Within the eighteen years that I've put in nonprofit fundraising, and particularly within my years being a dedicated grant writing consultant, I've had my share of rejections from grant funders. Are you feeling like you're inside a slump lately working your fingers towards the bone simply to be met with disappointment after disappointment? Don't despair!
#1 Concentrate on grant makers that have a similar mission while you. Are you currently truly spending sufficient time researching fitting potential grant funders or simply utilizing a machine gun approach and firing out applications whether you qualify? When I'm asked by nonprofits why their grants aren't funded, this is actually the problem I usually see. The nonprofit simply didn't take time to investigate the funder's interests, their funding restrictions and overall general guidelines. Lots of heartache (in addition to time and effort) could be saved by focusing only on quality leads.
#2 Follow all grant guidelines towards the letter. Believe this: you might be always in competition along with other nonprofits for the grant maker's money and funders will require every opportunity they could to eliminate applications that can't even follow simple instructions. You might think it unfair but it's the reality. Grant makers are bombarded with applications plus it makes their job simpler to eliminate up to possible. Would you like to be the one that goes into the garbage can first? Then please take my advice and follow all instructions provided. Not some. Not most. Every one of them.
#3 Use concrete evidence to convince funders that the require is a genuine community problem. You'll probably use a number of data to back up your claim - just be sure that your data collection is well documented. When utilizing Internet research, make sure that the websites you're referencing are reputable and current. If utilizing your own evaluation, provide your way of collection and let you know that the information was collected. When citing authorities that speak on your own topic, document who stated it as well as the source in which you thought it was.
#4 Feature an evaluation component within your proposal. Have you got a solid evaluation plan in position to measure the prosperity of your proposal? Grant funders wish to see which you have a technique to gather data regarding your project. The information can prove that the proposal was exactly on target or it may find improvements that should be designed to your program. Don't hesitate of evaluation - it may be as easy as a little focus group where program participants are asked questions both before and after the project. Grant funders much like to find out that you're as committed to the prosperity of the project because they are.
#5 Question them the reason why you weren't funded. You may be impressed by what you'll discover. I remember when i called whenever we were rejected and discovered that my proposal was really the greatest scored! I won't get into details here however i was made to basically send exactly the same proposal the following year and it might be funded. Plus it was. Should I hadn't called, I may have just assumed they'd not be interested as well as the nonprofit would've missed on a $75,000 grant. In this instance their rejection wasn't a "no" it had been a "not now." It had been just a timing issue. You are able to dance around it however i always suggest calling to speak to a software program officer in regards to a rejected grant.
#1 Concentrate on grant makers that have a similar mission while you. Are you currently truly spending sufficient time researching fitting potential grant funders or simply utilizing a machine gun approach and firing out applications whether you qualify? When I'm asked by nonprofits why their grants aren't funded, this is actually the problem I usually see. The nonprofit simply didn't take time to investigate the funder's interests, their funding restrictions and overall general guidelines. Lots of heartache (in addition to time and effort) could be saved by focusing only on quality leads.
#2 Follow all grant guidelines towards the letter. Believe this: you might be always in competition along with other nonprofits for the grant maker's money and funders will require every opportunity they could to eliminate applications that can't even follow simple instructions. You might think it unfair but it's the reality. Grant makers are bombarded with applications plus it makes their job simpler to eliminate up to possible. Would you like to be the one that goes into the garbage can first? Then please take my advice and follow all instructions provided. Not some. Not most. Every one of them.
#3 Use concrete evidence to convince funders that the require is a genuine community problem. You'll probably use a number of data to back up your claim - just be sure that your data collection is well documented. When utilizing Internet research, make sure that the websites you're referencing are reputable and current. If utilizing your own evaluation, provide your way of collection and let you know that the information was collected. When citing authorities that speak on your own topic, document who stated it as well as the source in which you thought it was.
#4 Feature an evaluation component within your proposal. Have you got a solid evaluation plan in position to measure the prosperity of your proposal? Grant funders wish to see which you have a technique to gather data regarding your project. The information can prove that the proposal was exactly on target or it may find improvements that should be designed to your program. Don't hesitate of evaluation - it may be as easy as a little focus group where program participants are asked questions both before and after the project. Grant funders much like to find out that you're as committed to the prosperity of the project because they are.
#5 Question them the reason why you weren't funded. You may be impressed by what you'll discover. I remember when i called whenever we were rejected and discovered that my proposal was really the greatest scored! I won't get into details here however i was made to basically send exactly the same proposal the following year and it might be funded. Plus it was. Should I hadn't called, I may have just assumed they'd not be interested as well as the nonprofit would've missed on a $75,000 grant. In this instance their rejection wasn't a "no" it had been a "not now." It had been just a timing issue. You are able to dance around it however i always suggest calling to speak to a software program officer in regards to a rejected grant.
We have over 40 years of experience. We will find grants for
your new small business, non-profits, 501C3, education, religious or community
organizations, multiple government agencies, personal (individual, or family)
needs and more. We can make your ideas come alive. Simply visit our website: http://www.localgrant.com/ and watch this
wonderful video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az9Es50m2Hw
