TIPS FOR BETTER GRANT WRITING

Betsy Baker, MPA – www.YourGrantAuthority.com

What You Will Learn Today (From My Personal Experience)

How to gather meaningful intelligence How communication gets you the money What grant funders are really looking for

in your proposal

Gather Meaningful Intelligence• Determine if your organization’s

mission is in line with the grant funder’s

• Determine if your project is compatible with what they want to fund

• Determine if your organization is capable of running the proposed project

Find Out Everything You Can About Previous Grantees

• Check out previous grantees on:• The grant maker’s website• Annual report• Form 990

• If possible, get in touch with previous grantees

How Did One Nonprofit Go From Zero Dollars in Grant Money to $600,000?

http://www.foia.gov/how-to.html

How Did One Nonprofit’s UnFunded Grant Go From Zero to $75,000?

Communication: I picked up the phone and asked why we had not been funded.

The next year, based on the grant funder’s recommendations, we WON!

“Hidden” Grant Money Available “Word of Mouth” grants available You normally won’t find these grants

online via the Foundation Directory or other search sites

Who do you talk with about these grants? Representatives of state agencies Mayor Members of State Legislature

Consider All of Your Resources Your Board & their connections (who

knows who?) Your community support (media, etc.)

At the end of the day, here’s what grant funders are funding:

Projects that help them further their mission

Projects that touch their heart Amidst your facts and figures, don’t

forget to tell a story

Communicate with grant funders in your writing like you’re telling a friend a good story.

Thank You!

Always keep learning Keep writing & perfecting your skill Keep communicating with grant funders

Want a FREE tool to “grade” your grant proposal before you send it? Get yours today at

www.YourGrantAuthority.com