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grant proposals

Feb 19

A Guide to Hiring the Right Grant Professional for Your Next Application

By Sponsor Insight

by Melanie Priest, Director of Grants Services, Hedges

In the world of nonprofits, securing grants is a vital component of sustainable funding. However, the process of researching, preparing, and submitting grant applications can be complex and time-consuming. This is where grant professionals come in. Hiring a professional who specializes in grants can provide numerous benefits for organizations seeking financial support through grant funding. In this guide, we will explore the advantages of hiring grant professionals and how they can help streamline not only the grant process but also your overall organizational operations.

The Role of Grant Professionals
Grant professionals have expertise in navigating the grant landscape. They possess the knowledge and skills necessary to identify suitable grant opportunities, develop compelling proposals, and effectively manage the grant application process. Their role extends beyond simply writing grant proposals; they serve as strategic partners in aligning an organization’s mission and goals with potential funding sources.

Here are some key areas where grant professionals can make a significant impact:

Strategy Development
One of the primary benefits of hiring grant professionals is their ability to develop a comprehensive grant strategy. They work closely with nonprofit teams to understand the mission, programs, and funding needs. By conducting a thorough needs assessment, grant professionals can identify suitable grant opportunities that align with the organization’s objectives. This strategic approach ensures grant applications are targeted and have a higher chance of success.

Research and Prospect Identification
Grant professionals are well-versed in conducting in-depth research to identify potential funding sources. They have access to proprietary tools and databases that enable them to search for grants tailored to the specific needs of an organization. Through their expertise, they can save valuable time by filtering out irrelevant grants and focusing on those that are the best fit. This targeted approach increases the likelihood of securing funding.

Proposal Development
Crafting a compelling grant proposal requires a combination of storytelling, data analysis, and strategic planning. Grant professionals excel in this, as they possess the necessary skills to effectively communicate an organization’s mission, impact, and financial needs. They have a deep understanding of what funders look for in grant proposals, allowing them to present the organization’s case in a persuasive manner. Moreover, grant professionals can ensure that proposals adhere to the specific guidelines and requirements set by funders.

Project Management and Reporting
Managing the grant application process involves meticulous planning, coordination, and adherence to deadlines. Grant professionals can assist in project management, ensuring all necessary documents, evaluations, and reports are submitted on time. They work closely with key staff members to gather the required information and compile it into a cohesive and professional submission. They can also assist with the monitoring and reporting requirements of funded grants, ensuring compliance with funder expectations.

The Advantages of Hiring Grant Professionals
Now that we have explored the role of grant professionals, let’s delve into the specific advantages they bring to nonprofit organizations. From strategy development to project management, these professionals can significantly enhance an organization’s grant-seeking efforts. Here are some key benefits:

Expertise and Efficiency
Grant professionals possess specialized knowledge and expertise in navigating the complex world of grant funding. They understand the intricacies of the application process, including the specific requirements and preferences of different funders. This expertise allows them to streamline the grant submission process, saving organizations valuable time and resources. Additionally, grant professionals are skilled in researching and identifying the most suitable grant opportunities, maximizing the chances of success.

Strategic Partnerships
By hiring grant professionals, organizations gain access to valuable networks and relationships within the grant-funding community. These professionals have established connections with funders and understand how to foster positive relationships with them. They can facilitate introductions, arrange site visits, and provide insights into funders’ priorities, enabling organizations to build strong partnerships and increase their likelihood of receiving grants.

Enhanced Proposal Quality
Writing a compelling grant proposal requires a combination of persuasive storytelling, data analysis, and a deep understanding of the funder’s interests. Grant professionals ensure that proposals are well-crafted, concise, and aligned with the funder’s expectations. Their expertise in grant writing increases the likelihood of securing funding, as funders are more likely to invest in proposals that clearly articulate the organization’s impact and funding needs.

Increased Grant Success Rate
Securing grant awards is a competitive process, and organizations need every advantage they can get. By hiring grant professionals, organizations significantly increase their chances of success. These professionals are well-versed in the art of grant-seeking and possess the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the process effectively. Their strategic approach, combined with their expertise in proposal development, research, and project management, ensures that organizations submit high-quality applications that stand out among the competition.

Time and Resource Savings
The grant application process can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, especially for organizations with limited staff and capacity. Hiring grant professionals allows organizations to offload the time-consuming tasks associated with grant-seeking, such as research, proposal development, and project management. This frees up internal resources, enabling staff to focus on core programmatic activities and other essential organizational tasks.

