You know that you need more grant funding to support your mission, and you see other nonprofits on social media celebrating grant wins every day. How do they do it? Where do they find all these grant opportunities?
More than likely, the answer is prospect research.
Unfortunately, like most things in life, there is no quick and easy shortcut to identifying great grant prospects. Prospect research is a detailed task that requires patience, diligence, and systematic thinking.
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You aren’t imagining it; grant prospects really do vanish. You may start with a long list of prospects that sound reasonably good, but when it’s time to receive a response to a grant submission or an invitation to apply, the trail goes cold.
The truth is that most disappearing grant prospects were never qualified prospects to begin with.
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For every fundraiser, there comes the time when you just have to write. Whether it’s a grant proposal, an appeal letter, an address for the gala, or a case statement (hopefully a Case for Why!), we have to stop the flurry of daily activity, force ourselves to sit still, and get the words on the page.
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It’s the name that strikes terror and consternation into the hearts of many. Logic model. The name is mysterious. The concept is intimidating. But what is a logic model? And does your organization need one?
Read MoreIt’s October, and….
OOooooooooo…..
Do you hear that?
OOOoooooooo….
Oh no! It’s the sound of an approaching deadline for a grant you haven’t written! Run for the hills!
Read MoreAah, May! Flowers are blooming. Birds are singing. The sky is bluer and the grass greener. And hopefully, your organization is slowing down a bit to celebrate a few award notifications at the close of a busy spring grants cycle. During the late spring or early summer months, because schedules are calmer, you might consider inviting existing or prospective funders to visit for an agency tour or coffee date. These “just because” visit invitations are great ways to try and nurture relationships outside of presenting an ask (don’t forget to add your major donors to the mix!).
Read MoreAt my first development job after leaving a career in teaching literature, I developed a personal motto for my grant writing: There’s always a place for rhythm and grace.
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