Shelter Professionals

The Business of Getting a Grant

By Boulder Valley Humane Society

Foundations like to fund good people who have prepared good plans for pursuing good ideas. The business of getting a grant has many steps, but they all rely on the following axiom: know how to prepare yourself before asking for a grant, and know what the foundation staff member(s) receiving your request will be looking for. Here are some steps to take in preparing and presenting your grant proposals.

Follow the grant-maker's guidelines and tailor your proposal to the grant-maker's mission

Call or write for information on projects that most interest the foundation and make certain to ask for the application deadlines. It has been estimated that your chances of success improve by as much as 300% when you make contact with the funder before and during the proposal writing process. If a foundation does not fund a particular type of project (for example, capital campaigns), do not waste your or the grant-maker's time by submitting a proposal that they will not fund.

When dealing with any funder, remember to read the instructions carefully before submitting your request. It sounds simple, but you would be amazed at the number of incomplete grant proposals that are received by funders. All the work that went into submitting the request has been wasted because the requests are then disqualified from consideration.

Organize your proposal in a clear, logical format

Many funders require you to fill out their specific application forms and follow their detailed instructions. Others simply list criteria and require you to submit a proposal. Remember to keep the written proposal short and clear. State at the outset what is to be accomplished, who expects to accomplish it, how much it will cost, and what the timeframe is. Write a cover letter and enclose it with your proposal.

A proposal should include the following:

• A clear summary of what is to be accomplished
• A minimum of professional jargon
• Major features of the plan, set forth clearly and logically
• Defense (justification) of why this plan is needed
• A description of the people involved
• Realistic financing strategy

It is critical that the application is organized and neat. Do not submit handwritten requests. Place your application and any supporting materials in a binder. There is nothing more frustrating for a funder than opening an envelope only to have the contents spill onto the floor.

What will the foundation look for when you submit a proposal?

It is a given fact that all foundations receive request for grants far in excess of their capability to respond financially. Give thought to the idea of cooperation. Many funders like applications where more than one organization is involved. If you submit a cooperative proposal, remember to make certain that there is both a formal and an informal relationship between the grantees.

There are two different scales used to measure value. Large foundations that operate on the national level use one scale, and smaller foundations, with more localized interest, use the other. The tendency in a large foundation is to examine a project's value according to its possible impact on the national scope. Can it serve as a prototype that has potential for other agencies? Your preparatory review of published foundation annual reports will help you to identify any such programs that exist. Smaller local foundations will be looking more at the value of the project itself, not at its transferability or national impact.

Know your organization

Be able to present your goals and achievements and identify your agency's unique features. Know how to follow up with the foundation. Call after mailing the proposal and invite a site visit so they can see your facility and get to know you. Do not be a pest, but let them know you are excited about the project.

Now it is time to find your grant

Grant opportunities can be found by:

• Networking with other agencies
• Looking in industry publications
• Identifying local, state, or regional foundations that would fund your type of request
• Searching the Web. One available resource is Fundsnet Services.

Also, click here for more information about grants available through American Humane.