Finding the Right Grant Professional
Now that we understand the benefits of hiring grant professionals, the next step is finding the right one for your organization. Here are some key considerations when seeking a grant professional:

Grant Success History
When evaluating potential grant professionals, it is essential to review their track record of success. Look for professionals who have a proven history of securing grants for organizations similar to yours. This demonstrates their ability to navigate the grant landscape effectively and maximize funding opportunities.

Writing Style and Sample Documents
Grant professionals should have a strong writing style that effectively communicates an organization’s mission and funding needs. Request samples of their previous work to assess their writing skills and determine if their style aligns with your organization’s voice and values. This step ensures that the grant professional can present your organization in the best possible light.

Expertise and Alignment
Consider the specific expertise and knowledge that a grant professional brings to the table. Assess whether their experience aligns with your organization’s focus areas and funding needs. For example, if your organization operates in the healthcare sector, it is beneficial to hire a grant professional with experience in securing healthcare-related grants.

Cost Considerations
While hiring a grant professional undeniably comes with a cost, it is important to consider the return on investment (ROI) and the potential long-term benefits. The cost of hiring a grant professional can vary depending on factors such as the professional’s experience, the complexity of the grant applications, and the geographic location. However, compared to the potential funding a successful grant application can bring, the cost of hiring a grant professional is often a worthwhile investment.

Hiring a Grant Professional is an Investment, not an Expense
Let’s be frank, a grant professional’s mark on an application can mean the difference between winning and losing the prize you seek more than any other singular role. From strategy development to project management, these professionals bring specialized knowledge and expertise to streamline the grant submission process.

By leveraging their skills, organizations can increase their chances of securing funding, save valuable time and resources, and build strategic partnerships within the grant-funding community. Their track record, writing style, and expertise ensure the best fit for your organization. Ultimately, investing in a grant professional can be a strategic decision that propels your organization toward sustainable funding and greater impact.

Melanie Priest is passionate about making Indianapolis a great place to live, having strong connections in the community, and helping nonprofits share their stories of impact. For 25 years, Melanie has worked closely with the Central Indiana philanthropic community to provide creative solutions to complex problems. As Director of Grants Services at Hedges since 2012, Melanie has secured hundreds of grant awards for dozens of Indianapolis nonprofit organizations to ensure they are able to advance their missions.

Mar 23

Creating award-winning grant proposals: It takes a village

By Sponsor Insight

By Melanie Priest, senior consultant, Hedges

Like the proverb: “It takes a village to raise a child,” it also takes a village to develop competitive grant proposals. The more resources and team members you include when creating grant proposals, the more you will be able to paint a compelling picture of your organization and the project in which you are seeking funding.

With the increasingly competitive nature of foundation grants, best practices suggest including staff, participants, volunteers, community partners, and funders within your organization’s “village” to develop strong proposals. There are more than a million charitable organizations registered with the Internal Revenue Service in the United States (National Center for Charitable Statistics, 2019). Just like fundraising focused on individual donors, it is a competitive world when trying to secure foundation grants.

Your grant proposal may be developed by the best writer around, however it will fall short without preparation, planning, and input from all perspectives of the organization. It is essential to identify and utilize all contributors that comprise your village to set you up for optimal success.

Before creating the most competitive proposal, it is necessary to build your village by getting to know who the funders are in the area.

Find your funder community

Learning about who provides grants in your community is the first step in the grants process. Researching, identifying prospects, and cultivating relationships are key components needed when getting to know the local, regional, and national funding landscapes.

  • Research: There are various databases available to search for funding prospects. At Hedges, we have found that the Foundation Center’s online directory, https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/, is a robust and comprehensive tool providing information about grant funders through keyword and name searches. The directory is available through a paid subscription or for free at the Indianapolis Public Library’s Central Library.

    Additional free resources to conduct your searches include: the IRS informational tax return (also known as the 990) available on guidestar.org, topical list serves, Google searches, foundation websites and newsletters. Of course, word of mouth is also a valuable resource so asking your board of directors, community partners, volunteers, and staff to keep their eyes and ears open for grant opportunities is good practice.
  • Identifying prospects: Once you have identified potential grantors, you will need to narrow your list to only those that are the best match for your organization. Things to consider when identifying prospects include: the focus or purpose areas in which the funder has an interest; similar grants funded, range of grant awards amounts; geographic requirements. Linkages to executive and volunteer leadership are also important.

