Grantwriting Frequently Asked Questions
Question:
How do we find out about funding opportunities?
Answer:
The RAC Funding page includes federal and private funding programs
of interest to rural health and human services providers. RAC
staff review the Federal Register daily, Monday-Friday, to identify
new federal funding opportunities.
You can also contact our office
at 800-270-1898 or info@raconline.org to request a custom search
of funding sources. Please include your
city, state and county and the purpose of your project in your
request.
Question:
Should we try to find a single funder or
multiple funding sources?
Answer:
While it would be wonderful to find a single source of funding
for a major project, many small organizations rely on multiple
funding streams to support their work. Don't discount the smaller
chunks of money that are available from funders in your area.
If you add up several small grants you may find you have enough
money to do what you set out to do.
Question:
I found a funding program that looks good.
Should I call first, or just send in a proposal?
Answer:
Even if a funding program looks like a great match for your organization,
it is still a good idea to call and talk with the funder. In
tight financial times, many funders narrow their focus
to just
a few priority areas. Make
sure that this is the right program for your agency before you
spend time and money developing a formal proposal.
Question:
What is 501(c)(3) status and why is it of
interest to funders?
Answer:
501(c)(3) is a non-profit status recognized by the Internal Revenue
Service. Donors to 501(c)(3) organizations are entitled to a
full tax deduction for their contributions. Some funders limit
their giving to organizations with this non-profit status.
Question:
How important is networking to getting a
project funded?
Answer:
It can be very helpful to network with other agencies and organizations
in your community and beyond. It is important to build your reputation
so that funders are aware of the good work you do and think of
you when they have extra funds to allocate. Colleagues at other
nonprofits may share information on funding opportunities with
you. They may also be willing to act as grantwriting mentors.
Question:
Will partnering with other organizations
improve our chance of getting funded?
Answer:
It may. You can increase the potential reach of your project by
working with other organizations in your community or by partnering
with groups in neighboring communities. Partnering increases
the resource-base for the project, which can make it more attractive
to funders.
Question:
How do we show that our project addresses
a real need?
Answer:
Focus on how the project will help the community, rather than how
it will help your organization. Tell the donor about your community
and about the people you are trying to help. Help them understand
the impact that their funding will have on the community, and
back up your statements with facts.
Question:
When a funding opportunity requires matching funds, what are some sources or strategies to come up with the match?
Answer: For cash matches, local businesses are a good source. Get them involved early in the grantwriting process and let them know that their contribution will be used to leverage additional funds.
If an in-kind match is acceptable to the funder, there are many ways to show the contribution your organization and community are making to the project:
- Staff time can count as an in-kind match. Track the contribution that participants' organizations are providing by allowing them to work on the project, including their attendance at meetings.
- Construction and donations of capital equipment or supplies may be used as an in-kind match.
- An advertising agency or media company that works with you on a campaign may be providing service beyond what you pay for, and that could be counted as a match.
- You may also want to keep track of other types of in-kind contributions,
such as meeting space, other use of space, use of equipment and
software, printing, mailing, phone calls, and so on.
It is important to keep good records of in-kind matches. Document everything!
Question:
What can we do to make our project sustainable?
Answer: One rule of thumb is to plan for your project to be self-sustaining within a 3-year period. Develop a document similar to a business plan that addresses how you will generate income to sustain the project beyond the first 3 years. Here are two ways you might be able to generate income for your project:
- Charge for services provided. For example, you may be able to get reimbursement for health services provided to a group you are serving.
- Charge a membership fee. This works best if members receive some service, savings, or other benefit through membership.
Your business plan should include any fee schedules or membership fees you plan to use to generate income. A plan to apply for additional grants or awards in the future does not demonstrate sustainability because additional funding is not guaranteed.
Question: Where
do we get supporting statistics or research?
Answer:
For statistics resources specific to your state, please see the RAC State
Resources section. Some additional sources of statistics about your
community are the U.S. Census Bureau's
American Factfinder and your
state data center. For more
data sources, please see RAC's information guide on Statistics
and Data.
The
Rural Assistance Center can also help you identify specific statistics
and do searches for journal articles that can support
your grant proposal. For assistance, contact us at 800-270-1898
or info@raconline.org.
Question: Where can we get maps to support our application?
Answer: Maps can be an effective way
to illustrate the arguments made in your grant application. The RAC
Maps section includes national maps on a variety of rural health
and human services issues. Maps can be customized to focus on your
state or county and to show additional labels, boundaries and data.
More mapping options are available through the Community
Information Resource Center. For more rural mapping resources,
please see the Maps information guide.
Question: What
kind of writing style is most effective?
Answer:
Use a direct and clear writing style. Use headings and bulleted lists to help
the reader find important information. Avoid using jargon, wordy explanations,
or an academic writing style. Focus on the positive impact your project will
have.
Question: Do
I need to read and follow the application instructions?
Answer:
Yes, it is very important to structure your proposal according to the instructions
provided by the funder. Following the instructions will make it easier for
the reviewers to find the information they need and will ensure that you
don't forget required information.
Question: What do I need to do to apply for a federal grant that requires electronic submission?
Answer:
Most federal agencies are now requiring that grant applications be
submitted electronically through Grants.gov. Please
be aware that some potential applicants not previously registered
with Grants.gov may
have trouble applying for certain grant opportunities due to short
application windows. Grants.gov requires
a one-time registration by the applicant organization. This is
a three step process and should be completed by any organization
wishing to apply for a grant. If you do not complete this registration
process you will not be able to submit an application. The registration
process will require some time (anywhere from 5 business days to
a month). Therefore, applicants or those considering applying at
some point in the future should register immediately. For more
information about the registration process, see the Grants.gov
Registration Brochure. To begin the registration process, visit Grants.gov:
Get Registered.
Question: Do
we need to hire a grantwriting consultant?
Answer:
It depends on your organization's staffing level and expertise. If there is
an individual or group on staff who can complete the proposal in time for
the application deadline, you may not need a consultant. If your
organization lacks the expertise to develop one aspect of the proposal, such
as the budget,
you may want to hire a consultant just for that section. Or you may choose
to have a professional grantwriter prepare the entire proposal. You may be
able to re-use the sections of the proposal describing your organization
and community on future proposals.
Question: We
don't have the money to pay a grantwriter or the staff to do
it all ourselves. Are there other options?
Answer:
There are several other routes to getting help with grantwriting. One would
be to identify someone with good writing skills who is interested in your
organization's work and willing to volunteer. Another would be to partner
with another organization on the project and cooperate with them to develop
the proposal. You may also want to consider hiring a student with good writing
skills to assist with editing the proposal.
Question: How
do I find examples of successful grant proposals?
Answer:
You can ask the funder for copies of proposals they have funded.
Question: How
can I learn more about preparing grant proposals?
Answer:
There are several online tutorials you can take on grantwriting:
To find out about upcoming
grantwriting training opportunities
in your community, contact a local public library
or college. You may also want to ask other grant-funded
organizations in your community to mentor you.
Question: Our
proposal was rejected. Should we give up?
Answer:
No. Many grant proposals are rejected several times before being funded. Review
the comments the grant reviewers made and address the projects weaknesses
in future applications.
Question: Our
proposal was funded. How do we live up to our funder's expectations?
Answer:
Write a thank you note to the funder, and submit reports about your project
on time. Follow through with the activities you outlined in your proposal,
and be sure to keep the funder informed about any changes that you need to
make when the project is in progress.
Credits
Last revised 11/17/2009
