The Impact Issue #15: Crafting The Perfect Proposal (To Win Grants)

Greetings!

Summer has finally hit its stride.

With longer days and brighter sun, this is the perfect time to revitalize your grant strategy.

If you’re planning your next big project, we're here to help in this week’s The Impact.Find guidance on customizing grant proposals, project management tips, grant opportunities, and value-packed freebies.Let's make this summer a season of successful grants!

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Pitfalls and Pointers

We’ve said it before: prioritizing good-fit funders over sheer volume will save you tons of time and win you lots of money.

But have you considered if you’re a good-fit candidate for their organization?

Consider this.

⚠️ Pitfall: Sending a Copy-Paste Proposal

We get it: you want to save time by sending out mass grant proposals.

But these copy-paste proposals lack personalization and prevent you from standing out in the stack.

Remember: funders are also looking for their best fit.

💡 Pointer: Curate Every Proposal

Do thorough research on potential funders, and customize each proposal to their specs and values. This allows them to see you as the right fit for them.

• Address the funder’s main contact by name.
  • Tip: Check out the Key People section of a funder on Instrumentl to easily find a funder’s main contact.
    
    Here’s an example from the Clif Bar Family Foundation

• Clearly outline your nonprofit’s entire program. Mention:
  • The main problem your project addresses
  • Specific goals and measurable objectives
  • Your budget and financials
    
    
• Make your “Ask” explicit.
  • Here’s an example of a CLEAR ask:

“Dear [Name of Individual at foundation overseeing grants]:

My name is Jane Doe and I am the [Job Title] of the [XYZ] Nonprofit Organization. We are a 501(c)3 organization located in [This City, This State]. I am writing to request funding from [Foundation Name] for our proposal to [brief program description] in the amount of $[X].”

• Tell them exactly how their grant can help you.
  

Want to craft customized proposals that win more grants?

🎁 Get started with these free grant proposal templates here!

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Tech You Should Know

Keeping track of multiple grant applications, deadlines, and team collaborations can be overwhelming for nonprofit professionals.

But how can you ensure everything stays organized and on schedule?

What:

Trello is a visual project management tool that uses boards, lists, and cards to help you stay organized.

How Grant Writers Can Use It:

• Task Management: Create boards for each grant project with cards for tasks like research, writing, and submission deadlines.
  • Tip: Use Trello’s “Butler” automation feature to set up recurring tasks and reminders for critical deadlines so nothing falls through the cracks.
    
• Collaboration: Share boards with team members, assign tasks and add comments to streamline communication and collaboration.
  • Tip: Enable the Power-Up for Slack integration to receive real-time notifications on task updates and comments within your favorite channel.
    
• Progress Tracking: Move cards through lists (e.g., To Do, In Progress, Done) to visually track grant application progress. Attach documents and proposals directly into cards.
  • Tip: Use color-coded labels to prioritize tasks and add due dates with calendar Power-Ups to visualize your project timeline. 

Keep in Mind:

• Freemium Model: Trello offers a free version, but some advanced features like integrations with other tools (e.g. Google Drive) and larger file attachments require a paid plan. The free version limits you to 10 boards per workspace and 10MB per file attachment.
• Digital Clutter: As projects grow, boards can become cluttered. Regularly review and tidy up your boards.

Need to stay on top of your workflow? 👉 Check out the best software for smoother grant management!

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Expert Perspectives

🏆 Linda Rucker on winning as a grant writer

Grant writers are in a competitive industry. Winning more grants can be a huge morale boost.

That’s what Linda Rucker experienced after leveling up her grant writing efficiency, winning Cy-Hope 30% more grant awards.

“Seeing how many funding opportunities are out there gave our Executive Director and our development team the confidence to hire me as a full-time grant writer.”

Today, Linda Rucker is the main grant writer at Cy-Hope, a nonprofit serving underserved students in the suburbs of Houston.

Here’s her expert advice:

• Ditch the spreadsheets: “I used to store grant documents on my hard drive… In such a setting, I struggled to cultivate new grant opportunities.” Now, Linda uses a comprehensive grant management software program to keep track of multiple projects and deadlines.
  
