Thursday, June 13, 2019

Advantages Of Grant Proposal Training

By Brian Powell


In order to provide services, nonprofits need money. Like any other profitable company, they need funds to exist and provide their services. Though they are designed to serve the community and have no shareholders that can make a profit, they are usually desperate for funding from different sources. Donations and grants are a great way to get the funding needed. Staff can take advantage of grant proposal training in order to help with the process of filling out applications for the available funding.

Before the writing begins, the problem needs to be defined. This isn't just a high-level description but involves time to find out how impactful the problem is on the community and why other organizations and government systems are failing to address the situation. No organization can get funding without knowing exactly what problem they are trying to solve and whether or not it is worth solving.

Throughout the process, stakeholders need to be identified and involved. It is not enough for a single person to begin the writing process. There are stakeholders in and out of the organization that needs to be actively participating. They can help formulate the problems and programs to find solutions. They will also have an interest in getting the proposal done on time and in good form so the money can be obtained and the programs started.

Explain the proposed solution in detail. Not only will you want to explain how you will solve the problem, but you should include information such as costs, who will benefit, and how the program will be organized. Providers want to know their money is going to be spent well and not wasted. Have as much detail in this section as needed to show that you have not only found a solution but know how to fix it within reason. This may also include information about other ways you can obtain support such as getting free or used office furniture and supplies to reduce costs.

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.

Look up funding sources. The government and foundations regularly update their information for applications on the web and in publications. Take the time to read their requirements. If you don't follow them exactly you can expect to be denied. They will also show what types of records you will have to maintain in order to continue to receive funding after the first period.

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.

Getting money is part of running an organization that helps people. To provide the services you need to reach out to organizations that have money available to help. Take the time to research their rules and make sure you follow them closely in order to complete the process and obtain funding.




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