Here Is What You Should Do before Writing a Grant

• Author: Kelly Cooke
• Posted: 2024-03-15

Many people who are looking to start a business but lack enough funds are always looking to find out how to get grants. Worse still, they don't know what they need to do before beginning the application process. So many people apply for grants, and a single mistake in your application might have you rejected.
Here is what you need to do before applying for a grant.

1.

Find Out if Your Non-profit is Ready

Besides proper planning, grants need a lot of resources; make sure to have the necessary energy, time, infrastructure, and support from well-wishers. Unless you have these things, you might get tired before achieving what you were looking for.

For instance, you are supposed to have a documented proof of success. You are supposed to show that the funds will be put into a project that is 100% likely to succeed. It is essential to have some client testimonials, pictures, and stories to back up your data.
You should also indicate that you have established a clear goal for the year. With goals, it is easy to know what you want to establish, and these are the things that will enhance the chances of your application being approved.

2.

Do Your Research

It is okay to make massive grant plans, but hold on a minute! Have you done your homework yet? Through research, you will be able to find out whether a grant will give you the returns you need. You want to make sure that there is a range of hot leads to pursue; otherwise, don't waste time following things that won't materialize.

If you send your application without knowing your needs, you will mess up big time. Even if you realize that a grant will get you where you want to be, it always good to have other options.

Today, there are many free research tools that you can use any time you want. Consider using tools like philanthropic newsletters, grant databases, sports teams, internet searches, community foundations, etc.

3.

Initiate Contact

As we had seen, so many people apply for the same grant, and you can't be sure whether you will get it. Thankfully, there are things you can do to increases the chances of getting the funds. Once you have identified the community offering the grant, you might want to initiate contact with them. You can get an audience by email, phone, or even in person.

Ask them questions for clarification on the submission process, and tell them an idea you are looking to propose and find out if they are interested.
Once you do this, they will recall the name of your non-profit. This will come in handy when they have hundreds of submissions.

4.

Go Through the Instructions

When writing your application, you are supposed to understand the fundamentals of the process and pay close attention to the details. Most of the time, funders will provide you with clear instructions for the submission process, budgets, narratives, and attachments.

Narratives are the easiest parts of the application since the funders will state what they require the applicants to mention in this section. However, in some cases, you will have to use your judgment to say the right thing.

Budgets are never one size fits all. The most important thing is to show the funders how you intend to use their money. Some of them might encourage you to use specific budget templates so that everything is kept within a certain limit.
In the attachment section, you will be required to show a range of supporting documents, copies of news articles, brochures, etc.

5.

Start Early

The grant application is hard work that takes a lot of time, and you should show a lot of commitment. You will notice that there are lots of moving parts, and it is vital that you don't miss submitting your application.

If you miss the deadline, you are not going to get the financial support you need, so be sure to do everything on time. To make things move a little faster, you should be able to identify the grant team.
To know the grant team, search on the internet and read the details about the community offering the grant.

Closing Thoughts

These are the things you should know before applying for a grant. The truth is that you will face some challenges, especially when the funders fail to provide detailed information about the application process. In that case, you will have to do your homework to avoid making some mistakes that will reduce the chances of missing the opportunity.