In This Issue:

·        Ten Things Every Foundation Is Looking For In A Proposal

·        August Issue – "Compassion Capital Grant – Getting ready to submit"

Ten Things Every Foundation Is Looking For In A Proposal

With greater competition for fewer and fewer dollars – it is important to be knowledgeable of what foundations look for in a good grant proposal. Over the last 17 years of grant writing I have met with many foundations, and have even been on the grant making side as well. Through these experiences I have found the following ten things that all foundations (secular or Christian) look for in a grant proposal. Some of these items will sound very basic but it is amazing how many grant applications are rejected for some very simple reasons.
 

Did you follow the directions and guidelines?
You would be amazed to know the number of applicants who apply for funding and do not follow the directions and guidelines that the foundation has made available. In speaking with one foundation, they stated that nearly 25% of the requests they received are ineligible because they didn't follow the directions or guidelines.
 

Did you send a form letter or is it customized?
When submitting numerous applications/proposals to many different foundations it is important not to send a form letter. A customized, personalized request to a foundation will show that you are a professional organization. This is more than just changing the name of the funder but also be sure that your request is consistent with what the funder has identified that they support.
 

Is the project creative and unique?
With foundation's receiving far more requests than they could ever fund, it is important that your project is creative and unique. Projects that are realistic and creative are looked upon highly. Foundations don't like to fund projects that are just a duplication of what some other organization may already be doing.
 

Does it involve an element of calculated risk?
Foundations want organizations to take risks to solve problems and achieve some of the goals they have set for themselves. Let me stress that these must be well planned out and well thought out risks.
 

Does it have a strong evaluation tool with outcomes?
They want to know how you are going to evaluate or measure the outcomes of your project. With construction and capital projects this is easy but with programs it is more difficult. You need to establish tools by which your goals/outcomes will be measured and how you will report these back to the funder.
 

Is the request clear especially in the budget numbers?
Remembering that foundations receive far more requests than they can ever fund, they don't have time or the staff many times to ask follow up questions. Because of this, if your numbers don't make sense they may pass over your proposal instead of making a call for clarification. So it is extremely important that your budget makes sense and is easy to understand.
 

Is their collaboration with other ministries?
Is it very important to partner and collaborate with other ministries/organizations that can add value to your program/project. You need to recognize that you don't do all things well and that others may do some things better than you do. Bringing the two or three of you together substantially increases your chances of receiving a grant. It will strongly strengthen your proposal. Successful collaboration is more about the personalities involved many times rather than the actual mechanics of the collaboration so find people you can work with.
 

Does the organization have the capacity to achieve the project?
Just because an organization may have a "good idea" that does not mean it has the ability to achieve its goal. For instance, if in an outreach program you have historically served 100 youth and you are now asking for a grant to serve 300 youth, you may not have the capacity or ability to accomplish that goal. Foundations consider the capacity of an organization very strongly when deciding on giving a grant or not.
 

Is there a legitimate need for this project/program?
It is important to consider if there truly is a need for what you are asking for or is it just a perceived need. Anecdotal stories and testimonies are not enough to substantiate a need on their own. You need to have hard data and facts to build your case for support. Third party information about what the need is will strengthen your proposal.
 

Is the Board financially supporting the organization?
A question potential funders ask is, "why should we support the organization if the board members of the organization themselves are not supporting it." You need to be sure that your board, at a sacrificial dollar amount for them personally, is all supporting the work of the organization. This sends a strong message that you have good support and leadership.

Coming in August!!

• Compassion Capital Grant* 

What should our ministry be doing today to be ready to submit in 2008?

In the next month the government will be announcing the 200 ministries/organizations who were awarded a $50,000 grant to increase their capacity in 2007. Learn what little things you can be doing now to present a winning proposal in 2008!!

* Tim Boling has successfully written this grant the last three years.   He has also served as a reviewer of this grant for the federal government in 2005 and as the Chairperson of a review team in 2007.