If you’re interested in a grant, there are a few things you should do before assembling a team to submit.
Determining suitability and eligibility and any financing limits, total workload necessary, and due dates should be at the top of your priority list. But, at the end of the day, you want to know if the grant is doable and worthwhile from all perspectives. This blog post is for those of you who are new to grant seeking.
Is Your Organization and Project Eligible for the Grant?
When determining if a grant is a suitable fit for your organization, the most crucial factor to consider is whether both your agency and your project are eligible. First and foremost, is financing accessible in your geographic area? Second, is there a sufficient number of the desired target demographic in your area to ensure adequate project participation? Third, is there a requirement to require your target location to be within a specified poverty level or crime rate? Importantly, you must ensure that your project aligns with the priorities of the donor and that you can appropriately communicate how your project will help the funder achieve its objectives.
Is the Grant Funding Restricted?
Determine the financing range available from this source and whether the amount required for your project fits within the lowest and maximum available. Determine whether a match is necessary and, if so, whether in-kind contributions are acceptable as a match. Examine carefully to determine if all expenses you will incur, such as travel, conference fees, food, administrative charges, and so on, can be deducted from the grant.
How Much Effort is Required, and When Should the Grant Application Be Submitted?
Examine the grant requirements to discover what documentation is required. For example, is the story limited to 5,000 characters, or are they anticipating something longer, like 50 pages, plus a budget narrative, logic model, and timeline? Assess which attachments are required and whether they are easily accessible. Do you, for example, have audited financial accounts, job descriptions, resumes, organizational charts, and so on hand if the donor demands it? Is it necessary to register for the site several days in advance if the grant is submitted online? Is it essential for the donor to involve partners and produce paperwork, such as Memorandums of Understanding? Finally, how much reporting is required throughout and after the project—will you be able to collect and report the necessary data?
All of these factors must be considered before determining if your organization has the capacity (including available time) to apply.
