| First, you must research grantors whose funding | | | | Again, be respectful of the grantors that want to |
| guidelines include being prepared for an | | | | fund your project and use their money wisely. |
| emergency, whether it is an earthquake, | | | | Once you have identified a grantor who may be |
| hurricane, wildfire, or general emergency | | | | willing to support your project, consider the |
| preparedness. The Internet is a wealth of | | | | following when making the request: |
| information on grantors. Be specific and narrow | | | | - Funding Cycle – When will the grantor accept |
| your search to make sure that your needs are a | | | | requests? Some have a specific deadline for |
| good fit for the grantor; "grant funds for | | | | accepting grant requests. Others will accept |
| emergency supplies for low-income rural | | | | requests at any time. |
| population" is much better than "grant funds". Also, | | | | - Funding – Does this request include all of the |
| service organizations (e.g., Kiwanis, Lions, Rotary, | | | | funding to support your project or will you |
| etc.) in your area may be looking for a project. | | | | depend upon additional funding sources. Such |
| Call and ask if you can make a presentation at | | | | arrangements may need to be defined. Project |
| their next meeting. These service organizations | | | | sustainability may also need to be addressed if |
| usually want to support projects within their | | | | applicable. |
| geographical area, and their guidelines as to what | | | | - Process – What is the process for |
| projects they will fund may be broader than | | | | submitting a request? Does the grantor require a |
| other grantors. Large, national retailers and local | | | | letter of intent before requesting a full proposal? |
| businesses may also be willing to support needs in | | | | Do they have a specific form to complete? Does |
| their community. Many times, large retailers give | | | | it have to be submitted on-line? |
| the managers of local stores the latitude to fund | | | | - Guidelines – Be sure that your submission is |
| community causes. | | | | exactly as the grantor requested. Many times, a |
| Next, are the grantors willing to fund the | | | | grantor will not even consider a grant request, |
| population you serve or are trying to reach (i.e., | | | | regardless of the cause, that does not explicitly |
| special needs, low-income)? If your project | | | | follow their guidelines. This may include a response |
| involves serving low-income senior citizens, it may | | | | that does not present information in the defined |
| not be a good fit for a grantor that only funds | | | | order, too many pages, the improper font size, |
| children's projects. On the other hand, a better | | | | etc. |
| target may be a grantor whose mission is helping | | | | - Questions – Your submission should clearly |
| seniors remain independent in their homes. If you | | | | and succinctly provide the information the grantor |
| are unsure if the grantor's mission meets your | | | | has requested in the same order as their |
| specific project needs, it is okay to call a grantor's | | | | guidelines. If they ask a question, answer it |
| representative and speak to him/her prior to | | | | succinctly and accurately. It is always a good idea |
| grant submittal. Usually, grantors are willing to | | | | to have an independent review of your grant |
| answer questions to determine if your need fits | | | | request to ensure strict compliance to grant |
| their funding guidelines. This is not the time to try | | | | guidelines. |
| and make your case as to why they should fund | | | | - Outcomes/Goals – What difference are you |
| your project; be respectful of their willingness to | | | | going to make? Don't skip this step or treat it |
| speak with you and help determine if they can | | | | lightly just because it is hard to quantify. If you |
| assist you. Your time is better spent with a | | | | can't make the case as to what difference their |
| grantor that may actually fund your grant | | | | funding is going to make for your project or the |
| request. | | | | people you serve, they will assume that you don't |
| Finally, make sure that you have identified a | | | | need the funds and will find a more appropriate |
| project need before you search for funding, | | | | project. |
| rather than becoming aware of a source of funds | | | | - Reporting – Make sure that you note the |
| and then attempting to create a use for the | | | | grantors reporting requirements and diligently |
| funds. Grantors can tell the difference between | | | | report your fund usage and outcomes/goals as |
| finding funds to fit a project and finding a project | | | | requested. |
| to fit the funds, and they won't fund the latter. | | | | |