on this task is probably minimum.
How to Write a Grant Proposal
Grant proposals are a part of any fundraiser's portfolio. Although grants can be from a variety of sources (such as foundations or a government entity), most require the same basic information in the grant proposal. Most grantmaking organizations have their own proposal/application forms. Here are the most common sections of a grant proposal.
Grant proposals are a part of any fundraiser's portfolio. Although grants can be from a variety of sources (such as foundations or a government entity), most require the same basic information in the grant proposal. Most grantmaking organizations have their own proposal/application forms. Here are the most common sections of a grant proposal.
Researching Funders for Your Grant
The authors of http://Winning Grants, Step by Step suggest following these steps in doing your funder research.
The authors of http://Winning Grants, Step by Step suggest following these steps in doing your funder research.
Should We Hire a Professional Grant Writer?
You may be fortunate enough to have an experienced grant writer on staff, especially if your organization has a developed and long standing grants program. But for many nonprofits that is not so, and it might make sense to hire a grant professional or consultant, at least for a limited time.
You may be fortunate enough to have an experienced grant writer on staff, especially if your organization has a developed and long standing grants program. But for many nonprofits that is not so, and it might make sense to hire a grant professional or consultant, at least for a limited time.
3 Common Grant Proposal Mistakes You Want to Avoid
Teitel gives us the view from the other side of the desk as the ED of a foundation who has seen thousands of proposals over the years.
Teitel gives us the view from the other side of the desk as the ED of a foundation who has seen thousands of proposals over the years.
The Rules of Engagement: How to Make Your Letter of Inquiry a Winner
Many foundations prefer or even require grant-seeking nonprofits to submit an LOI, or Letter of Inquiry, before sending a complete proposal. The LOI allows the foundation to quickly screen potential candidates for funding, making sure that they do not waste time on ill-conceived ideas or those that do not fit with the foundation's mission. Make your LOI a winner.
Many foundations prefer or even require grant-seeking nonprofits to submit an LOI, or Letter of Inquiry, before sending a complete proposal. The LOI allows the foundation to quickly screen potential candidates for funding, making sure that they do not waste time on ill-conceived ideas or those that do not fit with the foundation's mission. Make your LOI a winner.
How to Write the Organizational Information Section of Your Grant Proposal
This section of your proposal needs to be just as succinct as the rest. Stick to the information that will establish your organization's credibility and ability to accomplish the goals of this project.
This section of your proposal needs to be just as succinct as the rest. Stick to the information that will establish your organization's credibility and ability to accomplish the goals of this project.
How to Write the Sustainability Section of Your Grant Proposal
No funders like to think that their grant will only fund a project for a short time. Before investing in your project, your funder will want to know your plans for carrying the project into the future, with or without this particular funder's help.
No funders like to think that their grant will only fund a project for a short time. Before investing in your project, your funder will want to know your plans for carrying the project into the future, with or without this particular funder's help.
How to Write the Executive Summary of Your Grant Proposal
A well written summary invites the reader of your grant proposal to read further, and delivers, succinctly, the bones of what you are asking for.
A well written summary invites the reader of your grant proposal to read further, and delivers, succinctly, the bones of what you are asking for.
Tips for Writing the Evaluation Section of Your Grant Proposal
A key question any grantor will ask of an organization applying for funding will be, "How will you know your idea worked?"
A key question any grantor will ask of an organization applying for funding will be, "How will you know your idea worked?"
Tips for Writing the Methods Section of Your Grant Proposal
Once the goals and objectives of your grant proposal are in place, you need to walk the grantor through the methods you will use to achieve those goals and objectives.
Once the goals and objectives of your grant proposal are in place, you need to walk the grantor through the methods you will use to achieve those goals and objectives.
How to Write a Cover Letter for Your Grant Proposal
You may think that writing the proposal is the most important task a grant writer has. It is, but attention to the finer points of putting the proposal package together, such as the cover letter, can make or break a funding request.
You may think that writing the proposal is the most important task a grant writer has. It is, but attention to the finer points of putting the proposal package together, such as the cover letter, can make or break a funding request.
How to Write Goals and Objectives for Your Grant Proposal
The goals and objectives section of your grant proposal provides a description of what your organization hopes to accomplish with your project.
The goals and objectives section of your grant proposal provides a description of what your organization hopes to accomplish with your project.
Better Grant Proposals: How to Craft a Need Statement
The need statement of your grant proposal is where you may want to start writing your proposal since it answers the question: What is the need that my organization will address?
The need statement of your grant proposal is where you may want to start writing your proposal since it answers the question: What is the need that my organization will address?
A Better Grant: Getting the Budget Right In Your Grant Proposal
For many writers of grants, the budget component can be very intimidating. However, knowing some basic principles of writing grants, such as how costs are presented, can make writing a grant less stressful.
For many writers of grants, the budget component can be very intimidating. However, knowing some basic principles of writing grants, such as how costs are presented, can make writing a grant less stressful.
How to Write Winning Grants Using the Five 'W’s' and the 'H'
Journalists know that an effective article tells the reader who, what, where, when, why, and how. Well-written, interesting grant proposals should do the same for their readers and, in the process, tell a compelling story.
Journalists know that an effective article tells the reader who, what, where, when, why, and how. Well-written, interesting grant proposals should do the same for their readers and, in the process, tell a compelling story.
Grassroots Philanthropy: How to Make Grants to People, Not Organizations
There are so many wonderful stories and lessons in this small book that it is very difficult to pick only a couple to share. Bill Somerville is an unusual funder but his years of experience and his entrepreneurial spirit has helped him to rethink old assumptions about foundation funding and break new ground in a usually "stuffy" business.
There are so many wonderful stories and lessons in this small book that it is very difficult to pick only a couple to share. Bill Somerville is an unusual funder but his years of experience and his entrepreneurial spirit has helped him to rethink old assumptions about foundation funding and break new ground in a usually "stuffy" business.
Grant Proposal Writing in a Nutshell
Writing proposals doesn't have to be a mystery. Here are some basic guidelines.
Writing proposals doesn't have to be a mystery. Here are some basic guidelines.
Two Books That Might Cure a Bad Grant Proposal--A Review
If you are new to grant proposal writing, or simply want a refresher course, you would do well to start with these two books from Jossey-Bass.
If you are new to grant proposal writing, or simply want a refresher course, you would do well to start with these two books from Jossey-Bass.
Tips for Successful Foundation Funding
Armed with the right tools and information, any director or development professional – even volunteers for your organization – can have success pursuing foundations. There are essentially five principles I take organizations through in our quest for the holy grail of foundation funding.
Armed with the right tools and information, any director or development professional – even volunteers for your organization – can have success pursuing foundations. There are essentially five principles I take organizations through in our quest for the holy grail of foundation funding.