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.

Grant Types

Organizations qualifying for grants generally receive assistance in these forms:

1. Financial support to use in purchasing equipment and tools to support your project.
2. Financial support to use in purchasing goods to distribute to clients.
3. Financial support for capital projects.
4. Financial support for staff (not often long-term and dependent upon organization's ability to find future funding for the position - sustainability is key).
5. Financial support for research and development - results oriented.
   
6. Technical support - seminars, conferences, training - designed to help you do your job better.
7. Provision of goods - clothing, food, computers - meant for distribution to clients.

Who is most eligible for grants

Organizations and individuals whose work consists of serving others in need often receive assistance in a variety of forms from government agencies, non-profit funders, philanthropists, and individuals. Your organization can achieve high levels of recognition for need from these by funders by incorporating these suggestions into your search plan:

1. Establish a really strong board of directors willing to help you succeed.
2. Establish a cooperative agreement with one or more organizations whose goals and programs compliment and support your organizational goals and programs.
3. If you are not a 501c3, become one.
4. Keep excellent financial records.
5. Project into the future your organizational ability to serve a target group, or groups.
6. Format service data to use in demonstrating your organizational ability to meet needs.
7. Establish a working relationship with potential funders.
8. Build a sustainability component into your operational plan.
9. Be very clear about your target group, what you provide, and why you are unique.
   

Students who seek assistance with graduate work for a Master's program need to check with your school, your advisor, and with online resources like www.fastweb.com for help.

Google searching is a great way to find scholarships not listed at free scholarship websites. For example, if you use the key words "science" "minority science" "women science" and "science fellowships" you will find a a host of agencies, schools and organizations offering financial packages for your program.