Grant Writing
Articles with grant writing advice, information, and critiques.
idealware.org/You have heard lots of fundraising advice from us, but what about our personal favorite resources? Here is a list of 5 resources that we love:
1) iDonate-- This giving tool is revolutionizing fundraising for ministries. By converting non-cash donations into funds for ministries, it is an essential tool. Check out this short video which explains why it is so powerful.
2) The Treasure House-- Similar to Facebook profiles, the Treasure House provides ministry profiles that you can easily search through in order to share resources, find ways to serve, and learn who is in your area.
3) The Give Away-- The Chronicle...
posted @ Tuesday, February 07, 2012 9:48 PM |
It takes time and effort to find grantmakers that are truly good prospects, but the results can be worth the research efforts you expend. Keep your expectations realistic. Foundations and other grantmakers will not likely meet even a majority of your financial needs. Individual donations still account for the great majority of the funds given to nonprofit organizations. Currently, foundations and corporations combined only provide about 17 percent of philanthropic gifts, and only a portion of this is given for Christian projects. However, these funds can make all the difference for your project!
Do not focus all your efforts on one...
posted @ Monday, October 24, 2011 12:51 PM |
Over the past weeks, there’s been much written about the attacks on the World Trade Center. Richard Swenson, however, writes about a different aspect of those attacks.
On the 103rd floor as the workers were beginning their day, they were at first unaware of the commotion on the floors below. But as the shock and horror unfolded, some were able to make last minute phone calls. Some of those phones were recovered. What did the rescuers find in those last minute phone calls?
They weren’t calls to their broker to sell their stock. No phone calls were made to purchase...
posted @ Thursday, October 20, 2011 9:57 AM |
I don’t know about you but there’s a lot of noise in my life. Not long ago, I sought to eliminate much of the advertisement related email in my inbox. I set out faithfully to unsubscribe to everything I could.
I’m not sure what happened. My email multiplied. So much for simplicity. Particularly in this day and age, the idea of simplicity is a foreign one. This week I attended a breakout session at a conference called Soul Care for leaders. One statement particularly stood out:
Our iPhones, iPads and constant exposure to technology is killing our souls.
Think about it. ...
posted @ Thursday, October 20, 2011 9:54 AM |
My daughter Jessica turned 20 yesterday—no longer a teenager. She came home from college to celebrate her birthday.
The weekend passed by in a blur. We had soccer games, and she had friends to see, but in the midst of the hustle and bustle, she ran out.
Well, let me clarify that. In the bright afternoon sun, she dressed up in one of her purple little dresses, camera in hand and headed to the park. She had a grin on her face, her step lively and said she was off on an adventure.
An hour later she was back. She...
posted @ Thursday, October 20, 2011 9:40 AM |
Who buys real estate in a land already conquered by the enemy? Foolish.
But that’s what the prophet Jeremiah did. In Jeremiah 32, the Lord tells Jeremiah that his uncle is coming to sell him land. (By the way, what does this say about the uncle—he’s doing Jeremiah no favors by selling land already trod upon by the enemy!) In any event, the Lord tells Jeremiah to buy the land.
So Jeremiah does. And he makes quite a show of it. He counts out 17 shekels of silver. He has the purchase witnessed by a crowd of elders. He wants...
posted @ Thursday, October 20, 2011 9:32 AM |
Across Europe, we’ve seen many great and historic churches close. Some now are owned by businesses. Some are converted to mosques.
For many, the response to these closures is shock, dismay. For those wondering why, the answer is often the apparent decline of faith in these countries. But few are as quick to point to another cause: population decline.
For years now, European countries have faced dwindling birth rates. On average, it takes at least 2.1 births per woman for most industrialized countries. In many European countries the birth rate is well below this—1.6. Put it bluntly, the churches...
posted @ Thursday, October 20, 2011 9:22 AM |
I’ve got the bug. I wake up early usually. That means I’m not deterred by early morning flights. And it works out that when I get those flights, well, I drive right into the sunrise.