• Know what to look for: Before deciding to pursue a grant, encourage your team to focus on these four key things:
  • Median grant amount
  • Past grantees 
  • Top funding categories (by NTEE codes) 
  • Funder contacts
    
• Use your connections: Look at funder trustees or leadership and leverage any connections your board members may have.
  
• Share your successes: Make grantseeking a collaborative team process. The more you win, the more everyone wins. Enjoy the morale boost!
  

🔎 Discover more of Linda’s grant writing strategies for winning more grants!

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Featured Nonprofit

Eversight: restoring sight, preventing blindness‍

Reduced applications, increased grant awards
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Mission: To restore sight and prevent blindness through donation, transplantation, and research.

Eversight’s mission is to restore sight through the healing power of donation, transplantation, and research. Based in Ann Arbor, MI, Eversight is one of the largest eye banks in the US, providing sight-saving transplant services and furthering research into the causes of blindness.

Becky Harris, Philanthropy Director for Foundations & Corporations at Eversight, felt demoralized  spending all her time filling out applications without much response.

Everything changed when she adopted Instrumentl and focused on aligning with the right opportunities instead of aiming for sheer volume.

With these adjustments, Eversight reduced their applications by 73% per month, yet secured more funding from grants.

“It's no longer, ‘Let’s just fill out 10 grant applications and hope we get a response.’ Now, I almost always get a response. Our success rate has gone from 14% to 22%; that’s a significant jump,” Becky shared.

Thank you for your time, Becky, and we’re thrilled to support Eversight in your mission.

👉 Learn more of Becky’s tips for winning more funding faster!

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Opportunities Spotlight

Detwiler Family Foundation Grant

Who It’s For: Nonprofit organizations certified as tax-exempt under Sections 501(c)(3) or 170(c).
Next Deadline: July 1, 2024
Grant Amount: US $5,000 - US $50,000

The Details:

• This grant helps local organizations enrich and improve the lives of underserved children through access to education and the arts.
• Locations: Chester and Montgomery Counties in Pennsylvania, Flathead County in Montana, Atlanta, Georgia, the Upper Valley Region in VT/NH and Portland, Oregon.
  

👉 Apply Here!

Venable Foundation Grants

Who It’s For: US place-based organizations and initiatives (see grant for locations)

Next Deadline: Sep 2, 2024

Grant Amount: Approximately US $10,000

The Details:

• This grant provides essential resources to nonprofits nationwide that serve economically disadvantaged people with the tools they need to thrive.
  

👉 Apply Here!

🔍 Discover thousands of other grant opportunities now!

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Networking Nook

The opportunities that were originally shared in this issue of The Impact have since passed. To check out more recent and upcoming live events, go here.

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In Case You Missed It

📑 Article: How to Ask a Foundation for Their Grant Funding And Win

Cold pitching is hard. But as a grant seeker, this is one of the most valuable skills. For a higher cold-pitch success rate, identify foundations aligned with your organization’s values.

Want 3 key strategies and 5 bonus tips for pitching to foundations? This article covers it all.

👉 Get the Full Story!

📼 Video: Eyes on the Prize: The Secret to Finding Your Best-Fit Grants

Facing a huge stack of grants? In this value-packed workshop, Meredith Noble from Learn Grant Writing and Loretta Skiff from Planet Grants share the secrets to finding the best-fit grants.

Learn how to use the grant prospecting funnel to your advantage and identify grants with the highest ROI. Save time, secure funds.

👉 Watch the Workshop!

🎁 Free Grant Workshop

Tips from a Former Grantmaker: Live Proposal Review w/ Shavonn Richardson‍

Did you spend hours writing a proposal, just to get rejected without explanation? In this 1-hour workshop, you’ll watch as Shavonn Richardson, a former corporate foundation grantmaker, reviews an actual proposal “live” and provides real-world insights.

You’ll learn:

• How to make your next proposal more competitive 
• How to structure your proposal 
• How to avoid common proposal mistakes
  

👉 Check out this free workshop!

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Efficient Grant Management Begins Here

Finding grants, applying, meeting deadlines, and following up with funders can be hectic. Keep it all in line with Instrumentl. Our grants platform makes it easy to stay organized and efficient for every stage of the grant lifecycle. 🔥Start your 14-day free trial now (and find out)