Nonprofit Grants: Complete Guide for Where to Look and How to Get Them
Non-profit grants are the bread and butter to your non-profit success, but how do you apply for them?
Many people think that non-profits can make all the money they need by simply fundraising. But non-profits begin, build, and thrive because of multiple streams of revenue. A non-profit grant can be the lifeline to a grassroots company.
Chances are you are searching for how to start a non-profit to help with a need that you have a personal tie to. There is so much information out there but initially, you need a plan on how to fund it.
We are here to help you with your nonprofit needs and have decided to share with you some of the tips we have learned along the way.
Check out our complete guide on where to look for nonprofit grants!
Getting Started
It is important to search for grants that match your nonprofit needs. If you haven’t started already, you will need a plan and budget. From that budget, you will uncover a list of funding needs for your nonprofit. Include things that are very specific to your nonprofit.
This can include, but are not limited to:
- Supplies & materials
- Mileage
- Overhead costs like rentals, utilities
- Marketing costs
- Wages for employees (attorneys, accountants, etc.)
Prioritize
After you have created your list of needs, you should figure out which need is most important for the success of your nonprofit, and start with that need.
For each need, it is important to figure this out:
- How difficult is it to get funded?
- What are the specific costs?
- When do you need the funds by?
Finding Your Nonprofit Grants
So you have made a specific, tentative timeline for your Nonprofit. Now you need to figure out where to start on the search for grants that will work for it.
What type of grant are you looking for? There are several organizations and places to find grants. The first place to start is to search.
Searching
Do a quick Google search for “grants for…” adding your specific cause. You can even add the state or city that your nonprofit is located in for more local listings. Grants.gov is a great place to start looking for government grants.
You can also ask local businesses, or ask your board of directors for help with finding grant funds for your nonprofit. You may want to even consider using social media to find grants.
You can also search these keywords or companies:
- Philanthropic Solutions (Wells Fargo, Bank of America, J.P. Morgan)
- Candid
- Google Impact Challenge
- Grantwatch
- Grantgopher
Grants That Fit Your Nonprofit
Let’s say you have done the research and found a list of potential grants for your nonprofit. There are a few things to consider when applying for grants.
Consider these things when determining if a specific grant is a fit for your nonprofit:
Make sure the grant is available for the area your nonprofit is located. Does the funder’s interest match yours?
Some funders help with specific parts within a nonprofit instead of the cause. For example, if you have a project that fits a grant offered for projects. Sometimes well-known companies offer grants, just google a business name along with the word “grant”
Funder Information
Research information about the funders of the grants that you are interested in. This will help you decide if the grant they are offering is a good one for you to apply to. Find out what types of nonprofits they have funded in the past.
Also, make sure to research all of the information that the funders share on their website.
Connect With Funders
Many times, it is beneficial to reach out to funders to ask questions you may have that haven’t been answered yet. Make a list of questions before you reach out.
This is a great way to start the relationship process with a potential funder. When you build meaningful relationships, you stand out. It doesn’t hurt to get information about what kind of things they are looking for when funding or project for a nonprofit.
Grant Proposals
Grant writing is personal. It is where you share your story. This should be unique when addressing each potential grant funder.
This is because you want the proposal to match exactly with the funder’s interests that match yours. You will find that it increases your chances of being chosen for that grant. It is important to make it very clear, what exactly the money will be used for if your nonprofit is chosen to receive the grant.
You may think about hiring a professional grant writer who has the experience to do the proposals for you. Another option is to seek education for yourself in writing grant proposals.
Before you submit your application, make sure you go over it thoroughly. Sometimes it is helpful to ask another person to go over it as well.
Track Your Applications
We recommend that you track your applications. This will help you with remembering deadlines, status, and simply keep you organized. You can use a paper calendar, or a spreadsheet if you want to record more details.
The more detail-oriented you are as a nonprofit owner, the more successful you will be with finding, applying for, and acquiring grants.
Nonprofit Grants Success
Finding grant funders is one of the keys to having a successful nonprofit. But teamwork makes the dream work, right? We hope that you have found the information that we have shared today to be resourceful.
There are many aspects to consider when finding nonprofit grants. If you would like more nonprofit grant help or are interested in outsourced bookkeeping services, please contact us!