If you drive too early, its just blackness other than the shadows that emerge from the streetlights. But if you time it just right, you can see the sun just begin to peak up at the horizon. The colorful twinge begins with streaks of orange and grey. And as the light seems to move outward, it’s like a backlight for the clouds. It’s a...
posted @ Thursday, October 20, 2011 9:16 AM |
Developing a clear and concise mission statement early in an organization’s development is critical to its success. The first three benefits stated are tied to the process of creating the mission statement itself.
First, the process of creating a mission statement is tremendously valuable to the founders. This process helps define the company's goals to a concise and clear statement that is easy to share with the internal organization as well as to its customers.
Second, the process of defining the mission statement will help founders determine the scope of their effort; helps clarify competition and focus...
posted @ Wednesday, September 07, 2011 12:32 PM |
The Generous Donut
Donuts can be generous.
Let me explain. More than 17 years ago, my wife and I decided we’d pick a place and go there year after year for family vacations. That place was Estes Park, CO. The kids have enjoyed it, appreciate the routine and things they call ours—family traditions.
Well, one of the places we’ve come to appreciate is the Donut Haus. The Donut Haus has been in business for more than 30 years. They make handmade donuts and pastries. They say their hours are 6am to 12am, but in truth, they are usually sold...
posted @ Wednesday, September 07, 2011 12:00 AM |
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.
posted @ Tuesday, July 12, 2011 12:00 AM |
Recently, several Christian Foundation Grant subscribers have expressed interest in developing advisory boards in addition to their board of directors.
posted @ Friday, June 10, 2011 6:53 PM |
Non-profit and charitable organizations play an essential role in the economic and collective well-being of our local communities, our nation and the world. Nonprofits are designed to meet a societal need the government is not meeting or is not meeting well. They provide a structure for people to contribute their time, resources and expertise for a greater good. In short, non-profit corporations are for people, to help them achieve some common purpose.
The term non-profit does not mean the company isn't financially feasible. Non-profit organizations are a specifically defined type of corporation registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)....
posted @ Thursday, May 12, 2011 12:28 PM |
A frequently asked question by non-profits about grant writing is can you pay a grant writer a percentage of the grant? In the for-profit marketplace, people are frequently paid on commission. It’s a standard mode of operation for sales executives to be paid a base salary, plus commission. In other words, they are paid a percentage of what they bring in. In the non-profit arena, some consider this practice to be unethical. Donor trust is vitally important. To earn and keep that trust, every aspect of the non-profit activity must be absolutely ethical. Nowhere is ethical behavior more essential, nor...
posted @ Wednesday, May 11, 2011 7:39 PM |
Not long ago a ministry approached me wanting a grant. This is not a new happening. I’m used to the idea.
posted @ Tuesday, May 10, 2011 8:45 AM |
Ron had finally managed to set up what he thought was one of those mountaintop meetings—a key major donor. He thought he’d arrived. This man was known to be generous and quick to give.
But Ron was nervous. He didn’t want to botch it. So he called me for advice. I told him simply, “Ron, ask questions, and listen. Talk less.” That was the extent of my advice.
Ron was an eager student and promised me that he would follow my advice. The big day arrived—the appointed time of the meeting. Afterwards, Ron was the first to call me. He...
posted @ Tuesday, May 10, 2011 8:42 AM |
The look was twisted, passionate, and intense. His desire was for the gospel of Christ to advance all around the world, and in his own immediate neighborhood. He had a plan. He had curriculum. He had people following, and people to lead. All it seemed that he needed was resources. Money.
So he pleaded with me: “I just need my donors to give. I just need resources. “ He couldn’t understand why they couldn’t see the vision.
