Grants can be an important source of funding for 501(c)(3) organizations. Private foundations, corporations, government agencies, and other organizations provide funding for a wide variety of charitable programs and projects.
Finding a potential grant opportunity, however, is only the beginning. Your organization also needs to be prepared to clearly explain who you are, what you do, how much funding you need, and how the funds will be used.
Understanding the Grant Proposal
Some funders provide a detailed application with specific questions. Others request a written grant proposal or allow the organization to provide much of the information in its own format.
This can actually be an advantage.
Rather than simply answering a long series of standardized questions, your organization may have an opportunity to present its mission, programs, accomplishments, and proposed project in a way that tells its story clearly and effectively.
The specific requirements will vary from one funder to another, but organizations should be prepared to provide several basic pieces of information.
What Should You Have Ready?
A basic grant proposal will commonly include:
- A concise description of your organization – Explain your charitable purpose, mission, and primary programs.
- The amount requested – State clearly how much funding you are seeking.
- The proposed use of the grant – Describe the particular program, project, or charitable activity the grant will support.
- A plan and timetable – Explain how the project will be carried out and the anticipated timeframe for completion.
- Organizational authorization – Be prepared to identify the officer or other individual authorized to submit or approve the request.
- Contact information – Provide the appropriate contact person’s name, telephone number, email address, and other requested information.
Prepare Before You Find the Grant
One of the best steps a nonprofit can take is to develop this basic information before a grant opportunity appears.
Create a core grant proposal document that describes your organization, programs, funding needs, and planned use of funds. This document does not need to be submitted unchanged to every funder. Instead, think of it as the foundation for future proposals.
When an appropriate opportunity becomes available, you can then tailor the information to the particular funder’s requirements and priorities.
This approach can make the grant application process more organized and help your organization respond more efficiently when opportunities arise.
Remember: Every Funder Is Different
A basic proposal is a starting point—not a substitute for reviewing the requirements of the particular grant.
Before submitting a proposal, carefully review the funder’s eligibility requirements, funding priorities, requested documents, deadlines, and submission instructions. Your proposal should address the specific opportunity rather than simply sending the same document to every potential funder.
The goal is to have the basic information about your organization prepared and then adapt it to each appropriate funding opportunity.