    Thorough research to determine a match with each prospect is imperative. Determining the priorities and interest areas of each foundation is important down to the keywords used. Even the difference between a food pantry and a food bank is notable as is the differences in college readiness and college-success programs. Without a strong match, there is less of a likelihood that your proposal will be funded.
  • Cultivating relationships: Similar to relationship building with your individual donors, cultivating relationships with foundation staff and board members is critical. This is particularly true with local foundations. Many foundations in Central Indiana encourage or require an in-person meeting, phone call, or other means of communication to share project ideas before an application can be submitted. When in doubt, take every opportunity to get to know funders whenever possible through invitations to coffee, onsite tours and other programming and fundraising events, and engaging funders through social media and other communications.

    Another way to cultivate funder relationships is through networking. Share names of foundation leadership, with your board, staff, and volunteers to determine if anyone has connections. Our clients are often able to get a foot in the door because of board affiliations. And as the relationship is developing, do not hesitate to seek advice from potential funders about the work your organization does. Through the grants process, they have a pulse on the community and what programs are successful. With further cultivation, these relationships then can lead to deeper involvement and increased financial support for the organization over time.

Now that you have identified grant funders, it is time to develop your proposal. Here are two tips you will want to consider when using your village for the most competitive proposal:

  1. Share your story

Most funders want to understand why there is a need for your project and organization and how your organization measures impact. Use available data to strengthen your grant proposals by illustrating the need and the expected results.

  • Community data sources: There are several online tools that provide demographics and statistics by census tract, neighborhood, city, county, region and state. SAVI is a project of The Indiana University Purdue University (IUPUI) Polis Center and is known as one of the first and largest community data-information systems in the country (www.savi.org, 2020). Additional data sources include the U.S. Census Bureau and Stats Indiana. Scholarly articles and studies on the specific issues that your organization addresses are also available through Google Scholar.
  • Measuring impact: To measure impact it is best to create a logic model. The logic model serves as a roadmap for your program and organization, including what resources you need to implement the program, the activities that will take place, the frequency of the activities and number of participants, and how the activities have impacted participants. A comprehensive overview of logic models is described in the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Logic Model Development Guide.

    Logic models serve as a foundation for strong impact measurement. By clearly defining the program’s short-, medium-, and long-term outcomes and associated activities, standardized evaluation tools can then be researched to ensure proper measurement of key outcomes. The data to be collected and measured can be captured through a variety of methods including surveys, focus groups, one-on-one interviews, intake forms and staff observations. A few years ago, one of our clients went through a process to develop a comprehensive research-based program logic model. As a result of the logic model and data collection, they were able to show program impact and were awarded a grant from a funder who had declined a grant proposal in the past because there wasn’t a way to show program impact.
  1. Prime your program experts

Tap into your organization’s program experts and make them an integral part of your grant proposal process. Their expertise and input will strengthen every component of your grant proposal. Key program experts include program and financial staff, program participants, community partners, and advocates.

  • Program staff: The program staff are working on the front lines and implementing programs and services. As logic models and proposals are developed be sure to include them in planning to ensure that the project created is feasible and realistic. A logic model can also serve as a strong training tool for new staff. And remember that front line staff can share stories and accomplishments that will help you, the grant writer, make an inspiring and compelling case for support.
  • Financial staff: Program and organizational budgets are another way to share your organization’s story, demonstrating how you plan to utilize the requested grant funds, and why a funder’s investment is important for program or project success. If you aren’t already, become good friends with your organization’s Chief Financial Officer, controller, bookkeeper or other staff that are responsible for the finances. Budgets and other financial statements are frequently required as attachments for grant proposals to show fiscal organizational health. Financial staff are the best resource in ensuring that the information shared with a funder is current and accurate.
  • Program participants: Don’t forget about the most important members of the village – the program participants. Those receiving services know their needs best and should have the opportunity to inform how the programs are designed and how impact is measured and described. Their input can be acquired through surveys, focus groups and interviews, which should be administered regularly.
  • Community partners: Funders are well-informed about nonprofit organizations in the community and want to know how you collaborate in ways that maximize your collective impact and avoid duplication of services. Consider community organizations as additional members of your village and be able to clearly articulate how you work together and what makes your organization distinctly unique from similar organizations in your field.

Rest assured that successful grant proposals are meant to be created collaboratively. In other words, it really does take a village. So, make sure to meet up with your village and create winning grant proposals that will bring more grant awards to your organization.

Melanie Priest is passionate about making Indianapolis a great place to live, having strong connections in the community and helping nonprofits share their stories of impact. For more than 20 years, Priest has worked closely with the Central Indiana philanthropic community to provide creative solutions to complex problems. As senior consultant, she has worked at Hedges since 2012 securing hundreds of grants for Indianapolis nonprofit organizations to ensure they are able to advance their missions.