However, I wonder if the problem really rested with the donors. Did they really lack vision? Was it that they could not...
posted @ Friday, May 06, 2011 4:58 PM |
Writing a Proposal
Structure, attention to detail, concise persuasive writing, and a reasonable budget are the critical elements of the writing stage. There are many ways to organize proposals. Read the guidelines for specifications about required information and how it should be arranged. Standard proposal components are: the narrative, budget, appendix of support material, and authorized signature. Sometimes proposal applications require abstracts or summaries, an explanation of budget items, and certifications.
1. Narratives-Statement of need
Purpose, goals, measurable objectives, and a compelling, logical reason why the proposal should be supported. Background provides perspective and is often a welcome component.
2. Approach
Method and process...
posted @ Tuesday, February 01, 2011 7:29 PM |
In serving as a grant reviewer for the past two weeks, I have had the chance to reflect on what makes ministries stand out. In that time, I found a very powerful lesson for ministries that applies not just to fundraising but also even to simply daily operations.
This is the lesson of “living it out.” What does “living it out” mean? It means this:
Your ministry is at its most beautiful when you put into motion everyday what you value and you do it with great joy and love. The spotlight moments or times of trial that you make it through...
posted @ Wednesday, July 21, 2010 10:26 AM |
Your proposal has been reviewed, and the letter from the foundation has arrived. What do you do? This final post will inform you of an important tip for responding to acceptance and rejection letters.
This often overlooked rule is the “Thank You” Letter. To express gratitude, regardless of acceptance or rejection, is a way of giving honor to a foundation. It also establishes your authenticity which can be important because you might apply to that foundation later on. The statistics are alarming at how few organizations actually do send personal thank-yous in response to a foundation. That being said, here are...
posted @ Wednesday, July 14, 2010 10:07 AM |
Today, you will learn how to evaluate your proposal. Having reviewed grants for several years now, I will walk through basic guidelines. Note, not all foundations will require each of these elements, but still read through the suggestions because often the larger concept will still have application to your proposal.
1) Cover Letter—Using your organization’s letterhead, follow a business letter format. Use your first paragraph to establish your relationship—mention your connection to the organization, include a name of reference if you can, etc. Use the second and third paragraphs to grab and then keep their attention as you address the purpose...
posted @ Monday, July 12, 2010 11:48 AM |
The majority of grant proposals are rejected for one reason, but this one problem can be easily avoided. The reason? Most applicants fail to do their research thoroughly.
Debbie Rey, who supervises the central proposals-processing office for the Kellogg’s foundation, says “[Applicants] may have glanced at the grant maker’s website, but they didn’t dig deeper to learn Kellogg’s specific grant-making priorities. A lot of people when they’re doing research, read the philosophy statement, but they didn’t go into the detail, into the different departments to see what initiatives we have going on.”
Here some of the common research errors applicants make, from...
posted @ Friday, July 09, 2010 10:20 AM |
1+1 Does Not Equal Two. Before you critique my arithmetic, allow me to explain what this phrase means. This is the scenario I often see occur: A Christian ministry finds a great foundation who has a strong history of faith-based giving. It seems like a perfect fit, because “1 Christian ministry” plus “1 Christian foundation” should equal the final solution of a check. The ministry sends in a grant proposal, but they are surprised to receive notification that their proposal has been declined.
So what can you do to avoid this situation and have grant-writing success? Consider these ideas:
Maybe 1+1+1+1+1=10.
Especially for those just...
posted @ Tuesday, July 06, 2010 10:13 AM |
Having finished my series of articles on fundraising, I want to go more specific and start a series on grant writing. This is a complex subject, especially for organizations just beginning the process, so feel free to comment with questions or send an email.
I want to begin by first talking about the attitude with which an organization should approach grant writing. In my five years at Christian Foundation Grants, I have had the opportunity to observe how these Christian organizations interact with foundations that have a history of faith-based giving. One of the most basic but critical mistakes...
posted @ Friday, July 02, 2010 9:30 AM |
Do you want to receive grants? This is the one change you need to make.
