It’s not an application. It’s a proposal to start a partnership.
There are plenty of encouraging stories about unknown writers who beat the odds and found an editor who published their best-selling book. In the book publishing business, unsolicited manuscripts are referred to as “over the transom.” Regardless of those encouraging stories, the odds of succeeding this way border on the astronomical. Even J.K. Rowling got nowhere until she found an agent. He, in turn, secured the Harry Potter author a 6-figure book deal that launched her career.
Read on before you conclude this is a message of gloom and doom about the perils of grant writing without the assistance of professionals. There’s a deeper reason for our reference to Ms. Rowling. Even the best literary agents in the business can’t broker a sale to a publishing house unless the manuscript is a compelling and complete story. There’s only one way to get to happily ever after if you want you want to capture the attention—and the funding—from grantors. The story you tell with your application has to be just as compelling as a best-selling book.
The competition is fierce
The IRS tracks organizations seeking nonprofit status. Last year, they added over 79,500 more to the ranks. Foundations are overwhelmed with requests for grants. It’s one of the main reasons why they have such specific application requirements. Can you imagine the work they’d have if it were a free form process? It would be a lot like those over the transom manuscripts that publishing houses receive.
Yes, you have to follow the application requirements—to the letter. But keep this in mind as you grumble. They’re not meant to be obstacles. They’re meant guide you to craft a compelling reason why your request deserves to be funded.
One size does not fit all
The story of your organization and your mission is one you’ve told many times. It’s comfortable and familiar to you—but it may be brand new to a funder. Your application is one way they get to know you.
It’s a 2-way street. You have to get to know them, too. That process should start before you even begin the grant application. The more you know about a foundation, the more you know how to position your organization as a worthy grant recipient.
Assume the grantor knows nothing about your organization—and that’s often the case. Their grant guidelines will outline what they want to know about you, but what are the important things you also believe they should know? Your application offers the opportunity to set your organization apart from others who are after the same funding. This is not a job application form. How will you capture their attention?
You can’t be strangers. You’ll enter into a partnership if you receive the grant. Reach out to these foundations and find out how you can start a relationship that helps you understand what makes them tick.
Know thyself
At the heart of your grant application is the story of how you will improve people’s lives. But like a good novel, it’s the details that bring a story to life. For your organization, that’s going to be your budget breakdown. You need solid, detailed numbers.
Does what you propose reflect realistic planning and delivery? Poor estimations are often the element of an application that causes a foundation to pass.
Cause and effect
How will you know that you’ve been effective? How will you measure your impact? These are a few of the most important questions you must answer with your grant application. Not only is it possible to measure social change, it’s required if you want funding from a grantmaker.
Your organization may be doing it for the first time. You might not have any history. Don’t hesitate to seek out and make references to similar successful projects. Funders are charged with ensuring that they’re making responsible investments in social change, and there’s no better reassurance than pointing to a similar success.
Start with the end in mind
Even your letters of interest should express the idea that you’re capable of executing the social change this funding provides. Is your vision clear? Are you ready to get started?
It still might end up being a “hurry up and wait” scenario, but foundation decision-makers are looking for signs of confidence. They’re also looking for transparency. Be truthful if there are areas where your organization may need assistance. Remember the partnership aspect. The grantmaker may have more than funds that can help you.
Each of the above aspects is crucial and interwoven into the purpose of the project you plan to fund with the grant. They all have to be fully developed. J.K. Rowling probably wouldn’t have been able to find representation by a literary agent if she had only a half-baked idea of who Harry Potter was and the adventures he would undertake.
We’re a lot like literary agents. We know what foundations want, and more importantly, we know from experience what it takes to capture the attention of grantmakers.
But unlike a literary agent, we don’t expect you to come to us with a fully finished story. Most of our clients begin their relationships with us while they’re still in the investigatory stages.
Where are you at in the development of your story? Grant writing is all we do. Maybe it’s time our paths crossed. Put us to work for you today..
