You have strategically planned, done all of the appropriate research, written a flawless proposal, and sent it off with enough time to spare before the deadline. Ahh a sigh of relief at a job well done. A few months pass by and you finally receive a nice letter from that nice potential funder that starts with:
We regret to inform you....
Ugh! What do you do now? Bang your head against your desk, quit your job and become a recluse, write a seething response letter? No. Feel the pain of rejection for a few minutes and then try again.
It might help to know that only one in three grant proposals actually get funded. In some parts of the country people have told me that the average in their region is more like one in five. It is also beneficial to realize that the one funder that does offer the grant award may not give you 100% of what you asked for. Ugh again!
What is a grant development person to do?
1. Approach more than one funder at a time.
2. Utilize diverse funding sources for each and every program. Remember giving by individuals outpaces corporate and foundation giving by a ratio of 80:20. In other words, individuals give approximately 80% of all donations, while corporate/foundations give about 20%.
3. Don't give up. Build relationships with colleagues and others in the field. Learn your craft, and grow in your skills.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Summer Time Writing Part 2
The vacation that I joked about in my last post really turned into a joke. Over the past two months, I have submitted 19 proposals. This is a grueling pace-even for an old seasoned pro like me. Sure, a seasoned pro who really needs a vacation now more than ever:).
Some of the submissions went very smoothly, others did not. Guess which ones were well planned and thought out? You got it-the ones that went smoothly. I will always preach that grant writing is a process that starts with the recognition of a need, has clearly defined goals and outcomes. After all of the necessary documentation is in place then organizations should search for matching potential funders to help meet the specific need.
In the real world of grant development, sometimes-great opportunities come up that are a good match for an idea that has not actually made it entirely on paper or through the planning process. When this occurs try to get as much information on paper to include the goals, objectives, specific activities, outcomes (what the grant funds will help you do), and a budget before submitting the proposal. Utilize this written information to craft the proposal. Make sure all the responsible parties understand exactly what it is they are committing to do, should you receive the grant award.
Meet with the key stakeholders and go over the document to ensure their buy-in and clear up any potential miscommunication that will occur through rushed phone conversations and quick emails.
Quick proposals are not a good idea, and I try to avoid them like those dangerous summer UV rays, but every once in a while they provide funding for much needed services.
Now where is my sunscreen and beach umbrella…
Some of the submissions went very smoothly, others did not. Guess which ones were well planned and thought out? You got it-the ones that went smoothly. I will always preach that grant writing is a process that starts with the recognition of a need, has clearly defined goals and outcomes. After all of the necessary documentation is in place then organizations should search for matching potential funders to help meet the specific need.
In the real world of grant development, sometimes-great opportunities come up that are a good match for an idea that has not actually made it entirely on paper or through the planning process. When this occurs try to get as much information on paper to include the goals, objectives, specific activities, outcomes (what the grant funds will help you do), and a budget before submitting the proposal. Utilize this written information to craft the proposal. Make sure all the responsible parties understand exactly what it is they are committing to do, should you receive the grant award.
Meet with the key stakeholders and go over the document to ensure their buy-in and clear up any potential miscommunication that will occur through rushed phone conversations and quick emails.
Quick proposals are not a good idea, and I try to avoid them like those dangerous summer UV rays, but every once in a while they provide funding for much needed services.
Now where is my sunscreen and beach umbrella…
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