By Ryan May, Tender and Grant Specialist (Perth)
For many organisations, grants can make up a serious chunk of revenue. To others, they are vital in getting key programs or projects off the ground and making a significant impact. They are often intensely competitive, and there is never enough to go around. For these reasons, it is critical that you approach each grant by putting your best foot forward – especially in the lead-up to a grant’s release. Of course, this means taking the time to prepare, which can be a daunting task in and of itself. Fortunately, there’s no need to stress. Follow these three tips you’ll be in good stead to tackle whatever grant you have your eye on.
Check your eligibility
This sounds obvious but can be a painful thorn in your side if you aren’t thorough. Make sure you explore the grant giver’s website, and if they have a specific document outlining eligibility requirements, that you download this and scour it. Still uncertain if your organisation is eligible? A quick phone call or email is a fantastic way to get your questions answered and to clear up any confusion. Most organisations are quite responsive (in my experience), so don’t hesitate to reach out to them!
Check for alignment
Eligibility isn’t everything. Your organisation may be eligible, but nearly all grants come with specific instructions around how funding can be used. For example, some grant givers won’t fund travel related expenses. If your project or program fails to align with funding guidelines, chances are you won’t win that funding. But don’t despair! Consider other programs or projects your organisation has been planning, or perhaps even those it’s temporarily tabled. While your original vision might not qualify for funding, misses like these provide an opportunity to breathe life into a different initiative altogether.
Gather your resources
Even if the grant application is yet to be released, this is still a great opportunity to assess your readiness. Gather what information you know is likely to be asked for – this often includes things such as organisational details, contact details, evidence of need for your project, what your project sets out to accomplish and how your organisation will be measuring the project’s outcomes, to name a few. Ensure you have personnel who will be available to make the inputs to the application when it drops, and seek relevant quotes now rather than scrambling for them later. Everything you do in advance will free up time later, which can be pivotal should you need to make corrections or refinements to your application later down the track.
Apply with confidence
Preparation is key. It is easy to feel confident when you have the majority of your application scoped out before the form has even been released. By ensuring you follow the above steps, your chances of winning funding will increase, while any related stress will decrease.
Finding the concept of making all these preparations daunting? Get in touch – we’d love to hear from you! Here at Purpose Plus we offer a huge variety of grant-related support, whether you need help with grant writing, grant management or grant finding. We are passionate about helping organisations achieve their potential and always love hearing from those interested in getting our help.