Grant Recipients

Who gets grants and why? That is the question that may help you focus clearly on your intentions and help you land a grant for your organization, or project.

Dollars are becoming more scarce as the housing market impacts a wide variety of market portfolios. Grant givers invest in the market and often rely on those earnings to fill their giving coffers.

Because of this intricate web of financial investments and the vulnerability of assets during hard economic times, you must be prepared to work hard to prove your organization's worthiness for funding. Competition is stiff and is about to become stiffer.

Organizations and projects that get funded most often are those that show:

1. Track record of success
2. Strong organizational structure and internal support
   
3. Large and diverse base of people, or clients, served
4. Professional association and working relationship with other non-profits, or service industry providers
5. Excellent financial record keeping and informative statistical records

Partnering with other organizations may well be the biggest factor in the success rate of grant recipients. When a grant giver can look at a proposal and clearly see a broad and diverse base of service provided through more than one entity, they generally feel they are going to get the biggest bang for their buck.

Having a really important project you need to fund is equally important. How much need is their for your proposal? How many lives will you impact? Are there additional, long-term impacts from your work?

Prior to formulating your proposal, dig deep and research well the societal need you wish to fill. Hold close your allies and share your resources. Don't be afraid to approach funders and ask questions about their giving goals.

Be prepared for a long-term planning and development stage.