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Home > Blog > Fundraising > @article.title

Grant Writing Tips for Nonprofits - How to Get Your Grant Accepted

By Dr. Cynder Sinclair on Mar 05, 2013 at 02:15 PM in Fundraising
Learn how you can write a more successful grant proposal for your nonprofit.

Make the difference between having and not having in your organization.

  1. Tired of having to cut your budget because you didn't get all the Grant money you wanted?
  2. Do your new Programs rely on you getting Grant Funding?

Grant writing for nonprofits can be a daunting task

Grant Writing Tips for Nonprofits - How to Get Your Grant Accepted

Strict deadlines, a wide variety of formats, and individual preferences can create havoc at the grant writer’s desk. A busy, diligent grant writer can fall prey to the boiler plate syndrome or become overwhelmed by the constant barrage of organizational needs. Successful grant writers understand the need for creating a well thought out grants calendar and adhering faithfully to the organization’s mission. Crafting a grant proposal to meet a particular funder’s interests, even though it drifts from the organization’s mission, can be tempting; but should always be avoided. Here are some suggestions from funders on how to make your grant proposals more successful.

Three Tips from a Santa Barbara Nonprofit Foundation

Grant Writing Tips for Nonprofits

Recently a leading community foundation in Santa Barbara shared three basic tips for nonprofits to remember when preparing grant proposals:

  1. The need. Clearly describe the need your project will meet in the community.
     
  2. Differentiation. Tell how your organization’s work is different from other nonprofits.
     
  3. Make a difference. State how this grant will make a difference in the community.

Improve Your Foundation Grant Proposal

Pamela Grow from pamelasgrantwritingblog.com offers three ways of improving your foundation grant proposals:

  1. Eliminate jargon.  Every industry has its own jargon—nonprofits are no different. Eliminate all internally used acronyms and jargon. Tell your story simply, from your heart.
     
  2. Objective reviewer. After you finish writing a grant proposal, send it to a friend or colleague who doesn’t know anything about your nonprofit. If that person can understand it and become inspired, you will know its good.
     
  3. Remember the 12/12/12 rule. Imagine yourself in the shoes of a program officer.  It’s midnight and she’s been working for 12 hours straight, reviewing grant proposals.  Yours is the twelfth one in the stack.  How are you going to get her attention?  How are you get her to fall in love with your organization’s mission?  The key lies in the story you tell. Pamela recommends the book, Storytelling for Grantseekers.

Avoid these Common Grant Writing Mistakes

Joanne Fritz from Nonprofit.About.com suggests all grant writers have a copy of Marvin Teitel's book, Winning Foundation Grants: A Foundation CEO Reveals The Secrets You Need to Know on their bookshelf. Teitel gives us the view from the other side of the desk as the ED of a foundation who has seen thousands of proposals over the years. He says that there are five common mistakes that proposal writers make:

  1. Talking more about problems than solutions. A proposal is not a pamphlet that educates and mobilizes the public. Your proposal must show that you are familiar with the issue you're dealing with, but must, first and foremost, focus on what you’re are going to do about the problem or need.
     
  2. Addressing specific problems with general solutions. A successful proposal provides a clear picture of what your organization will do to address the issue at hand. Don't just wax eloquent about the problem - provide specific details about the actions you will take to address the problem. Teitel says that a lack of concrete action might be because the writer is insufficiently aware of what's being done by her organization. Or, it could mean that the group needs to go back to their strategic planning before they try to raise funds.
     
  3. Using buzzwords and jargon. Teitel says, "Some proposal writers confuse density with erudition." What one needs is simple prose that "tells a story or paints a picture." Avoid vague claims, trendy language, and obscure terms - they won't impress the funder and may actually cause him to dislike your proposal.
     
  4. Budgets that don't make sense. Teitel says that, surprisingly, quite a number of proposals arrive with math errors that undermine the organization's credibility. He points out that, “...the budget should not only add up, it also has to support the logic of the proposal's narrative.”
     
  5. Repeating exact phrases from the funder's guidelines. Just pasting phrases from the funder's guidelines into your proposal will not result in funding. All good proposals should fit the foundation's guidelines, but telling how and why they fit is what is important. Cutting and pasting just says that you've read the funder's website.

Feb 09, 2014 Arrow1 Down Reply
A. Reuben

I want somebody to help us write a grant a heart Hospital (organization) that desperately needs help. Please contact me at the above e-mail

Feb 27, 2014 Arrow1 Down Reply
chocolate lewis

i work with kids who are underpriveledged, any tips?

Jul 05, 2015 Arrow1 Down Reply
Inspired

I would like to open up a child care center in my area. All suggestion are welcomed

Aug 18, 2015 Arrow1 Down Reply
Tamica

I would like to obtain some helpful tips an ideas to fund transitional housing for ex-cons and ex-offenders upon there re-entry into society. And any available information to lead me in the right direction is greatly appreciated. Thank you for reading my submission.

Oct 12, 2015 Arrow1 Down Reply
mbusa Rapheal

Iwould l

Oct 12, 2015 Arrow1 Down Reply
mbusa Rapheal

Iwould like to recieve grant proposal tips

Apr 07, 2016 Arrow1 Down Reply
Maxmath

I would like a grant writer for a grant proposal by Health Resources and Services Administration.
Thank you

May 08, 2016 Arrow1 Down Reply
Reuben

Pls i want to establish a daycare center for the poor and deprived community in Accra
any help pl?

May 27, 2016 Arrow1 Down Reply
John Carter Sr

Hello, we at the Carter's Touch Foundation, (www.carterstouchfoundation.com)
are looking for someone to help us
to obtain a government grant or from
a foundation. Please get in touch with
us soon as possible. We are a 501 c 3

John Carter Sr

Jun 15, 2016 Arrow1 Down Reply
Vasco António Ferreira Manuel

Our ardent and respectful greetings.

The UDESSD is a non-governmental organization of philanthropic character with a view to restore the dignity of the human person in all dimensions of life "As Inalienable Rights, imprescriptible, inalienable, inviolable and / or fundamental to human life."
We are seeking to establish cooperation and / or partnership with foundations, NGOs, legal or Individualities Singular, or institutions in order, donors or sejaSponsors that can support the actions we set out along the neediest communities.
Relying on your cooperation and solidarity, we look forward for your kindness.
If send us your E-mail, Attached send our presentation.

The Technical-Operational Director
Vasco António Manuel Ferreira
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
Contacts: +244 916031428, +244923910905
Luanda Angola

Feb 25, 2017 Arrow1 Down Reply
Casandra States

I would like information on grant writing for female ex offenders to help rejoin society after being incarcerated.

Feb 27, 2017 Arrow1 Down Reply
Leslie

I need al tips on how to write a non/,profit proposal

Feb 27, 2017 Arrow1 Down Reply
Leslie

I need al tips on how to write a non/,profit proposal

Mar 27, 2017 Arrow1 Down Reply
francis paul

I would appreciate if send me all updates pertaining proposal for non profit organization.

Dec 08, 2018 Arrow1 Down Reply
pamela downing

@Tamica: How are you getting on?







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