Your Grant Authority

When you financially support charity, what is it that makes you want to give?  You may be moved by the puppies that have been mistreated.  Or it makes you shudder to think of cancer patients without access to lifesaving treatment.  Or it could be that you want that prison inmate’s child to have presents at Christmas.  We are motivated to give because we want to help solve the problem presented, right?  A well-demonstrated need is what compels people to give.  Period.  How is it, though, that you can effectively present your need in a grant application without photos of puppies and children?

Every successful grant proposal, and every other type of request, hinges on a compelling need.  You know how huge your need is – but the person reviewing your grant proposal has to know it – and feel it - too.  Here are some tips to help convey the urgency of your need on paper:

You’ll find that most grant funders require an evaluation component in their applications – but why? Evaluation is a process that determines the impact, effectiveness and efficiency of a grant program.  Performed properly, it reveals what worked in the program and – equally important – what did not.  It also provides an excellent basis for reporting back to grant funders documenting the return on their investment as well as documenting benefits to the community the organization is serving.  Remember, funders always expect to hear from organizations how they define and measure the success of a program.

Evaluation is primarily used to accomplish six purposes:

If you’re truly serious about getting your grant applications funded, get serious about your nonprofit’s financial records.  Grant reviewers want to see order, transparency and a reflection of your organization in dollars and cents.

It happens innocently enough.  Of course you want to describe, in detail, what exactly it is that your organization contributes in your community.  You have a caring staff, a worthy mission and a system that works to help meet that mission.  You’re proud of what you do and have accomplished and, after all, grant applications want to know this information.