Written by: Shauntae E Lewis, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Picture it. You have a passion for helping those within your community, maybe even nationwide! You develop a nonprofit and then realize that you need money to support your vision. So, you start researching grants. I mean, it can’t be that hard to find funds for a project that will help the community, right? So you scour google for hours looking for the perfect grant only to find that the same request for proposal (RFP) keeps appearing and the deadline has passed. UGH! What am I doing wrong?
Or maybe you found a grant that speaks to your mission and vision. Yayy! You pull out your laptop and prepare to start writing the proposal, but you don’t know where to start. Or you started and got stuck because you’re really not sure what you should write.
Can I tell you a secret? Listen closely. You are not alone! I cannot tell you the number of nonprofits leaders that reach out to me at their wit’s end. Most nonprofit founders know what a grant is but have no idea what the process is to obtain grant funding. It’s not the nonprofit leader’s fault. With so much information related to grants on the internet, it is easy to get confused. For example, you may remember the 90’s commercial with the guy in the suit decorated with tons of question marks proclaiming his ability to get you to grant money, asking you to purchase his book. You buy the book only to find grant opportunities with no direction on how to write the grant to secure the funds. Why? Because it’s easier to find a grant than to apply for it. The grant proposal is the last step of the proposal process.
So if writing the grant is the final step in the grant proposal process, what is the first step? I’m so glad you ask. This article serves as a very high-level overview of the initial process that a nonprofit should follow to start securing grants for their organization
Step One: Find your Grant Team: You have the dream but do you have the team? Why is securing your dream team so important?
As with any team, it is crucial to know who the players are and their role(s). While the size of your organization dictates the size of your dream team, the following roles are a requirement for success.
The Expert – This person knows the ends and outs of the organization, is current with company data and treads, and serves as the go-to person for “grey area” type questions.
The Finance Guru – This person handles the company’s budget. The Finance Guru is also the person that should review the budget narrative to ensure that the numbers and budget narrative coincide.
The Administrator – This person is responsible for creating team meetings, managing deadlines, and ensuring that all attachments have been received, including partnership letters. The Administrator gathers all documents needed for grant submission.
The Writer – This person understands how to read the request for proposal (RFP), evaluates the program for success, and writes the proposal, ensuring proper grammar and that the funder’s ask is clearly articulated.
Step Two: Program Development: You have the team. Now what?
You’ve established the team, and roles are defined, now is the time to develop your program. Program development is creating and outlining the organization’s mission, identifying and articulating community needs for the project, and providing solutions. This document also outlines barriers to entry, similar programs, identifies collaborators, and addresses sustainability. Properly outlining your program is one of the essential parts of the grant writing process as it sets the stage for what’s included in the proposal.
Step Three: Review the Numbers: Budget Time!!
Using the proposal, we can identify what is needed to ensure a successful program. If you are proficient in Excel, I would recommend using a spreadsheet to accomplish the mission.
Creating the budget isn’t the only step in the budget process. To complete a proper budget, a budget narrative is required. The narrative explains the line items shown on the budget spreadsheet. These two documents must line up. Budget mistakes are one of the biggest reasons grant proposals are rejected.
Step Four: Grant Research: Where should we look?
We learn of grant opportunities from our network of partners, friends, and family members. Often, we use search engines like Hello Alice, Grants.Gov, and Candid.com. The goal of grant research isn’t to just find a grant. The ultimate goal is to find a funder that properly aligns with your organization and review their grants. Identifying the ideal funder allows you time to contact the funder and build a relationship before grant submission, increasing your chances of securing funding
Now that you’ve identified the funder, it’s time to review the RFP. The RFP is the guide to writing a successful proposal for that specific funder. Word of advice: read it, print it, and reread it, again and again!
Step Five: Write the Grant: Finally! It is proposal writing time!
Do you see why the grant proposal is the last step in the grant process? Completing the preliminary steps before writing the grant proposal allows you to complete the project with ease because you have all the necessary information to complete the process. And if there are any unanswered questions, you know which member of your dream team to call
While your organizational needs will vary, the keys to writing a solid, successful grant proposal never changes. To learn more about available grant opportunities in your area or speak with a knowledgeable grant representative, feel free to reach out to a member of the Grant Life Consulting team.
Shauntae E Lewis, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Shauntae E. Lewis, a Certified Grant Writer, is the owner of Grant Life Consulting, a woman and veteran-owned consultancy that specializes in grant management. She is an Air Force veteran with over 18 years of experience in business writing, organizational management, and business development. She has a background in Business and is a member of the American Grant Writers’ Association, holding professional certifications in nonprofit program and budget development and proposal writing for foundation, corporate, and government grants. Additionally, Shauntae has extensive knowledge in program design and development, organizational training, recruiting and retention, collaborative management and marketing.
