Recently, I helped a local nonprofit apply for a grant. In the process, I became better acquainted with the Healthcare Georgia Foundation. They are a shining example of how foundations that care to do so can assist nonprofit grant seekers through the often daunting grant application process.
Scant weeks after announcing their grant opportunity, the foundation held a webinar on the funding objectives and the entire online grant application. It provided information on evaluation expectations and addressed applicant questions.
Having done my share of grant applications, I still found it extremely helpful. A link to the webinar remained on HCG’s website throughout the grant cycle, accessible to anyone interested in applying. HCG also provided links to in-depth, expert information on how to create meaningful, robust project evaluations.
Additional technical assistance was available through most of the grant cycle to nonprofits seeking feedback on their planned evaluation process or other aspects of the grant application.
Clearly, there was a genuine concern by this foundation that the playing field be level for all nonprofits with programs relevant to the funder’s interests.
They made every attempt to ensure proposals would not be rejected due to incomplete information or an application that reflected a lack of experience with the grant seeking process — that the grant decision could focus solely on the project’s viability, the need it would meet, and the nonprofit’s ability to work it.
Another supportive foundation is the Monsanto Fund, which — among its other assistance to grant seekers — offers a slide presentation on writing strong grant proposals. But such care for the grant seeker varies widely among even larger foundations.
While it may appear easier for larger organizations like Monsanto Fund and Healthcare Georgia Foundation to provide such support to grant seekers, these tools are not so onerous that smaller foundations can’t make use of them for the good of its applicants.
Small family and corporate foundations across the U.S. provide generous help to community nonprofits, as we all know. Unfortunately, I’ve spoken with a number whose only advice for the grant seeker is “just submit a proposal for the project you want support for.”
No information is provided via phone or website on the interests of the funder or the range of grant awards available. Nothing was available as to whether the decision makers were open to awards for capital expenditures, operating costs or only program costs.
For the proposal, the only information offered was send in a copy of your IRS nonprofit determination letter, the amount of funding you want and the project you want funded.
This take-your-best-shot approach can discourage smaller, less well staffed nonprofits from applying. Or worse, they will spend time struggling through a grant application with no support, unsure what to include in the proposal, and often on a request that doesn’t match for the funder’s interests.
Small foundations with only a family member or one staff person handling its charitable requests can provide a higher level of support to grant seekers through simple online information such as Web links and FAQs. This cuts down on repetitive phone inquiries, respects the grant seeker’s time and opens the doors to a broader range of grant applicants.
For the funder, it offers better community relations through a more transparent grant process.
Sarah Todd is founder of Change Pioneers, a resource on implementing grassroots social change. She can be reached at 912-224-2120 or changepioneers@gmail.com.