3 Grant Writing Tips to Catch That Funders’ Attention

Grants. You’ve most likely heard the term thrown around the nonprofit field, but do you (and your nonprofit organization) know what they are? And if you do, do you understand the grant process and the benefits of acquiring a grant?

Grants can come from foundations, corporations and government agencies. Sure, you hear the word “grant,” and you may be thinking, “free, easy money.” You can think of it that way, but getting approved for a grant is no easy feat; it takes plenty of research, preparation, understanding, effort, and time. And while receiving grants can be a tremendous asset to your nonprofit’s revenue stream, it should be supplementary to your nonprofit’s current fundraising plan, not its main source of revenue.

The starting point of any grant is finding where you can apply for grants, and that includes doing extensive research on what foundations or corporations are offering grants and writing an outstanding grant proposal to get your organization on the funder’s radar. Nonprofits should apply for grants only if they check off all the funder’s qualifications, and remember, there is a likely chance that first-time applicants will get denied — but don’t let that discourage you from trying.