Prepare Your Boilerplate Text
For many nonprofits, July marks the beginning of the fiscal year. To prepare for the rest of the year of grant writing, Kate suggests updating and refreshing your nonprofit’s boilerplate text on an annual basis. Grant proposal deadlines are always looming, so preparing as much of your written materials as possible is a great way to ensure you don’t feel rushed later on. The new fiscal year is also an apt time to review your organization’s mission, programs, and needs. Have 100-word blurbs about each of your programs at hand so that they’re ready to drop into a proposal. Make sure this material is updated on your website, too!
Read and Reread the Grant Applications
You may have to apply to a few grants simultaneously. Make sure you read every application carefully. Highlight all the questions you must answer for each application. Funders will be clear about what they will and will not fund. For example, many grants don’t cover general operating expenses, so make sure you’re not asking for that in your letter, which can result in immediate rejection. Don’t be afraid to speak to foundations beforehand and inquire about their funding opportunities.
Note: If you do find a grant that awards general operating costs, don’t restrict yourself. You are responsible for allocating funds based on the requests made in your proposal, so if a grant is willing to fund staff salaries, for example, communicate this need clearly.
Start with a Summary
Before composing your winning proposal, summarize your nonprofit’s needs in one paragraph:
- Define your organization. Don’t assume the funder knows about your nonprofit.
- Explain what your project is, including a brief plan of action.
- State how much you’re asking for.
- Specify what the money will be used for.
Most grants have a 2,000-word limit. (Some may even restrict you to 500 words.) By outlining the most important elements of your proposal, you’ll be able to organize your letter concisely, without the flowery filler language. We composed a sample summary, using the bulleted prompts above, to help guide your proposal:
Enrich After School (EAS) provides more than 40 at-risk children with holistic after-school and emergency care, free of charge for families. School buses do not operate during after-school hours; 1 in 3 parents in Summit County struggle to transport children between home and school. EAS hopes to alleviate the stress of those parents who do not have regular access to transportation. $50,000 will cover the cost of a new, safe 12-passenger van and one year of fuel. We will maintain detailed records of mileage, fuel costs, and number of children transported.