Once you get the grant search ball rolling, the question becomes, should we apply for this grant? Grant writing is a time-consuming, labor-intensive process, and grant seekers realize in short order that not every grant is worth the effort of application.
When you come across a grant that you may want to apply for, pull up this checklist:
- Does my organization or entity qualify for this grant?
- Do the goals and values of the grant maker align with our goals and values?
- Is there a matching requirement? – This may be a deal breaker depending on your situation.
- Do we have a project on deck that fits this grant?
- Has this grant maker funded organizations or entities similar to ours?
- Has this grant maker funded projects similar to ours?
- Does your organization or entity have the capacity to accept this grant award and follow through on the project, reporting, and compliance?
- Do we as a team have the bandwidth to apply for this grant?
Depending on how your list checks out, do or do not apply for the grant in question. If the last questions on the checklist is a no, we can help! We work with grant writing teams to expand their capacity, offer coaching and consulting services, and even take on grant writing projects. Visit www.boydgrants.com to get in touch!
Related Articles
How to keep your grant in alignment with the funder
In any grant application, take every opportunity to align the purpose of your grant with the values and goals of the funding entity. This may seem obvious, but it is easy to lose track of this vital aspect of grant writing when you are immersed in your organization’s agenda, and in the process of writing the grant itself.