Every year, caring donors give billions of dollars to Christian ministries. Even with tax benefits, giving will never make rational sense unless viewed from a biblical perspective. More and more business’ and families are looking for effective ways to give and are setting up private foundations, or donor advised funds as tools to help manage their giving (see Mission Increase). As a grant writer, your challenge is to be donor-driven NOT donation-driven in your asking strategy. God’s work done God’s way will produce God’s results and will NEVER lack His resources said Robert Vickers of Artful Askers.
Whether you are the giver or the recipient, the ultimate goal for believers is to “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations …” (Matthew 28:19). If you are writing proposals that focus solely on your needs or your organization's needs for funding and overlook the fact that the funder has a mission that they are trying to fulfill then your proposal is probably off-track. Your proposal must communicate how your project helps the funder to advance its mission as well as yours. You must also be sure you are a good match for the entities ultimate mission. Our intention at ChristianFoundationGrants.com is to help your search for those funders easier.
The good news is God’s economy is strong and His desire is to supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory. There is no human need that lacks Divine provision, especially when we are reaching to meet the needs of those around us. God is still on the throne. He doesn’t need to call a business strategy meeting in Heaven each morning to discuss how to come up with money to fund projects around the world. God would not call us to do something and then NOT provide the resources to meet the need. He wants to provide but He also wants us to do our part in the asking.
About 25 percent of the effectiveness of grant writing is the content. What you say in your grant proposal is important and how you say it is critical for your success. Research counts for about another 25 percent but the remaining 50 percent is developing a Biblical relationship with a funder. Be donor-driven NOT donation-driven. God’s focus is on people and their heart – NOT the money.
Research from a donor’s perspective (Foundation/Corporation/Individual) suggests the top three determinants for funding is a result of the following:
1. Relationship or tie to you/someone affiliated. Board Member, volunteer, etc (1st or 2nd generation).
2. Geographic where you are based, live, serving or the target audience.
3. Meet guidelines and/or area of interest that they have.
People give to People and giving is an emotional response. Find out what it takes to match a funder and write your proposal to match without compromising the integrity of your organization. You may also consider several different versions of your proposal dependent upon the funder. Sometimes you may need to bridge the gap and cast the vision without using religious words. Donors give to those who:
· they know (or who knows them) or are connected to either a 1st or 2nd generation, geographic or interest.
· are confident. Don’t be tentative or “iffy.”
· are doing “something important.”
· ask. Seek and you will find.
· can make a convincing and compelling argument for it.
· can communicate their vision – especially in writing.
To develop your asking strategy - think individuals – not institutions. Your competition is high and the quality of proposals the donors receive is striking. Research shows 96 out of 100 proposals are rejected the first time but 96.8 percent of those rejections are due to inappropriate requests. Begin your efforts by connecting with people and organizations that you know, are close in proximity and share the same interest with you. It’s all about relationship.
One day all believers will stand before the Lord for an evaluation of how we lived our lives on earth. Will we hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant?" (Matt. 25:21)
--Jackie Jones is the Marketing and Communications Director of Christian Foundation Grants. She may be reached at jjones@christianfoundationgrants.com.