Grant writing can be a very tedious task, but the outcome can be highly rewarding. Grant writing is a process that involves formally proposing a request to fund a project or program. There are thousands of grants available at any given time. The trick is to find a grant that is appropriate for your cause and organization. Searching for a grant is comparable to searching for a job. There are numerous opportunities available at any given time, but there only a select few open positions that appeal to your particular talents. In the case of funder and employer, many applicants are reviewed and only a small fraction of those reviewed are chosen (in the case of a job hunt; maybe only one!). Once again, in both scenarios, if you are selected this does not guarantee a position. You may undergo further evaluation to determine an appropriate fit. Some people believe that getting a grant is easy, this is not true. Your request for proposal (or, resume) must outshine all others.

Four Basic Components of Grant Funding:

1. WHO IS ELIGIBLE

Grants are available for various purposes. The trick is knowing where to look. Grants are available to individuals, non-profits, for-profits, businesses, research institutions, communities, etc. Most often grants are available to non-profit organizations, but not exclusively. Typically, for-profit grant opportunities are slim. Those businesses involved in agriculture, rural development, or highly innovative technology may find favor in the grant-funding world. Research grants are very common and usually require a PhD on board, to help conduct the research. There are virtually NO grants for individuals. These are generally more like scholarship or fellowship, as opposed to a grant. The purposes stated do not include every grant available. There are many grants that defy the usual circumstances, as stated earlier, it all depends on where you look.

2. HOW FUNDING WORKS

In general, grant funds received do not need to be paid back. Some funders do not want to be the only source for a project, especially if the associated budget is large. There is usually a section of the grant that asks where the rest of the funding for your project will come from.

Besides the funding received through a grant, a funder may insist that the project budget is also comprised of funding from the applicant in the form of in-kind contributions and cash contributions. In-kind contributions are contributions of resources, such as a staff person’s time or office space donated. A cash contribution is the cash contributed to the project budget from sources excluding the grant funder (for example, cash contributed by your organization or cash contributed by your county).

Grants usually have a limit to the amount of funds awarded. In some cases the request for proposal will state a maximum amount allowed. This does not guarantee a maximum award; simply stated their maximum amount is a best-case scenario. In other instances, the RFP will stipulate the percentage of indirect cost allowed.

For successful proposals, funds are generally paid out on schedule that is set early in the grant year. The most common schedules are quarterly payments or half paid on execution of the contract, one-quarter paid mid year, and one-quarter paid upon completion of a final report. Slight variations of these two payment schedules are common as well.

It is important to calculate a detailed budget. Not only because all funders require it, but also because it is crucial to understand the costs associated with your proposed activities.

3. TYPES OF GRANT FUNDERS

There are two main types of organizations that offer grants. The first type is the governmental sources. Typically a specific bill passed gives funds to a federal, state, or a local entity for the purpose of making grants. Governmental grant proposals tend to be complex and detailed. Keep in mind that grants that are intended to provide funding for a specific purpose. When in doubt whether your project aligns with the funder’s purpose, call or email the organization to request clarification.

Another source of funding are foundations. Foundations are non-profit charitable organizations that support organizations, communities, and certain segments of the population. These types of grants are often not (but not always!) as extensive as governmental grants and generally provide less funding. The largest (literally and figuratively) exception to this rule is capital campaigns. Ever seen a placard on the outside of a new building touting a family name? This is likely funding from a foundation. Foundations tend to offer funds to non-profits more than for-profit businesses for tax purposes.

The chances of attaining a grant depend on many factors. The type of funder is one, as is the number of proposals submitted, the maximum award amount, the project scope, etc.

4. TIMELINE

Once your proposal has been awarded; it may be many months until payment is received. Grant timelines may vary by funding organization. For example, small foundations may announce awards one month after collecting completed applications; while this process may take a quarter or two for larger governmental programs. It is best to thoroughly review the RFP to ensure the grant timeline is a good fit for your program and organizational needs. it. In many cases funders pay the grant amount in segments. Do not expect to get the full amount upfront.

There are no specific rules to grant funding. Grants can be denied for many unspecified reasons, some of those having nothing to do with the content of the proposal. Finding the right grant is parallel to finding the right job. It can take a lot of hard work, but the result can be worth the journey.