Determine the needs of the organization. Does the organization need a million-dollar grant for a building or does it need $50,000 to implement a new program? This is where the grant writer needs to sit down with the executive director of the organization and have a conversation about why a certain amount of funds is needed.
Find out the organization’s mission. The mission is the ultimate reason why a charity is in existence. It is important to know this before any grants are written. Grant writers often make the mistake of applying for grants that don’t meet the mission of the organization. This leads to several undesirable outcomes. Either the organization doesn’t receive the grant or it does receive the grant and can’t implement the requirements of the grant because it doesn’t meet the organization’s mission. Grant writers should have intimate knowledge of how a mission plays into an organization.
Look for government and private grants. Government grants may be found at the link in the Resources section below. This site has a large database will all grants currently available through the government. Private grants may be found through various Internet searches. Grant writers should be prepared to conduct several hours of research looking for grants.
Follow instructions to the letter. If a grant requires a balance sheet, don’t submit an income statement. Organizations that offer grants often rule out applicants initially based on who did or did not follow instructions. Often, a grant may never be reviewed because the initial instructions were not followed.
Write well. After following instructions, make sure the narrative portion of the grant is well written. Quantity does not equal quality. Say what needs to be said in a succinct manner and avoid attempts to dazzle with literary prowess. Portray the organization in clear and heartfelt language without going overboard.