Here in the non-profit world, we have become quite adept at following rules and completing instructions. I am not here to advocate throwing all these off, but I do fear that we have lost our sense of story. Think about it. Why are social networks flourishing? People want to know about what is truly occurring, even if just in 160 characters or less.
It’s time to listen to what donors and research are telling you. Story-telling. It is becoming vital to fundraising success for ministries to rethink...
posted @ Friday, June 18, 2010 11:24 AM |
By Connie Hougland
Servant Christian Community Foundation
For churches looking beyond the church walls to find funding it can feel more like running into a brick wall. When we look for outside funding it is important that the church's reach is beyond the church walls as well. Grant funders typically look for community impact.
Joy Skjegsted, author of Winning Grants to Strengthen Your Ministry offers valuable insight for churches looking for funding from foundations in her article Finding Funds.
Finding Funds shares six characteristics of church programs that are most likely to receive funding from a foundation or corporation:
1) The program benefits at least...
posted @ Tuesday, February 02, 2010 10:33 AM |
Organizations often are so caught up in their worries of “getting their message out there” that they begin ignoring some of the fundamental rules for successful fundraising. Take some time to review today:
--- Keep your message simple and concise—The clearer and shorter your message, the more likely people will be interested in what you have to say. People will not be motivated to join your cause and support you if they cannot understand the basics of what you are doing and what you hope to accomplish.
Imagine a scenario where you only have a short amount of time to share...
posted @ Monday, November 16, 2009 8:24 AM |
With foundations cutting back on the amount of grants they award, it will be even more important for ministries to write excellent proposals. They must carefully consider what will make their proposal stand out.
The Chronicle of Philanthropy recently hosted a live discussion where Jane Geever, a fund-raising consultant and author, Bernard Turner, an assistant professor at Belmont University, and Neal Hegarty, a program officer at the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, all answered questions from various organizations.
Are your questions similar to these?:
--“What are good sources of funding for small budget organizations?”
--“What is the most important messages to convey to a...
posted @ Monday, November 09, 2009 1:33 PM |
Before foundations accept grant proposals, many require letters of inquiry. When you submit a letter of inquiry, there are some basic tips to remember:
Scheduling—make sure you submit your letter far enough advanced according not only to the foundation’s guidelines but your project’s deadlines.
Contact person—Confirm with the foundation the correct person to whom your letter should be sent.
Mailing—Submit your letter through regular mail. Be timely in your mailing, not squeezing it in last minute.
Writing the letter—
Summarize: You only have a short amount of space so use it wisely. Provide a brief synopsis of your project and funding amount in one...
posted @ Monday, October 26, 2009 7:56 AM |
Nonprofits are doing well in involving their boards and finding major gifts, but overall there is room for major improvement.
Adrian Sargeant, a professor of fundraising at the Center of Philanthropy at Indiana University says, “There is a whole range of things we’ve done very badly and it’s masked because people in the U.S. are very generous and getting more generous.”
Retaining donors, online giving, securing pledges, and knowing donors are some of charities weaknesses, according to Sargeant. In order to improve fundraising, charities need to focus on their donors and what matters to them rather than being caught up in finding...
posted @ Tuesday, July 21, 2009 9:04 AM |
When you begin writing a grant proposal, one of the most important things you need to consider is who is reading your proposal. Tom Ahern, author of How to Write Fundraising Materials That Raise More Money, defines the four basic personality types you will encounter as amiable, expressive, skeptical, and bottom-liner.
Ahern suggests some of the best ways to appeal to these types:
Amiable—this side of people responds to faces and their stories. There is the desire to nurture and help people.
