How to Successfully Compete with other Non-Profit Organizations …and Win the Grant
Because most funding agencies provide financial assistance to non-profit organizations, the competition is always stiff. Non-profit organizations try to capture the interests of federal agencies and private foundations. As in your group, you always make sure that you are able to submit an excellent grant proposal. But, is it enough to win the grant? No! You may have had the best grant proposal ever made and the best project ever proposed; but if your organization itself is not credible enough before the funders, you cannot possibly get their attention and win a grant award. Now, how does a funding agency determine the credibility of a non-profit organization? Before writing or even hiring a grant writer for your proposal, consider the following strategies to make your non-profit organization interesting in eyes of the funding agencies:
1. Quality of Programs
The primary concern of funders, when reviewing your application, is your programs. They will not offer you a part of their income if your programs do not create such a huge impact on your target population. More importantly, you must be able to develop or introduce programs that are highly needed in your geographic focus. For example, if a great number of youth in your area have low academic skills, instead of your usual sports game every weekend, why not introduce a more beneficial activity, such as a one-on-one mentoring program? Your organization must know what kind of assistance your target population will need from you through a thorough community research.
2. The Right Target
Again, make a comprehensive research to determine who needs help in your location the most? Not because there are many seniors in your community, you are already thinking about providing assistance for the elderly. What if the unemployed parents are fewer than the elderly, but they have a number of children who depend on them? Isn’t that something to place much weight on? Funders must know if you are keeping your focus on people who greatly require help.
3. Collaborate with Other Groups or Sectors
Funders will determine the genuineness in your endeavor and your persistence to make a positive difference in the lives of other people if you try to extend your resources to give assistance. You must be able to establish partnerships with other sectors or organizations in your community. You must be able to have partners that will add direction to your goals and objectives. For example, your organization has made a partnership with student councils of the local schools to implement your mentoring program or with fitness groups in your community to put into action your anti-obesity campaign program. In this way, funding agencies will know that you are making your brain work for the success of your organization.
4. Define your Mission
Do not be too ambitious. Do not take as much goals and objectives as you can. You must have one mission and this must be where your goals and objectives must focus. Do not take all what your target population need. If they clutter in your mind, they will also mess up your organization’s performance.
5. Focus also on Program Sustainability
The adage “Take a step one day at a time” does not go well with sustainability. As you try to do your present programs with the resources you have, you have to look forward or you have to think ahead. Funders must know if you have plans for the future. Funders want to know if their assistance will give you a significant start or a “one-day meal”. Let the funders know that you are aiming to sustain your programs or your operations by discussing your future plans, financially and program wise.
A grant proposal is a medium that bridges a non-profit organization with the funding organizations. But it is not enough to make you win a grant. The integrity of your organization will share a sufficient portion of the cause.
