Grant Writing Toolkit Series
There are many foundations, charities, corporations, and government entities that are working to make our local communities happier and healthier places to live and that may be interested in providing financial support to your organization to help promote joint goals and vision for the community.
Grant funding can be an effective tool to bring a needed program or service to life in your community. However, before you begin researching and applying for grants, it is important to know the answers to some key questions.
- Am I prepared to start writing grant proposals?
- How do I research grant opportunities?
- What is typically involved in the grant writing process?
- Are the programs I am applying for “grant-ready?”
- Is this program a good match for a particular funder?
- Can we deliver on the reporting and outcomes a particular funder is looking for?
Download the entire series in PDF format here.
An Introduction to the Grant Writing Toolkit Series
Neighborhood associations have the potential to benefit from grants as a source of funding.
A Warning About Grant Writing
While the payoff can be worth it, it is important to go into the grant-writing process with realistic expectations.
Types of Grantmaking Organizations
There are several different types of organizations that may present funding opportunities for your neighborhood association.
Grant Application Processes
Before you start writing, you want to assess your eligibility, prioritize which grants to write, and assess your capacity and time for writing and managing each potential funding source.
Recipient Responsibilities
Make sure to set yourself up for success before launching the funded program.
Nonprofit Organizations
This section will help you understand the basics of nonprofit structures. Please note that this information is meant to be an overview. Please consult your attorney when making business decisions.
Basic Information on Obtaining Nonprofit Status and Fiscal Sponsorship
Some basic minimum requirements for attaining a nonprofit ruling from the IRS are detailed below.
Grant Research Guide and Tools
Identifying funders that align with your mission and goals is key to successful grant seeking.
Local Funding Sources
One of the best places to begin researching potential funders is in your home community.
Application Components
Grant proposals have several components, and this section will guide you through the typical sections in most proposals.
Application Components: Need Statement
A need statement establishes the problem that the proposed program or project will tackle.
Application Components: Program Design
The Program Design section is where you will describe all components of the proposed program, the service delivery method, established best practices, and your experience implementing this program.
Application Components: Goals, Objectives, Outputs, and Outcomes
While you will want to match the funder’s definitions, it will be important to understand the difference between goals, objectives, outputs, and outcomes.
Application Components: Organizational Capacity
The bottom line here is not to be afraid to brag. Your neighborhood association has unique assets that no other organization does. Find the ones that relate to your proposal and describe them in detail here.
Application Components: Evaluation and Conclusion
Evaluation is where you describe how you measure progress and results, and conclusion is where restate the purpose of your grant proposal and the outcomes that can be expected if you receive funding.
Tips for Writing a Winning Proposal
One of the most important things to remember is to make sure your entire proposal is telling the same story.