| When explicit application guidelines are published by the foundation,
carefully follow the instructions. If outlines or a series of questions
are provided, follow the indicated order, answer each section, and avoid
evasive language. |
| Use declarative rather than conditional verbs. Avoid the words if,
could, and might. Instead, boldly declare that the gift will create a positive
outcome. |
| Shorter is better. Keep your prose tight and the details condensed.
Never exceed the recommended page length or fiddle with margins to sqeeze
in more words. Foundation officers are buried in paperwork, so make your
proposal an easy read. |
| Document the “need” or “problem” on multiple levels. If space allows,
provide a recent national statistic with the source identifed by name or
title and date. Next provide a statistic related to your geographic region
or town. Finally, summarize internal data to show how many participants
are helped or services are provided by your organization. Thinking ahead,
your organization should develop a system for documenting unmet needs,
such as the number of monthly referrals that must be turned away due to
current facility limitations. |
| When submitting a proposal to a corporation, use language describing
an investment, rather than a gift. Be more explicit on the benefits for
the company, such as visibility through press releases or naming opportunities. |
| The fundraising consultant firm of Craver, Mathews, Smith and Company
reports that baby boomers also prefer viewing their philanthropy as an
investment, instead of a gift. |
| Avoid dwelling on problems. Although proposals traditionally document
the “need” for funding, make sure that the challenges do not sound insurmountable.
Focus on opportunities that result from the challenges your organizations
faces. |
| Establish the credentials of project leadership and the qualifications
of the sponsoring organization. |
| Provide a realistic assessment of the urgency that drives your proposal
submission. Is the unemployment rate dramatically increasingly in
your community because of recent layoffs? Has the population of local
wildlife declined rapidly due to creek pollution? Remember however
that funders commonly require two months to one year to process grant applications.
Your proposed timeline must reflect both the need for urgent action and
the realities of anticipated funding cycles. |
| Before mailing, ask a co-worker to help you doublecheck that every
required attachment is included. |
| In The “How To” Grants Manual, author David Bauer distinguishes
between reactive and proactive grantsmanship. The reactive mode involves
developing a project first, hunting for funders, and then scrambling to
meet a deadline. In contrast, proactive grantseeking begins with researching
funders, matching their interests to possible projects, and then cultivating
a relationship with the grantmaker. Be proactive by setting aside time
for broad foundation research each week. |
| Do not send the same generic boilerplate proposal
to a random list of foundations. Always tailor the proposal and the specific
budget request based on extensive research into the foundation’s priorities. |
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PAGE UNDER DEVELOPMENT: January 15, 2000
Target Date
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