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Ask Them To Write The Grant!

For Impact Ideas | | Tom Suddes

Nick and I were talking about foundations and program officers and the inability of otherwise competent development staffs and leaders in attaining ‘grants‘ from a foundation.

3 Quick Things:

    1. A FOUNDATION is still led, run, managed by PEOPLE! Sending out shotgun proposals, based on online guidelines, is a cop out.
    2. Those PEOPLE can be talked with and visited ! It’s their job!
    3. The BIG IDEA: You can actually ASK THEM TO HELP YOU WRITE THE GRANT!

Start by asking what the Foundation’s priorities are. Then, find the fit. Then get the Foundation Director or Program Officer to be your Champion. Then…

Actually ask them to help you with the proper words and terminology to get the grant!

Could be as simple as “Would it be okay if I sent you a DRAFT of the proposal before we submit it?”

Try it. You’ll like it.