A finished grant proposal represents a huge investment of time and resources. One skill we must develop quickly is the ability to to say ‘no’ when a grant opportunity isn’t a good fit for the organization. Too often, we react to a bad-fit grant opportunity by shifting the program design to meet the requirements of the grant. This is counterproductive. Not only is the organization unlikely to win the grant based on a retrofitted work plan, but the org is also potentially missing out on best-fit funding opportunities. Worst of all, approaching grant funding this way compromises the integrity and effectiveness of programs designed specifically to meet the needs of YOUR community.
To tamp down the urge to apply to every grant in your funding category, ask these three questions first:
- Is your organization eligible?
- Is applying for, managing and reporting on the grant feasible?
- Does your program align strongly with the purpose of the grant? In other words, is there a fit?
I call this the EFFit framework. If a grant opportunity doesn’t meet these three criteria, F-it. Don’t apply. Spend that time looking for better grants that don’t make your organization twist itself into a pretzel to get funding.
Eligibility
There are two main factors to consider when determining whether or not your organization is eligible to apply for a grant. First, you have to figure out if your organization is eligible. This is usually pretty clear in the Request for Applications (RFA). More complicated is determining whether or not your program and all associated expenses can be funded through the grant. Let’s dive into what this could mean for your application.
Check your organization’s eligibility
The first step when evaluating a new RFA is to flip to the eligibility section and make sure your organization is actually for-sure eligible to apply.
Eligibility requirements can get very specific so make sure to read carefully and refer to any external resources mentioned. Requirements to keep an eye out for include organization type, geographic area of service, populations served, organization leadership and any number of other qualifiers of particular interest to the funder.
Check your program’s eligibility
Along with organization eligibility, you’ll also want to check for program eligibility. Often, this means asking: Are the proposed expenses allowable? In other words, are the expense required for your project or program things the funder is willing and able to pay for. This is especially important to consider if the proposal includes a capital expenditure, like a vehicle or expensive special equipment. Many funders won’t pay for these types of expenses.
Other things to check include restrictions on salaries and indirect costs. Some grant makers only want to fund program supplies and materials while others recognize the value and necessity of providing competitive compensation to nonprofit staffers. Other commonly excluded expenses include food and beverages, especially alcohol, as well as marketing, advertising and fundraising expenses.
Of course, what is and isn’t allowable will vary from grant to grant. As always, read the RFA carefully. Knowing which grant funds what can help you build a strategy that accounts for the all the different program elements. If you are ever unsure about your organization or program eligibility, don’t hesitate to reach out to the grant program officer for confirmation.
Feasibility
Like the eligibility check, the feasibility check has layers. The first layer is the deadline — when is it and can your organization get a proposal together in time? When deciding whether or not your organization has time to apply, look at the proposal requirements to help you. Pay attention to anything that will require help from outside your organization — partnership requirements, letters of support, etc. These will take more time to prepare, so create your timeline accordingly.
Next, check the minimum and maximum award amounts. Make sure the grant is offering an appropriate amount for your project or program.
If the award range is right, then check whether or not a match is required. How much? Cash or in-kind? Can your provide the match? If not, can you partner with an organization who can? Remember, in-kind services like volunteer hours can often count towards a match as long as they are properly tracked.
You’ll also need to check whether or not payment is on a reimbursement basis. If it is, consider whether or not your organization has the cash flow to support those outgoing funds until you can get reimbursed.
Along with all of this, you’ll also want to look at the reporting requirements. What type of data is expected and how will your organization collect it? Will the grant pay for that effort or do you need extra funds?
Answering these questions about feasibility is an important step is deciding whether or not to apply to a grant.
Fit
The final check is the fit check. When considering fit, ask: Does the purpose of the grant align with the purpose of your program?
This is the most nebulous factor in determining whether or not to apply for a grant. It’s often a question of philosophy and perspective.
Fit can be broken down into two parts. First, does the grant opportunity aim to solve the same problems as you? Second, do you and the grant maker aim to solve the problem in the same way? This is the tricky one. Everything else can align perfectly, but if you think permaculture is the answer to sustainable food security, but the grant wants to support agriculture tech and bio-engineering, there is a fundamental mismatch. Both strategies could have benefits and drawbacks, but if your preference is different from the funder’s, you aren’t likely to win the grant.
Sometimes, fit isn’t clear—especially for foundation grants. When in doubt, ask the program officer.
Final thoughts
Applying for the right grants can mean the difference between getting funded and getting frustrated. Save the pretzel-making for the bake sale. Use the EFFit framework to find best-fit grants and win real, impactful funding for your programs.
Questions? I wanna hear ‘em. Contact me.
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