Strategies for Writing Winning Grants
Writing a successful grant can be a difficult undertaking, especially if you are not an experienced grant writer. Whether you are just starting out or have been grant writing for years, you have no doubt read quite a few articles about how to be a successful grant writer. However, in this article, we’re going to look beyond the usual grant writing tips to some of the lesser-known strategies for elevating your grant writing levels beyond the norm.
When we consider that every grant application will have grant writers of varying experience levels all vying for the same funding, you will need a few winning strategies such as these up your sleeve to stand out from the crowd.
Research Beyond the Obvious
Finding funding to support a project or organisation requires research and hard work, but it also takes creativity and dedication to stand out from other applicants. To increase their chances of success, grant writers should look beyond the obvious when researching potential grants and use strategies to ensure their application stands out.
When starting the research process, grant writers should think creatively outside of the box. They should consider all areas of potential fundraising such as corporate sponsorships and foundation grants that could provide larger amounts of funds than government or individual donors might offer. Grant writers should also avoid limiting themselves to local opportunities. State or National grants can provide more substantial donations and reach new audiences for organisations pursuing bigger projects or goals.
Yet, beyond the process of simply researching to find suitable grants, there is another vital area where research will help you achieve grant writing success. Grant writing applications will be considerably strengthened when you can cite research that supports the goals of the project or organisation. Given it can take quite some time to accumulate quality research material, it is worthwhile for organisations to maintain a library of reference material that can support different grant applications. Finally, the grant writer should ensure any research cited is current and valid in terms of region and demographic factors, as well as aligning to the objectives of the grant application at hand.
Align Your Goals to Funders
For grant writers looking to secure grants for their organisation, there is no better way to start than by aligning your goals with potential funders. Grant writers usually take the time to analyse what kind of projects each funder is interested in supporting and to ensure their project meets funder’s criteria, however it is even more vital to ensure you highlight this alignment of goals in your application.
First, try to find out as much as possible about the funder’s mission statement, areas they prioritise funding in, past recipients they have supported, etc. This information can be invaluable when crafting your proposal, so it resonates with what the funder is looking for. Second, pay close attention to any guidelines or individual goals and objectives listed by potential funders and tailor sections of your proposal accordingly, using matching language and terminology so that you connect with evaluators at their level.
By taking these steps, you’ll erase many doubts and questions in funders minds about whether your project is a good fit for their funding and increase your success potential.
Sell the Bigger Picture
When writing a proposal, it is important for grant writers to think beyond individual programs or activities. Too often, organisations present their project as a pressing need that focusses on the benefits only for their own members. However, grant writers really should be focusses on addressing questions such as how their work will create lasting change. This can be at a community, regional or national level or all of these. For example, if your organisation seeks funding for a new program that offers educational opportunities to disadvantaged youth, illustrate why this program is necessary in relation to broader initiatives like economic development, or social justice reform. Looking further, you might mention how providing more opportunities for our youth to be successful contributes to reduced crime and suicide rates and decreases the strain on mental health resources.
To give your grant writing a winning edge, you want to craft a narrative that sells the ripple effect where benefits are felt well beyond your organisation alone. Tying this into the organisation’s vision and mission will highlight to funders that you have always seen the bigger issues that drive your purpose. Draw parallels to your research material for further impact and mostly importantly, weave it all together in your narrative with what motivates funders by showing an understanding of the larger conversations on issues they care about. Knowing how to effectively sell this bigger picture can help grant writers craft more compelling narratives and secure larger grants.
Remember the Basics, then Strategically Elevate
The majority of grant writers understand the basic components of effective grant writing such as researching potential funding sources, developing clear goals and objectives, creating a detailed budget, outlining the project design and timeline, preparing supporting documents and submitting the application to potential funders. Additionally, grant writers also acknowledge they must demonstrate their organisation’s mission and track record to create a persuasive case for funding.
However, to be even more successful as a grant writer and elevate your success, you need to adopt an arsenal of winning strategies to stand out from the grant writing crowd. Firstly, be sure to research beyond the obvious to justify the project and its impact. Secondly, always make sure to align your goals to the funders’ priorities. Thirdly, don’t forget to sell the bigger picture and explain why this project matters. By adopting the key strategies mentioned in this article will greatly increase your funding chances.
