Did you know that in 2022 alone, foundations, corporations, and the federal government offered over $146 billion in grants? A wealth of resources is available to support your nonprofit’s mission, but securing those funds requires strategic planning.
All too often, grant writers face intense pressure to apply for every grant from directors, board members, department heads, and other well-meaning people who rarely understand how grants work. This can lead to a nasty case of “analysis paralysis,” where mounting deadlines and a lack of organizational focus can stun even veteran grant writers.
Co-host Amanda Day and I explore how to combat the dreaded analysis paralysis at length in the latest episode of our Fundraising HayDay podcast. You can listen HERE. But here’s a quick summary of the main points for you.
The key to success lies in understanding your agency’s needs first. This means assessing your community’s challenges and how grant funding can address them.
Here are three vital steps to consider:
- Needs Assessment: Identify the crucial gaps in your community and how your organization can bridge them.
- Grant Fundamentals: Learn about the different types of grants available, their application processes, and reporting requirements.
- Prioritization: Clearly understand your agency’s goals and align grant applications with those priorities, focusing on program, project, and equipment aspects that are most likely to be good fits for grant funding.
Once you’ve established a firm foundation, it’s time to explore grant opportunities. Don’t get overwhelmed by the sheer number of options.
Here’s a method to “make your list and check it twice”:
- Prioritized Questions: Ask yourself vital questions about each grant, such as: Is the deadline achievable considering your program’s current stage? Does the funding amount align with your needs? Is your organization a perfect fit for their focus areas, or does it only meet the minimum criteria? For a free, downloadable Go/No Go Decision Guide to help evaluate grant opportunities, click HERE.
- Focus on Quality, Not Quantity: Investing time in crafting well-matched proposals for a few grants is more effective than spreading yourself thin across numerous applications.
Successful grant funding involves writing the “right” grants, not the most grants. By taking a strategic approach, you can leverage these resources to empower your agency and create a lasting impact on your community.
Kimberly Hays de Muga, GPC, is an expert trainer and coach in nonprofit capacity building, grant writing, fundraising, and board development. She brings more than 25 years of fundraising experience that includes raising $100 million from individuals, foundations, corporations, and local, state, and federal funding for nonprofit agencies in the education, health, and human service sectors—from food banks to pediatric hospitals, to state-wide mental health coalitions.
Latest posts by Kimberly Hays de Muga
(see all)
