Grant writing can be a daunting task, but with a little know-how, it can be a breeze! Keep reading to learn the ins and outs of grant writing so that you can get the funding your nonprofit needs to thrive.
Before You Start Writing
Before you start writing a grant, there are a few things you need to do in order to set yourself up for success. First, you need to do your research and find grants that align with your nonprofit's mission. Once you've found some promising leads, take some time to read through the grant guidelines and application requirements carefully. This will give you a good sense of what the funder is looking for and help you determine whether or not your nonprofit is a good fit.
Tip #1 - Check out the free Grant Seeking Essentials Certificate program in NonprofitReady to get a full overview of the grant writing process
Next, put together a strong team of grant writers, including staff members, volunteers, and board members who are passionate about your cause. Having a variety of voices will not only help make the writing process more efficient, but it will also ensure that your final product is well-rounded and representative of your entire organization. Finally, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to write the grant—rushing puts you at risk of making mistakes and sends the message that you're not fully invested in the project.
Writing the Grant
Now that you've done your homework and assembled your team, it's time to start writing! The first step is to write a clear and concise executive summary that outlines the problem your nonprofit is trying to solve and how this particular grant will help solve it. This summary should be no more than one page long and should be written in language that non-experts can understand.
Tip #2 - Check out the Proposal Writing course in NonprofitReady to learn how to write effective and persuasive grant proposals
Then, it's time to flesh out the details. In the body of your grant, be sure to include information about your nonprofit's history, approach to solving the problem at hand, expected outcomes of the project, and how you will measure success. Be as specific as possible—funders want to know that their money is going to good use!—but avoid jargon or acronyms that non-experts might not understand.
Finally, wrap up your grant with a clear and concise conclusion that summarizes what has been discussed in the body of the grant and drives home why this project is important and worth funding.
Tip #3 - Check out Get Grant Ready in NonprofitReady to learn the basics of preparing a grant application.
Learning how to write grants may seem like an insurmountable challenge, but with careful planning and execution it can be an easy process! Be sure to do your research ahead of time so that you understand what funders are looking for, assemble a strong team of writers, and take some time to write a clear and concise executive summary. If you take the time to learn the basics, you'll be well on your way to securing funding for your nonprofit’s next big project.invite them to leave a comment below your post.