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If you're new to the process of applying for grants, you may not be familiar with the expectations of organizations that offer grants to animal welfare groups. There are always more groups looking for grant money than there are funds to go around (surprise!). Knowing how to "work the system" can mean the difference between your application going straight to the Reject pile or receiving serious consideration.
Jacque Schultz, ASPCA Senior Director, Community Outreach, shares these essential do's and don'ts for grant seekers.
Do! What Grant Officers Look for in a Grant Application
- A complete application with every box filled in and every question answered
Why: Grant makers need to compare apples to apples when evaluating applications. If your application isn't complete, they don't have enough information to keep you in the running. And they don't have time to follow up with you to obtain the missing pieces.
- A clearly stated request that fits the granter's guidelines
Why: A clear request makes it easy for grant makers to know that you meet their guidelines. And grant makers are required to follow their own guidelines when awarding grants.
- Evidence of your group's financial stability
Why: Grant makers want to direct funds where they will do the most good. If an organization is on financially shaky ground, it may not be around long enough to do the work funded by the grant, or may end up spending the funds in ways unrelated to the grant proposal.
- A strong fundraising history
Why: Grants are just one piece of the fundraising picture. A strong capacity to raise funds from other sources helps demonstrate your financial stability.
- A professional, up-to-date website
Why: In the 20th Century, it was important for nonprofits to be listed in the phone book. Today, the web is where you connect with your supporters and your community. Your website shows the world what your group cares about, how you can be contacted, what events you have planned, what types of animal are in your care, and what are your needs (volunteers, donations, sponsorships, adopters, supplies).
And when you get a grant:
- Acknowledge and follow-up in a timely manner
Why: Acknowledgement is your way of saying "thanks for choosing us" both publicly, in your newsletter, press releases and your website, and privately, by a written note or card. Your final reports let the funder know you spent the money in the required manner. Proof through receipts, photos, and media reports is often necessary. If you need more time to complete a project or want to veer away from the project plan as written on your grant application, always get the grant maker's approval first.
Don't! What Grant Makers Do NOT Want to See
If you've read through the Do list, the following Don'ts are probably pretty obvious to you now:
- Don't leave questions unanswered.
Why: If the grant makers didn't need the information, they wouldn't ask for it. Sometimes, the information may not seem pertinent for this particular grant, but having it on file may keep you in mind for other opportunities. The information may also be needed for the foundation's internal reports. If your application is incomplete, the grant maker will move on to submissions that have all the information.
- Don't provide incorrect answers to questions asked.
Why: Incorrect information wastes everybody's time, including yours. Read the questions and the grant guidelines carefully. And if you don't understand what something is, ask!
- Don't submit grant requests that are outside grant guidelines.
Why: Grant makers must follow their stated guidelines in awarding grants. No matter how worthy your project is, if it doesn't meet the grant guidelines, the grant maker cannot award you a grant. You can ask if there are exceptions before applying. If there aren't, don't waste your valuable time in applying—look for a grant program that's a better fit.
- Don't submit messy, disorganized paperwork with lots of misspellings.
Why: Again, think of the competition. Submit an application that's a breeze to review and that shows how professional you are.
- Don't use unprofessional language (vulgar or excessively emotive) in the application or in any communications with the grant maker.
Why: You want to get the grant, don't you? Unprofessional language is insulting to grant makers, and will certainly make them wonder whether you are also unprofessional with supporters, vendors, the public, and others who come in contact with your organization.
- Don't show "attitude" when dealing with grant makers.
Why: Like we said, you want to get the grant. A bad attitude is unprofessional and won't advance your application. Stay on good terms with the grant maker. Even if you are turned down for one application, that doesn't mean that the grant maker won't ever award a grant to your organization. If your application is declined and you don't know why, you can (politely) ask the grant officer to explain. Learn from the experience to submit a stronger application next time.
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