The 5 attachments you should have ready for your next grant application
By Ryan May, Tender and Grant Specialist (Perth
Putting together a grant can sometimes feel like passing through a security checkpoint. Grant givers want to know who you are, what your organisation does, the credentials your organisation holds, the financial position of your organisation, the policies your organisation stands upon… the list goes on. These requests can make up half the application (or more!), leaving you wondering when you’ll get the chance to talk about the project you actually want funded. It can be arduous – but it doesn’t have to be. By maintaining a collection of fundamental attachments on hand, you can cut down the time you spend scrounging through folders on your desktop and commit more attention to the parts of the application that deserve it. Here are my top 5 attachments you should have ready for your next grant application.
Deductible gift recipient (DGR) status certification
Many grants highlight DGR status as a condition of eligibility, so this one is good to have readily accessible. While this is something that can be looked up online, some grant givers will ask for a copy of your certification to save them the trouble. This is understandable, as most grants are fiercely competitive and will see high volumes of applications. Knowing this, it just makes sense to have this one close at hand.
Audited financial statements
An audited financial statement is integral in demonstrating the integrity of your organisation, as well as its ability to financially follow through on the project being posed. By showing that your organisation has a history of handling funds responsibly you provide quantifiable evidence to grant givers that you maintain the capability to successfully deliver on the project you are looking to have funded. Have this ready to go!
Annual report
An annual report provides a broad view of an organisation’s performance over 12 months. It provides information around organisational achievements and financial and non-financial performance to give readers a comprehensive idea of how an organisation is functioning. This is important to demonstrate that your organisation has the experience and knowledge to get organised, stick to deadlines and successfully deliver on milestones and targets. Grant givers want to feel confident that the project they’re about to fund will be carried out successfully and won’t collapse at the halfway point. It is frequently asked for, so having this readily available is a huge time saver.
Insurance certificate of currency
An insurance certificate of currency is a document provided by your insurer outlining that your policy is active and valid. It will inform on expiry dates, the type of coverage and what this coverage applies to. Grant givers like to see this as it helps to give them peace of mind that, should the worst occur, you are covered – the project can be salvaged or continued and their funding will not go to waste. Have this at the ready, as it is another document that is frequently asked for.
Your organisation’s constitution
Just as grant givers want to feel confident that your organisation will deliver the project, they also want to make sure your organisation’s values align with their own. This is critical as many grants maintain conditional eligibility dependent on what kind of organisation you are, who you support and where the funding is going. For example, some grant givers will only give to religious organisations, while others make a point not to give to religious organisations. Clarifying the purpose of your organisation clears the path for funding – so have this one ready and waiting!
No more attachment issues
Ensuring you have the above attachments collated in a single, easily accessible location will serve to save you time when completing future grant applications - time that can then be more valuably spent doing what your organisation exists to do in the first place! This is best done through the use of a content library, but if you haven’t yet put together one of these then storing the above documents in an easy to access folder will work fine too.
Wish there was a way to save even more time? Get in touch – we’d love to hear from you! Purpose Plus is committed to helping you achieve your grant related goals and are here to lend a hand when you find that two just isn’t enough. We offer assistance with grant applications and can provide services such as grant writing, grant coordination, grant finding and more.