How I Organize My Grant Writing Process
I hate writing. The idea of staring at a blank screen with a looming deadline in front of me gives me anxiety. Yet, writing is a huge part of all of my jobs. Somehow, I still manage to push through and end up with a decent product. When it comes to grant writing, the feeling for me is magnified. It is easy to be intimidated by the task of convincing a funder to believe in my words. So how do I manage to get from white space to finished product?
What are the different types of grants?
The grants space is a vast universe made of many different moving parts, including grant applications, funders, community partners and the like. It’s easy to think that every grant you pursue is the same, but that’s not the case. More than likely, every new grant you encounter you will find a new question or a requirement. Even seasoned grant writers still encounter new processes, questions, or requirements that they've never seen before. Funders come in all shapes and sizes, and so what they request of you will come in different forms, too. Though every grant process is different, you will generally see the same types of grants.
Where are the startup grants for nonprofits?
It is the #1 question I hear. Every month, it comes up in my Facebook group. Where can I find start-up grants for my nonprofit?
It sounds like a simple question, but I find myself hesitating because it really isn’t that simple. Most people who ask that question haven’t yet come to grips with their unrealistic views of how a nonprofit functions. Answering the question is not as simple as giving you a list of funders (wouldn’t life be easy that way), but it means a better understanding of how grant-making works and how to approach your grant writing strategy overall.
How to Stand Out in Grant Proposals Without Writing One Word
When you think about what makes a successful grant proposal, the normal things come into play: an organized proposal, attention to detail, and a compelling ask. Your proposal’s presentation plays an integral role in how the funder perceives how well you can spend the money you may potentially win. The end result is to ensure that the funder has the confidence in your organization to get the job done, plain and simple. But, did you know, there are ways to instill that confidence that have nothing to do with your written proposal? What if I told you that there are ways to boost your proposal’s success before you type one word?
Should You Hire a Grant Writer?
Grant writing is one of those professions that you sort of fall into. Most grant writing masters earned their stripes from many long nights, thousands of cups of coffee and plenty of hectic days submitting proposals at the last second. They didn’t start out learning the ropes from books; they sharpened their skills by being rejected, wiping the dust off their feet, and pursuing the next opportunity before them.