Grants rarely come from a perfect essay. They come from a good fit between what a funder wants to support and what you already do well, explained clearly.
Find funders that fit
- Start local: community foundations, banks, utilities and large local employers often fund nearby nonprofits.
- Search foundation databases and Grants.gov (both in our Toolkit), filtering by your cause and area.
- Read each funder’s guidelines and past grants. If they have never funded work like yours, move on.
Have the basics ready
- Your IRS determination letter and EIN.
- A one-paragraph mission and a short history.
- This year’s budget and your most recent financial statements or Form 990.
- A list of board members.
- Two or three numbers that show your results.
What a proposal usually covers
- The need: the problem, in your community, with a local fact or two.
- Your plan: what you will do, for whom, and when.
- Results: what will change and how you will measure it.
- Budget: what the money pays for, line by line.
- Sustainability: how the work continues after the grant.
Tips that help
- Answer exactly what is asked, in the order it is asked, within the word limits.
- Use plain language and one real story.
- Call or email the program officer with a short question before you apply, if the funder allows it.
- Track deadlines and report on time after you win. Good reports lead to the next grant.
Funders often look at your website before deciding. Make sure it is current and easy to use.
See how your site does: run the free Website Checkup. It takes about ten seconds.