- Include photos of faces in your letters (whether these are of the person signing the letter or candid shots...
posted @ Wednesday, July 08, 2009 11:04 AM |
Professionals in the for-profit community are observing non-profits, and they do have suggestions. It is important to listen to these ideas because many ministries fail to balance their passion with the practicality. Business ideas and vision are necessary. John Klein, a marketing professional, who works with nonprofits and for-profits, offers his suggestions as a summary of the for-profit community’s thoughts in order to “help create stronger and more resilient nonprofits as we emerge from our current economic situation.”
Klein’s suggestions:
1) Nonprofits should utilize social media—Many professionals are noticing this trend as nonprofits began to move towards using these tools. However, it...
posted @ Tuesday, June 23, 2009 10:56 AM |
One of the most important things an organization can do to build fundraising is to create a clear face for themselves. Think of it like the Starbucks culture—many people are drawn to Starbucks because of personalization, the unique experience. Say “Starbucks” and people don’t just think of coffee. People will talk about the friendly baristas, hanging out there, the food, custom drinks, etc. Starbucks has created a face for their organization that draws people in and gains their loyalty. So how can this be applied to your organization? Personalization and emphasizing the unique facets of your organization are...
posted @ Monday, June 15, 2009 10:17 AM |
The average subscription cost to most databases is $1,000. So… we are lowering the CFG Insider Price to just $99.00, until June 30th. We understand that many organizations simply cannot afford such a price; therefore, we want to do our best in offering you access to the best resources at an affordable price. For $99.00 you will receive one year’s access to: -- over 4,500 foundations that all accept applications and have given to faith based causes -- Sample grant proposals -- Complete access to all our blogs, articles, and many other resources These...
posted @ Friday, June 05, 2009 9:16 AM |
Research on difficult economic times is still progressing. However, already there are clear results emerging. As Jonathan Baker, writer for The Guardian, says, “charitable giving has been more resilient than expected when faced with a challenge; and this recession will actually be unusual if it seriously damages the third sector.” This is good news for nonprofits, but there is a second part to this. There still may be many charities that find themselves forced to close operations. Research gives us a key into understanding why this happens. Statistics show that the “one thing that characterized nearly all of the...
posted @ Thursday, June 04, 2009 9:43 AM |
One of the most important fundraising principles is that you should develop multiple sources of contributions. Many charities are now finding that without multiple sources they are faced with financial collapse. Especially in difficult times, most donors aren’t willing to take on new large philanthropic commitments.
So how do you go about finding and using these multiple sources of funding? Some basic tips:
Avoid fundraising cuts - Edith Falk, a fundraising consultant says, “cutting your development program is a really bad idea. You are putting yourself behind by another six months to a year after the economy improves and...
posted @ Thursday, January 08, 2009 9:40 AM |
Is it possible to get grants in a recession?
Absolutely! But you have to recognize that the strategy changes some. There is little doubt that foundations have been hit hard by the stock market declines. The private foundations are invested in stock portfolios. When the market declines, so do their assets. Nonetheless, private foundations are required by law to give 5% each year. In short, private foundations will still be making grants.
However, they will be making fewer grants. The key to getting on the radar screen of these foundations is to look carefully for who is on their board. See,...
posted @ Saturday, December 27, 2008 10:43 AM |
A year end appeal letter? Many ministries don't do them despite the fact that the wise ministry recognizes that 30-50% of an organization's funding may come in the month of December. So suffice it to say, it is wise, if not imperative that you write a year end appeal letter to your donors.
What are some of the basics in writing a year end appeal letter? They are as follows:
1. Keep it short. No more that 1 and 1/2 pages.
2. Tell a story. People like stories. Jesus used stories. Better yet, people share stories.
3. Use pictures. A picture tells a...
posted @ Saturday, November 29, 2008 10:19 AM |
With the downturn in the stock market, the ripple effect is widespread. Most grantmaking foundations were invested in the stock market. They experienced the same losses as the average investor. The amount of loss depends on the investment strategy. Some foundations lost 30% in the downturn. How does a ministry approach a foundation which has experienced this downturn in its own portfolio.
