Part of your job is to make it easy for them to want to help you. Are you driving them crazy instead?
Grantseekers, you’ve got your work cut out for you. Current statistics indicate that there are nearly 1.6 million tax-exempt organizations in the United States competing for grants. Who’s a good match? And, once you’ve identified funders, what’s the right approach?
Here are some tips on how you can break out of the crowd without inadvertently pushing the Funder Frustration Button.
For goodness’ sake, do your homework!
It’s a race against time. You likely need incoming grants to remain operational. But haste, as they say, makes waste. You can ruin a great potential relationship by rushing things.
- Find out everything you can about the foundation and their grant process. Funder Frustration Button: Being asked questions about things easily found on their website or documented in the RFP.
Follow the instructions
Interpretive dance is art. Interpretive grant applications are a nightmare. There’s a reason grantmakers are stringent in formats and instructions—and it’s not an obstacle to keep you away.
- Resist the temptation to disregard even trivial instructions and requests. Funder Frustration Button: Staples. Yes, staples! Someone’s got to remove them if you use them when they’re not requested.
There’s no such thing as an N/A question
All the questions should apply if you’re an appropriate match for the funder.
- Go back and give it more thought if you believe otherwise. Funder Frustration Button: Not answering all of a multiple-part question. Err on the side of repetition. Put down the information again, even if it’s elsewhere.
Verbosity
The very definition of this word is its own explanation. Using more words than what’s needed displays a disregard for the time a grantor has to spend figuring out what you mean. Many grantmakers have found a solution by moving their forms online and instituting word or character limits.
- Get help if you don’t know how to distill a complex explanation. We can do that for you. Funder Frustration Button: Information overload. Make your point and nothing more. They’ll ask if they want further information.
TBD
Make this assumption: You should have an answer if there is a question or request for specific information on your grant proposal.
- Consider it to be a cautionary sign. You may not be ready if there are too many things “to be determined” on a grant application. Funder Frustration Button: A verbose explanation of why you should have just written “TBD”—which you should never do.
Be transparent
Your organization has made mistakes. You face challenges. You’re aware of organizational weaknesses. Be honest about them if a grant application makes this request. Refer to the verbosity crazy button above, though. There’s a difference between acknowledging an opportunity for growth and airing dirty laundry.
- Aim for honesty. Funder Frustration Button: Asking you to level with them about the perfect picture you’ve painted with your grant application. They’re not looking for what’s wrong as much as seeking to learn how you are approaching your limitations.
Relevancy
This is in terms of statistical information. Grantors are interested in data as it pertains specifically to your organization. Your narrative might start with a broad picture, illustrated by general statistics. Make it relevant to the recipients you plan to help.
- Ask yourself why you are using a statistic, and then ask yourself why it would matter to a grantmaker. They can use Google just as well as you do. Funder Frustration Button: General statistics that never tie into the story you’re telling.
3. key objectives
Your grant application is paperwork—even if it’s an electronic submission. It’s a collection of information that helps a funder determine the appropriateness of creating a relationship. Because that’s what’s going to happen.
It’s a bridge that allows the people representing a foundation to know and understand the people who make up your organization. The result is the creation of a crucial partnership that goes on to improve the lives of your grant’s beneficiaries.
The successful completion of your grant application builds this bridge using these 3 key approaches.
- It captures the attention of the foundation. They’ve got more than just grant money to offer. You’ll benefit from their expertise and connections.
- It launches the relationship. You and the funder want this to be long-term.
- It explains your purpose, and it validates the grantor’s investment.
Everything’s not about the grant application, but it goes a long way toward laying the foundation of all that follows. You won’t get a second chance to make the right impression.
We work with organizations that don’t want to leave this right impression to chance. It’s our job to remove the Funder Frustration Buttons. Does your proposal still have a few? Then contact us today to learn how we can help.
