Successful Grant Proposal secrets are revealed in this article. Winning a grant award requires great efforts and below are some key steps that will guide you to ensure that your grant proposal become successful.
The keys to successful grant proposal are outlined below:
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Identify funding agencies that are good fit for your organization:
Funding Agency award grant to nonprofits whose mission aligns with theirs. For example if your mission and program is focused on the elderly, find funding agency that fund programs for the elderly. We have more than thousands of foundations out there, but many of them will not be a good match for your organization because of the type of programs you provide, geographical location or other reasons. So as a nonprofit you have to do your research diligently to identify funding agencies whose mission and programs match with what you do.
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Establish Relationship with Potential Funders:
Once you have identified funding agency that are good match for your organization, the next step is to find a way to build relationship with them. Most foundations have extensive websites that define their priority areas and criteria for grant seekers. You can email or call them as their contact information are usually published on their websites. So when you email or call them use that moment to tell them about your organization, mission, programs and your impact in the community that you work. Share with them with any of your materials such as brochures, articles, etc. that will help them to learn more about what you do. Also, ask them for guidance and insight with regard to developing a proposal for funding.
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Avoid Duplication of Services:
Ensure that your program address a need in the community that is not being addressed by another organization. Funders frown at duplicating the same service in the same community. If this occurs, your proposal will not be funded.
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Collaboration with other Nonprofits:
Most funders like to see collaboration between one nonprofit and another. Most grant proposal that is jointly written by 2 or more nonprofits tends to prove to funders that there is team spirit and greater accountability when it comes to managing their resources. One of the organizations serves as the Lead organization for the project. When organization collaborates there seems to be combined effort, experience, expertise and the outcome of the project is usually positive and impactful. Funders like to see proposals that represent real partnerships among organizations in the community. Good partnership reassures funders that you are focused on the best interest of the community.
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Write a strong Grant Proposal:
You need to write a strong compelling proposal. Your proposal has to be clear and persuasive to the funders. Follow the funders’ specific guidelines and requirement when writing your proposal. Ignoring their requirement in your proposal is counterproductive.
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Follow-up on your proposal:
After submitting your grant proposals you are expected to reach out to the potential funder via call or email to confirm that they have your proposal and request from them if they need any additional information. Remember don’t bombard them with frequent calls.
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Thank the funder irrespective of the outcome:
Whether the grant proposal outcome is favorable or not, you are expected to thank your funders and remember you don’t give up if your proposal gets rejected at the end of the day. Oftentimes it will take several attempts to succeed in getting a grant. Keep in touch with your potential funders. Also, you may request for feedback if possible regarding your proposal.
Where your grant proposal got awarded do not fail to keep in touch with your funders throughout the grant period and thereafter create that lasting relationship with them.
Following the above guidelines will help you win grant award easily. With these keys to successful grant proposal, you are definitely going to win grant for your proposed project.
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