First, the selection of the foundations you seek to apply to remains the critical fact. You need to apply to foundations that are most likely to fund your cause. Christian foundations want to fund Christian organizations. That is why...
posted @ Monday, November 17, 2008 9:42 PM |
A lapsed donor can be defined as a donor who has not made a contribution to your organization with in the last 1-3 years, while those who haven’t contributed in 3 years can be classified as former donors. There is value in pursuing lapsed donors because they are not unfamiliar with your organization’s mission – they cared enough about it to donate at one time, after all. Kent Dove, author of Conducting a Successful Fundraising Program, says that the typical rate of response from mailing to lapsed donors is 11%. As you are creating your appeal letter to...
posted @ Tuesday, August 12, 2008 10:22 AM |
Although fundraisers tend to attribute their success to their techniques and methods, there are deeper motivations that also cause donors to give. In order to understand why people give and why Americans are so generous, one must look at the religious, psychological, marketing, historical, and cultural factors.
First, all of the world’s largest religions teach the importance of all living things on the earth and about the necessity of good deeds. The love of mankind, which all major religions promote, encourages philanthropy.
There are also other factors such as fear, elitism, guilt, anger, and greed. Below are twenty-four reasons that fundraiser...
posted @ Monday, August 11, 2008 11:03 AM |
In 2007, charitable bequests rose to $23.15 billion, and foundation giving also rose to $38.52 billion, a 10.3% increase. Campbell & Company President Peter Fissinger says this information from the Giving USA 2008 study may indicate that the generational transfer of wealth is beginning. With this increase in bequests and foundation giving, charitable organizations need to have knowledgeable staff ready to discuss planned giving and major giving strategies with clients. In doing so, charities may be less affected by the sluggish economy. Mike Poston, vice president for advancement at Guilford College, says that while a slow economy...
posted @ Friday, July 25, 2008 10:00 AM |
Picture this: You're a Catholic ministry searching for grants and happened to encounter the Christian Foundation Grants (CFG) website. We've got some pretty exciting resources and tools, but obviously you are most interested in the database. We seem to have a strong Christian focus, but wait! Don't leave yet just because it doesn't necessarily suit your focus! We've made sure that our database is one of the most comprehensive for all types of organizations- Methodist, Catholic, Episcopal etc. Let me give you a better idea of the the vast variety of foundations available to you. We just finished adding...
posted @ Friday, July 11, 2008 9:22 AM |
Summer is now in full swing. Life is busy yet not without fun. So what's going on at Christian Foundation Grants (CFG)? It's time for summer updates. We take pride in keeping our database filled with the most current information, such as sample grants and new foundations, in order to help you in your search for grants for your organization.
In our updates, one of the features we keep most current are "sample grants." Each of the foundations in our database files a Form 990 and we go through these 990's to determine what types of organizations they support. From there,...
posted @ Tuesday, June 24, 2008 12:00 AM |
Joy Skjegstad is a grantwriter with 20 years of experience who has a heart for the part that Christian organizations play in their communities, and she wants to see them flourish. She has worked with hundreds of ministry organizations in her career, and has found that nonprofit ministries are generally less knowledgeable than their secular counterparts in “discerning which grant funding to seek, understanding how to build relationships with funders, and putting together proposals.” In her book, Winning Grants to Strengthen Your Ministry, Skjegstad clears some of the fog for Christian organizations so that they can partner with like-minded donors...
posted @ Wednesday, June 18, 2008 12:00 AM |
When you’re creating a campaign, a feasibility study will tell you the funds you’re likely to raise and how long it may take. A good study will address these issues and will bring to your attention ways that your organization’s success can be maximized.
First, your study should address the issues of how supporters view your vision, a way to ensure that everyone agrees on that vision, what supporters see as being your organization’s strengths and weaknesses, and the best way to highlight your strengths and face the weaknesses. What are the best methods of marketing your mission to...
posted @ Wednesday, June 11, 2008 12:00 AM |
In order to receive a grant from a Christian foundation, the essential element is a clear message.
