Three common missteps in seeking grants
If you are like other nonprofit leaders, you are passionate about your organization’s mission and work. You have selflessly invested countless hours into understanding the issues faced by the community you serve. You are a visionary who has created programs to achieve the widest reach and the greatest impact. Now you are looking for funds to support your vital work and don’t know how to build a successful grant strategy. If this sounds like you, read on.
Grant-seeking is an important part of your organization’s overall fundraising approach. It requires intentional planning for the greatest chances of success. In my time working with nonprofits, I have observed common missteps that you should consider as you build out your fundraising strategy. Here are the top-three:
Neglecting the funder’s mission and priorities: Nonprofits often focus too strongly on their own mission and needs as opposed to those of the funder. Early in my grant writing career, I too fell into this pattern of thought because it seems rational. In time, I learned that fundraising is a collaboration between the nonprofit and the funding organization. Both organizations have a mission, values, and priorities to pursue. This is why your requests for funding should demonstrate clear alignment with the funder’s goals. By focusing on alignment, you are outlining a partnership that is a win-win for you both. When writing proposals, I often ask myself how my client can serve the funder. In other words, emphasize how your programs help the funding organization meet their own mission and goals.
Doing too much too soon: As nonprofit leaders, we see the urgent need our programs can provide. This can clash with a funder’s approach, which is often more careful and pragmatic. Indeed, funders tend to approach grant funding as a financial investment. This means the funder wants to see proof that their financial investment in your organization will yield dividends, not through revenue, but through clear measurable outcomes that demonstrate their funds were used responsibly and had positive impact within the grant period. This requires careful planning and development of internal infrastructure for data collection, data analysis, financial tracking, and timely progress reports. A common mistake is trying to win grants that are far beyond your organization’s capacity to successfully administer. Instead, focus on smaller grant options that provide funding you can quickly use to build organizational capacity and successfully administer grant-funded programs.
Spreading your fundraising efforts too broadly: Related to the previous bullet point, nonprofits often adopt a “shotgun” approach to grant-seeking rather than developing a clear and focused fundraising strategy. When nonprofits are just starting out, or they are ready to expand programming, it is easy to cast a wide net hoping for a greater likelihood of finding much-needed funds. Indeed, it is at this stage that a more careful and focused approach is essential. Casting too wide a net runs a higher risk of wasted time and resources that could be put to better use through identifying and cultivating the most highly-aligned funders in your service sector. Developing a clearly-defined fundraising strategy will help you focus on the best funders that provide the greatest chances for success.
Avoiding these three missteps can save you and your nonprofit a great deal of time, money, and frustration. If you are unsure how to develop a focused grant-seeking strategy, reach out to discuss how Project Rocket can support your organization’s needs.
