All grant-seeking/grant-writing activities rely on one fundamental tool: the Grants Calendar. Calendars range from simplistic (a list of funder names) to comprehensive (a searchable database with numerous funding opportunities and multiple data-fields about each opportunity).

The choice of buying versus DIY-ing comes down to one thing: available resources. If cash is readily available (lucky you) I recommend buying a calendar. Creation is time-consuming so purchasing-as-a-product allows you to get on with the more important task of creating your grants pipeline. Purchase is common among large NFPs, which as per the ACNC’s definition are those with $1M+ revenue. Hospitals and universities, which undertake research as well as run programs, commonly purchase their calendar.

No cash – then DIY. Open an Excel document and start dropping in funder names and grant-round close dates. Research. Then research some more. As time goes on, you’ll establish which other data fields are important to your requirements (response date, grant round amount, disbursement amount are a few I insist upon). Funder names should be hyperlinked to the respective website or even more effective, direct to funder guidelines. Delegate several hours to initial calendar development, then 2-4 hours per week going forward for maintenance (depending of course on the number of opportunities and data fields in your calendar). Ensure that both creation and maintenance are one person’s responsibility. Given it’s the key tool, calendar accuracy (being able to trust your data) is critical to running a successful annual grants program.

What’s that, you don’t have internal resources either? Consider outsourcing to a volunteer. It’s a task that can be performed remotely and requires few tools (some basic computer hardware and software).

If that fails, contact The Grant Engineer.

Happy grant seeking!

Avoid these 5 grant mistakes & get more funding!

1. Too much focus on grant writing

Grant writing is one step in obtaining grant funding. The others are grant seeking, project/program design, and grants management. Spend no more than 25% of your time on the writing. BUT -- you can only do this if you’re putting 75% of your time into the other areas.

2. Too much waffle, too little detail

Ever had an ice-cream that’s all waffle and little cream? Disappointing isn’t it. Well imagine how funders feel when they read your application and can’t work out what you’re doing or why. The trick is to write your budget first. An itemised budget provides you with activities to write about, which gives you the detail that’s otherwise going to be missing. “The Smig Machine will be used to …” “Hiring The Oak Room (which seats 150 people) for 3 hours will enable us to …”. Ultimately, if you can’t write about your project or program at the micro level, you’re not ready to apply for funding.

3. Motherhood statements

“Disease X is the most common presentation at our Emergency Department”. “The equipment we are seeking will increase the number of tests we can perform”. How common is common? More common than what? How much of an increase in tests? Motherhood statements bring unwanted attention to your grant application because they scream laziness, uncertainty, lack of evaluation, or not enough sector knowledge (which my experience shows is rarely the case). No statement is better than a motherhood one.

4. Too much reliance on grant funding

Grant funding is one part of a diversified funding pie. It’s not the be-all and end-all. It’s not a salve for a wounded organisation. And it’s not a quick fix for a budget deficit. Before any grant writing is undertaken there needs to be work done on funding-pie slice size (what’s reasonable and feasible in terms of assets, resources, facilities, organisation programs and needs, and funding opportunities). Doing this piece of work upfront saves a lot of time and money, and manages expectations across multiple levels.

5. Too little standardisation

There are many parts of the grant-seeking process that can be standardised and systematised, templated and tooled. Yet time and again I see organisations re-searching for, or rewriting, information that’s previously been written, developed, created. Stop it. Get organised and save these precious resources for where they’re needed, which is on programs and operations.

Take these on board in 2018 and you’ll get better results and more dollars in your door for those much-needed expansions, innovations, operations, or equipment purchases.

The Grant Engineer supports medium-sized NFPs that hold DGR and TCC status. Talk to us about managing your annual grants program, pricing starts from $1,200 per month.

God,

Grant us the facility of untied funding for operations,

the amenity of tied funds for innovation,

and the capacity to expend all funding with care.

Amen

I’m very fortunate to be doing two things I love: helping non-profits understand and secure grant funding, and helping people experience the benefits and paybacks of yoga.

What I’ve noticed over this holiday period—as I’ve worked on my business and on body/mind/soul—is that these two seemingly disparate activities actually have a lot in common.

They both stretch us and (initially at least), make us a little uncomfortableThey’re both 99% practice and 1% theoryThey both require disciplineYou get better outcomes if you approach (and do) them without hasteThe more often you do them, the better you’ll do themPreparation is keyBoth activities make us feel better when we finish doing them!An hour at a time is sufficient to make progressPerformed with love, care, and authenticity (and some good tuition), the sky’s the limit as to the outcomes you can achieveThey both change the way you thinkThey both aid your development (professional and personal, respectively)They both ultimately create change

I hope to see you in a class this year, whether it’s grant writing or yoga.

Namaste

Though shall not commence writing a grant application less than 3 weeks before the close date.Though shall design and document the project before attempting to write a grant application.Though shall keep holy (and read wholly) the grant guidelines.Though shall honour the grant guidelines.Though shall use evidence to show need.Though shall not use motherhood statements in vain.Though shall create a cheat sheet or FAQGs (Frequently Asked Grant Questions) template as part of your grant-seeking process.Though shall research broadly to see if the project is already being done (ie though shall not covet thy neighbours’ projects because everyone—funders especially—hateth a copycat).Though shall remember to give thanks when funding is received.Though shall honour thy funding commitment by acquitting on time, every time

Implement these and you’ll be yards closer to securing (and maintaining) grant funding. Wishing you a prosperous grants year in 2017. Merry Christmas.