A clear message means that you have a clear mission, vision and objectives. I like for mission and vision statements to be 20 words or less. The vision statement ideally should have "jazz"--it should elements of transformation. In other words, why will the world be different because of the work of your ministry. There are many complicated versions of what a vision statement should be, but I describe it simply as "what only God can do."
A mission statement on the other hand is...
posted @ Sunday, June 08, 2008 12:00 AM |
When people think of foundations, they think of them as grantmaking organizations. This article will address the different foundation types.
Generally, a grantmaking foundation is what is known as a private foundation. A private foundation typically is established by a single family or a company. It sets up its own corporate status and establishes its own tax exempt status before the Internal Revenue Service. As such, it also establishes its guidelines for making grants. Those guidelines may be written down and very firm. On the other hand, I've seen some foundations who have a "we know it [what we want to...
posted @ Friday, June 06, 2008 12:00 AM |
There are many donors and resources for foundations to utilize, but what will compel those people to give? Sometimes, it comes down to the simplest things. People want to hear your story, to hear about tiny miracles, to get a sense of your passion. It is one thing to provide statistics, but often the connecting point for donors are those small stories.
The David and Lucille Packard Foundation conducted a survey to see how much individuals knew about the foundations serving in their community. The general result was that these foundations were “little known among key players in the efforts they...
posted @ Thursday, June 05, 2008 12:00 AM |
How do you find a Christian foundation that will support your work?
There are over 80,000 foundations in the country today. Some of them do not accept applications. They give only to those organizations which they choose to support. Generally, the only way an organization might receive a grant from one of these foundations is if you know someone on their board.
For those that do accept applications, the majority of those foundations do not identify themselves as Christian or as supporting Christian organizations. The fact that they do not identify themselves as Christian, however, does not mean that a Christian...
posted @ Monday, June 02, 2008 12:00 AM |
When most people think about raising money as a new organization, they think about getting a grant from a Christian foundation. That's not a bad idea. A foundation that aligns with your mission can certainly go a long ways to helping provide seed money to get you going.
But keep in mind that is the best approach for a foundation--to provide seed money to help get you going. Seed money is start up money. It helps you get off the ground. For some foundations, seed money is a one year grant. For others it is a three year grant that typically...
posted @ Friday, May 30, 2008 7:49 AM |
How do you write a grant for a Christian foundation?
Not long ago, I had a Christian organization submit a grant request to our foundation. It was a long, long narrative about their grand vison and how they were going to change the world through their ministry. They were going to reach everyone from children to seniors and they were going to accomplish this ministry from around the world. From a writing perspective, it was one long paragraph, and one long run on sentence. When they didn't get the grant, they were upset. They reasoned, "hey, we are a Christian organization...
posted @ Wednesday, May 28, 2008 7:16 AM |
It is not as simple as one might think--getting a grant from a Christian foundation. On the other hand, it's a lot simpler than many people think. Most Christian foundations start out with some key areas where they want to give grants. If you fit into those key areas you have a better chance of getting a grant.
How do you find out those focus areas? Look at grants that the foundation has given to in the past. Typically, a foundation has a pattern of organizations that they fund. If a foundation has only given to overseas international organizations and you...
posted @ Tuesday, May 27, 2008 7:55 AM |
Most people think that if they find a Christian foundation that gives grants to Christian organizations, then they have found the solution to their problems. They think: Christian organization + Christian foundation = money. The answer is not that simple, unfortunately.
There are over 80,000 foundations in the United States. However, that number can be reduced dramatically. Many of these foundations don't give to Christian organizations. There are only approximately 5,000 plus foundations that give to Christian organizations. Even among the foundations that identify themselves as Christian, there are only a small number of these foundations that actually accept grant requests.
It...
posted @ Monday, May 26, 2008 7:08 PM |