Steps Of Grant Proposal Training

By Brian Powell


Nonprofit organizations run on money just like any other company. The difference is they are not owned by any person or shareholder. They are to be organized to benefit the community and in doing so solve an issue that needs to be addressed. In order to run, though, they need to obtain funds and this is often done through donations or other means. Grant proposal training is available to help staff learn how to write the much-needed applications to obtain the money to fund the programs.

The first step, before any writing begins, is to be able to describe the problem. Nonprofits are formed to fill a void in a society where the government or systems are failing in a certain way. Being able to adequately describe the problem and the impact is having on the community is essential to the program and any funding that is being sought. Providers will not consider an application if this information is not detailed enough to understand why money is needed.

There will be many stakeholders involved in this process. To tackle this alone is not advised. The people needing help and the other organizations or people that will be involved are all stakeholders and should be included as you work through the process.

The solution should be very detailed. This is critical to getting funding. They will not only want to know how you propose to fix the problem but in more detail. Things like programs to be offered, costs associated, and how you can spend the money wisely and realistically to address the problem. All of this information will help the funders decide on whether or not to send you money.

Do your research. While you are in the process of working through the application, you need to find out if other organizations have tried to solve the problem. They may be located in other cities and states. Call them and ask how they are making it work. They are trying to solve similar problems and should be glad to show you how they are approaching it. This will help you better form your own solution to fit the community you are helping.

Find funding sources. Of course, without a funding source, there is no money. There are grant periodicals and publications that show which organizations and government departments offer grants to organizations that are addressing certain problems. There you will also find the rules they impose to receive the money. You will need to track how each dollar is spent and how many people you have helped on a monthly basis. Know the rules for each grant to be sure you can report accurate information and renew them when the time comes.

Follow up after the application is submitted. Usually, you can get a contact name and number to be able to follow up on the application. In some cases, they will even help you with the proposal to ensure a better chance of being funded. If you are denied funding, you will still want to thank the organization and follow up with questions about why you were denied. You may find that some simple mistakes were made that would have changed the results. Developing a relationship in this way opens the door to future funding requests.

Being funded is important for any organization to be able to operate. New groups can easily work with more experienced groups to get advice on how to get funded. Do the research and develop relationships to improve your chances at funding.




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