The Basics Of Getting Funded

Are you a grants-ready organization?

Some nonprofits are more grants-ready than others. Foundations require certain types of documentation when a proposal is submitted. You should be ready to provide:

• A copy of your IRS 501(c)(3) letter of approval.
• Organizational and project budgets.
• Financial statements (preferably audited).
• Board of Directors list with affiliations.
• Staff biographies/resumes.
• Annual report, brochures, publicity materials.

Here are some other characteristics of a grants-ready organization:

• Solid leadership at staff and board levels.
• Solid reputation in community.
• Mission and vision statements.
• Case statement including organizational history, program descriptions, future goals and strategies.
• Effective ongoing communications, internal and external.
• Organizational profile/chart.
• Strategic plan.
• Fundraising/development plan.
• Commitment to data-driven evaluation and assessment.
• Detailed records of previous funders/grants applied for/grants awarded.
• Grant calendar.

Here’s a checklist if you are seeking grant money for a specific project:

• Can you clearly articulate the need for the project: What problems does your project address? Who will it benefit?
• Can you describe, in detail, how the project will be implemented and according to what timeline?
• What are the overall goals? What are the specific objectives and outcomes you seek?
• How will you determine whether those objectives and outcomes have been met? Can you quantify or qualitatively assess the results? How, precisely, will you do this?
• What other sources of funding will be tapped or sought? How will the project sustain itself when the grant money runs out?