We're all familiar with that saying “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar” but when it comes to attracting a grant funder's competitive dollars, there requires more action than a bit of honey on our part. How we set the tone for relationships in both writing the grant and after can greatly affect its outcome.
First, all grant writers need help writing our applications. What I mean is that we're super-dependent on those in the trenches that are directly interacting with clients for information to even write our grant. They gather the statistics and they know personal client histories that we can then transform into compelling stories to share with our potential funders. Those in the field do a lot – they're doing their job and then they have someone like us pestering them for numbers. Just out of curiosity, do you let your colleagues know how much you value them for putting up with you? Just a simple courtesy to make them feel important can have a significant change in their attitude towards you and your job. Don't berate them by reminding them of your deadline for the umpteenth time – remind them that you understand just how hard they're working and that you appreciate their commitment. Take heed what one of America's first millionaires, Charles Schwab, had to say about appreciation “I consider my ability to arouse enthusiasm among my people the greatest asset I possess, and the way to develop the best that is in a person is by appreciation and encouragement.”
Appreciation and encouragement – these are basic human needs. You know what else is human? That we want to talk about we want. Which brings me to my second point. In your application, shy away from talking so much about what your organization hopes to accomplish with the grant money that's being requested. Instead, focus on what the grant funder hopes to accomplish. Their mission is in black and white for you. They're telling you what they want – you just have to pay attention and outline your plan for delivering it.
Another tip for winning grant money is building meaningful, one-on-one relationships with grant funder's representatives. In all honesty, this just takes time. Don't try for an instant, intimate relationship that's phony. Build it slowly and carefully. And keep in mind the difference between appreciation of what grant funders are trying to accomplish and simple flattery. One is sincere and the other isn't and grant funders can smell insincerity a mile away.
I'm not sharing anything new or different – it's just a reminder. My hope is this simple reminder helps you and your organization continue to win grants that make such a difference in our communities. Kudos to you!
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written by Lori L. Jacobwith, March 10, 2011
And as you remind us, Betsy, supporters give of their time, talent, advice, stories, money and can of course come from within our organizations or outside of our organizations.
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written by Sandy Rees, March 10, 2011
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written by Marc A. Pitman, FundraisingCoach.com, March 08, 2011
The relationship is key too. I had one funder in New Zealand get up at the end of one of my seminars and say that thanking is so important. His organization had made over 600 grants last year but only received 3 thank you's. The room was full of recipients. You could FEEL the atmosphere change when he said that. This charities simply felt entitled to that money. They'd never thought of the fact that humans were giving it out!
I bet he gets more thank you's this year!
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