Are You Ready to Apply for a Grant? Send To Printer | Close Window

By Larry Pierce, Grant Writer

How do you know when your organization is ready to apply for a grant? Read the following questions. If you have good, solid answers you may be ready to apply. If not, head back to the drawing board.

Does your project fit what the donor is looking for? Study the donor’s web site and other materials to find out the areas they fund. What are the donor’s vision and goals? Do they fit your organization’s vision and goals?
Why is your project important? What do you expect the impact, or outcome, of the project to be? What will be different when the project is completed?
Who will be affected by your project? Whose lives, and how many lives, will be impacted?
Are your project’s goals and objectives realistic? Don’t exaggerate. Can you follow through on what you promise? Is this too big for you?
Can the timeline be met? Are you giving yourself enough time, or too much time, to complete the project?
Are you committed to the project? Is this part of your organization’s core vision and goals, or just something you’re trying out?
Are you capable of carrying out the project? Does your organization have what it takes to carry out the project? Do you have the expertise and personnel? Do you have someone who can manage the paperwork and provide reports?
Does your project duplicate other projects? Are there other organizations in your area doing the same thing? If so, why should you be funded and not them? How are you different? What unique service do you provide that other groups do not?
Is your staff capable? Do you have competent, trained and experienced people to carry out the project?
Is the cost of your project justified? What is the cost of the project per client served? Is that cost reasonable compared with the size of the impact? How does that cost compare with other programs?
How can you prove you are trustworthy? How many years has your organization existed? What is your track record of success? Do you have references? Have you won previous grants? What are your academic credentials? What other factors would give confidence that you can succeed?
Will your project be continued when the money is gone? What is your plan to help the project survive? How will additional money be raised to keep the project going, or will it just end?
Can you describe your project clearly? Assume the funder knows nothing about your organization. Explain it clearly in a few sentences. Avoid jargon (specialized words), which is a barrier to understanding.
Is there collaboration involved in your project? “Lone rangers” make donors nervous. How have you worked with other social service groups or government agencies?
Do you have any other financial support? Are you relying totally on funds from one source? What would happen if that falls through? Where else are you seeking financial support?
Is your idea well developed? How well thought-out and detailed is your idea? Have you considered the potential risks and hurdles?