Anyone have experience in writing grants for non-profits?

[Laura]

My son's swim team is looking to raise money to build a pool. In addition to corporate sponsorship, we are also looking for grant money (and other avenues of funding). I have no experience in grant writing, but have been designated the grant writer. If anyone has personal advice or where I can get some information on grant writing, it would be greatly appreciated.

[Robyn1007]

Laura, let me see if I can get in touch with a friend here in Denver who used to write grants for non profits full time. I'll let you know asap. When is the grant proposal due?

[leebee]

Follow instructions to the letter! If they say they want four copies on different colors of paper all in Comic Sans font, except for the one on goldenrod, which should be in Times New Roman and printed portrait style with every other paragraph bolded, do it (they won't, but you get my drift). And be realistic. For example, if they tie their award to your ability to raise additional funds, don't do it unless you know you can raise those additional funds. Tell them what they need to know in as straightforward a way as possible, matching your needs with their criteria as closely as possible. When it comes time to review a grant proposal, those that are not submitted correctly will likely be weeded out first (there are too many good causes, and too little money!). Then, the reviewers will be looking for ways to make their money do the most good, so they might be picky on small things. For example, if a foundation is looking to increase female participation in sports, an all-boy team would be a bad fit, and that sort of thing (that seems obvious, but it doesn't always make it through to the good folks submitting proposals!). Last, but not least: PLEASE proofread! It may seem like a little thing, but one or two extra sets of eyes may do some good. I read the first round of proposals for a grant not long ago, and those that were coherently written were obviously much easier to read, and thus likely made it further. I'm not saying that a really good cause won't make it through, but (as I stated earlier), there just isn't enough money to go around. It's like a resume--a lot of simple errors can cost a qualified person a closer look. Good luck!

[Laura]

Laura, let me see if I can get in touch with a friend here in Denver who used to write grants for non profits full time. I'll let you know asap. When is the grant proposal due?
Umm yeah, that would be good to know. Based on the information so far, I am thinking November, but I don't really know.

[JanetB]

Laura,

Take a look at the Foundation Center website. There is a lot of information available to you there. Check into a few of the possible grantmakers that you are interested in - they might all have interest in a common form (meaning they accept one form of grantwriting). This is a blessing - you can write this once and tweak it to fit each foundation.

Best of luck

[Melman]

I've hesitated adding any comments. I took a grant writing class last fall. I'd say the main things are:
* Listen to leebee - the instructions are so important.
* Check the deadlines very soon - when I took the class, there were a LOT of grants that had deadlines of September and October. I was looking specifically for "technology in education" (or some form of that) so possibly ran into a school year issue.
* Search the internet for any combination of terms you can imagine. I was so surprised at the number of grant opportunities available. Check to see if your city has some type of organization that provides grants for "community outreach" or anything close to that. I found out we have one around here and had no clue until I began my search. In other words, when you locate some grant opportunities, be sure to narrow the search by including the name of your city. You may get lucky!

I think writing grants is a royal pain (that's why I don't do it for a living!!!), but I will say that being awarded a grant is a wonderful feeling!!! I'm 1 for 1. :D If I decide to write another one, I definitely have my baseline.

Good luck!!!!