20 Tips for Your Next Successful Grant Application
Our Best practices and tips for successful grant applications
Grant applications can be daunting, but with the right strategies, you can set yourself apart and secure the funding you need for your organization.
Today we are proud to share 20 vetted, effective, and actionable tips to help you create a compelling grant proposal.
Looking for data-backed tips for grant applications? Look no further!
Our top 20 tips for grant applications
Start with a Strong Need Statement: You’ve got to start with why! Clearly articulate the problem you are addressing. Use data and real-world examples to make your case compelling and urgent. Assume not everyone already knows about your issues and use simple, clear language.
Align with the Funder’s Priorities: This piece is crucial, and yet many folks skip it in favor of copying and pasting language they’ve used before. For the strongest applications, tailor your application to reflect the funder’s mission and values. Demonstrate how your project directly supports their goals.
Build Relationships Early: You are far more likely to receive funding from an organization that already knows you and your work. Far in advance of open applications, and consistently over the course of a year, reach out to program officers or other contacts at the funding organization. A well-established relationship can provide invaluable insights and guidance, and lead to more awards.
Create a Detailed Project Plan: Outline specific activities, timelines, and milestones. A clear roadmap shows funders that your project is well thought out and achievable.
Set SMART Objectives: Ensure your goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This makes it easier for funders to assess your project's potential impact.
Demonstrate Your Capacity: This is something that sophisticated funders look for, and can make or break your application. As part of your application, highlight your organization’s track record, expertise, and infrastructure to do what you say you’ll do. Funders want to feel confident that you can deliver on your promises.
Include a Strong Evaluation Plan: Show how you will measure the success of your project. Funders appreciate metrics and methods that demonstrate accountability and impact. Even if you can’t find perfect metrics, showing that you are trying to capture impact matters a lot.
Leverage Partnerships: Collaborations with other organizations can strengthen your proposal by demonstrating broad support and shared resources. Again, many sophisticated funders look for partnerships and collaboration (and increasingly require them), as a way to boost impact and build relationships between and among complementary organizations.
Write Clearly and Concisely: Avoid jargon and overly technical language. Limit and define all acronyms you include. Use straightforward, engaging language that tells your story effectively.
Develop a Realistic Budget: Ensure your budget aligns with your project’s activities and goals. Be transparent and justify your expenses clearly. Include the cost of administering and overseeing the project as well as the direct project costs.
Provide Matching Funds or In-Kind Support: If you can, showing that your organization or other stakeholders are also contributing demonstrates commitment and reduces the funder’s risk.
Use Compelling Storytelling: Incorporate stories, personal narratives, and photos that illustrate your project’s potential impact on individuals or communities. Emotional resonance can make your application memorable.
Highlight Innovation: If your project is unique or uses innovative methods, emphasize this. Funders often look for initiatives that break new ground.
Address Potential Challenges: Acknowledge risks or obstacles and explain how you plan to overcome them. This demonstrates foresight and strategic planning.
Include Letters of Support: Letters from partners, beneficiaries, or stakeholders can strengthen your application by showcasing external validation.
Adhere to Guidelines: This seems obvious, but so many folks skip this part! Ensure you carefully follow the funder’s instructions regarding format, word count, and submission requirements. Non-compliance can lead to automatic disqualification and wastes everyone’s time.
Proofread and Edit Thoroughly: Similarly, typos and errors can undermine your credibility. Have multiple people review your application to ensure it’s polished and professional.
Incorporate Visuals: Use charts, graphs, or images to illustrate your points and break up dense text. Visuals can make complex information more accessible.
Focus on Sustainability: Explain how you will sustain the project beyond the grant period. Funders want to invest in initiatives with lasting impact.
Submit Early: Avoid last-minute technical issues or stress by submitting your application well before the deadline. Early submissions also allow time for any unexpected changes.
My team needs a boost in expertise and capacity, can grants be outsourced?
Yes!
Grants are a great place where you can supplement your team's efforts with outside consultants. Our grants team can lend grant research and writing expertise, provide project managers to keep things organized and track the details, and can also help you pull together the documents you need to win more grants.
Working with our grants team allows you to spend less time researching and writing grants and more time focusing on delivering your organization's services!
As a company with strong project management principles, our team is here to walk you through proven methodologies for seeking and securing grants. We offer a range of services from full-service outsourcing, to grantmaker research, to intermittent grant coaching, and everything in between. We will work with you to create a customized engagement that meets you where you are, and supercharges your ability to make grants an enduring and effective part of your funding portfolio.
At Capacita, we are passionate about the impact you are having on your community and understand that there are often not enough hands to get everything done! That's where come in, as an extension of your team that is invested in your success. Get in touch with us today for a free consultation and we'll tell you all about how we can help.