Your Grant Authority

 

As much as I didn't want to, I recently got a new car. Have you been car shopping lately? It truly is a hassle test driving different models, investigating gas mileage, comparing interior room, etc. Not to mention dealing with pushy sales people. The whole experience left me wanting to crawl back into my old car and drive away (albeit on wheels practically falling off. ;) My old car was comfortable. My radio stations were set and my memory seats were at just the right spot. It took me a while to get my old car just the way I liked it and now I was having to start all over again.

This experience left me thinking how so many people start from scratch when it comes to writing grant applications. No wonder they complain! If I had to write a brand new application each and every time a new opportunity came along I'd be exhausted. My advice to nonprofits (ahem, here's where you want to pay attention) is to write a grant template for the organization detailing the organization's history and mission, its different programs, experience in presenting the programs, staff position descriptions and other general information that can easily be tweaked to a funder's specifications. There's simply no need in reinventing the wheel each time. 

So, just like I have to readjust my new car's radio stations, set up Bluetooth and assign new memory seating, the initial hassle is worth it for my comfort later on. Set up a grant template with the information mentioned above and then simply polish it when needed with new statistics, new Board members or staff members and any new awards or media mentions. The effort is well worth it, I promise.

For more practical grant writing tips to take your grant application from a 1 to a 10, check out my FREE “60 Insider Grant Writing Secrets.”