Grant writing and grant management is essential for nonprofit organizations. And while the process of putting together grant proposals can be difficult and time consuming, with practice, and lots of tips, you’ll soon be a grant writing pro.
Below are some helpful tips and tricks for writing better grants.
5 Tips for Better Grant Writing
1. Tell a Story
When you apply for a grant, your proposal is being read amongst many others. It can very easy for your nonprofit to get lost in the shuffle if you can’t set yourself apart. How can do you that? By telling your story.
Explain why this grant is important to your foundation; what you will be able to do should you receive the money? How is this going to affect the prosperity of your mission – and those who depend on your help?
As you’re explaining this, don’t be afraid to use emotion. Being passionate about your organization is powerful, and can influence the person reading your grant.
2. Keep it Simple
As you’re writing your proposal, don’t use industry jargon or technical terms. You want to keep your writing as simple as possible so that anyone who reads it can follow easily.
Keep your words concise and your sentences simple.
3. Give Yourself Plenty of Time
Grant writing is no easy task. It requires planning (more on that below), thought, and time to get all the pieces together. Waiting till the last minute to try and put a grant together is the fastest way to get your proposal thrown in the trash.
When you’re looking for grants to apply to, look for the deadline as well. Do you have enough time to realistically put something together? If not, keep looking. If so, mark that date on your calendar and work backwards so you can give you and your team plenty of time to get everything together.
4. Plan
Not all grants are the same. While some of the pieces you need to prepare may be similar, the requirements will most likely be different.
When you decide to apply for a certain grant, look over all the information and materials needed. Then, begin to organize your plan of attack. If you have a group working on the grants, assign different pieces to individuals with due dates. This will keep everyone on the same page.
5. Learn the Indirect Costs
While the actual applying and submitting of grants is free, there are some indirect costs that are associated with grant writing. Some indirect costs may include audits, staff training, printing, etc.
If your organization isn’t prepared for additional costs that come with grant writing, it can be quite the surprise when the costs arise mid project.
Want more grant writing tips? Read 5 Ways to Improve Your Grant Writing Skills
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Capital Business Solutions is a financial and fundraising solution provider for nonprofit organizations. Learn more about our fund accounting software, cloud accounting software, fundraising software training, and more by calling 919-821-1244 or emailing bschilling@capitalbusiness.net.