Help for nonprofits who want to do the right thing right
Elements of a standard grant proposal |
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Executive Summary |
A brief overview (usually one page). |
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Statement of Need |
The problem you will address. Why is the project important and why is now the time to take action? |
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Project Description |
How you will carry out the project. Who are the participants and what are the methods? What is the time frame? How are different parts of the program related to each other? |
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Budget |
Breakdown of the money you’re asking for. Where will each part go and why is it necessary to the overall plan? |
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Impact |
What the project will accomplish. Give both hard data (such as how many scholarships the grant will fund) as well as insight into the larger significance of the project. How will your work influence society? |
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Organizational History |
Background information as well as future plans |
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Evaluation |
How will you prove that you accomplished what you intended? |
Identifying potential donors
See Research page for guidelines to prospect research.
Forming partnerships with donors
At this point you have already done the background research necessary to:
a. comprehensively explore the problem you want to
address
b. find donors that match your funding needs and project
goals.
You should think of the proposal as a way to show a funder how they can join you in a project
that you have conceptualized. The program areas listed in the grant guidelines identify the areas
that compel the foundation, corporation or agency. You are working on a project in that area.
Treat the proposal as a partnership – you both have resources necessary to undertake a
meaningful project that will have a measurable impact in an area important to you both. Neither
one of you could accomplish this good work on your own.
Make sure to mention other sources of funding in your proposal. It might seem counter-intuitive,
but funders are more likely to fund a project that already has financial backing. They want to be
part of a project that will definitely come to fruition. They believe in the goal as well.
Writing the Organizational History
Organizations with a long history may need to do dig up old brochures and annual reports in
order to synthesize the necessary historical data.
When was your organization founded and why? Who were
the founders and how did they choose the name? What is
the population served?
What were the original funding sources? What was the
original mission? Has the mission changed since you began?
How much money have you raised? What are the giving
trends? What fundraising efforts were most successful?
What variables contributed to their success?
What organizations serve a similar purpose to yours and
in what ways are you different? What makes you unique?
Do you collaborate with other organizations or have you in
the past?
What are your biggest accomplishments?
What are your short and long terms goals?
What is the significance of your organization?
that reference your organization
and personal stories from staff
members, volunteers and clients
is helpful. Keep a file with what
you find and encourage your
employees to keep adding to it.
You will soon have a big pile of
ideas to draw from and pieces to
include when drafting articles
for a newsletter or local paper
or looking for quotes and
anecdotes for your proposals.
Even if an organizational history
section is not required for a
particular proposal, you will
find it helpful to have all the
above information on hand
when talking to donors,
potential donors or prospective
employees about your
organization.
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