Funding Strategy: Your Roadmap to Grant Success
Who doesn’t love a good treasure hunt? It builds anticipation for that chest of gold at the end. But without a treasure map, it’s a frustrating and fruitless journey.
With a map, you know where you need to go, the landmarks to look for, and what distractions to ignore.
A funding strategy works much the same way — and is foundational to a strong grant-seeking strategy.
So what is a funding strategy, how does it work, and why does your nonprofit need one?
Let’s get into it.
What exactly IS a funding strategy?
Think of it as your nonprofit's personalized treasure map. It's NOT just a list of random grant opportunities — although some may try to pass this off as a funding strategy.
A REAL funding strategy takes into account your organization, its mission and the project you want to get funded. It takes man hours, sifting hundreds of grant opportunities and foundations to find alignment and ensure a high chance of success.
All of this work results in a grant roadmap for your organization. This roadmap…:
Identifies 10-15 ideal grant funders: These are foundations, corporations, or government agencies whose missions and priorities perfectly align with YOUR nonprofit's work.
Researches each funder thoroughly: You'll receive a deep-diveinto application deadlines, eligibility requirements, past grant awards, and even the competitiveness of each grant opportunity.
Creates a timeline: This roadmap outlines which grants to pursue and when over the next 12-18 months.
Why is this strategy so crucial?
So now you know what a funding strategy and what it does. But why invest in one?
Let’s look at a few key ways that this strategy supports your nonprofit and makes your life easier…
Cuts down on chaos: No more frantically searching for grants at the last minute! A strategy provides a clear direction and keeps your grant writing efforts focused.
Increases your chances of success: By targeting the right funders and verifying low competition, you're submitting proposals that are more likely to resonate and get funded.
Saves you time and energy: No more wasting precious resources on applications that are doomed to fail from the start. You know you align and can strategically take your time to put forth a strong application.
Builds stronger relationships: By researching funders deeply, you gain valuable insights that help you tailor your proposals to their specific interests.
Boom. You’re saving yourself time, steering away from stress, and creating a clear path toward grant funding.
Ready to ditch the aimless wandering and find the path to grant success?
Support your mission without wasting time and resources. Invest in a funding strategy that will provide a clear path forward.
Interested in a funding strategy or need more help with grants? Schedule a discovery call so we can talk!
Feature Photo Credit: Nadjib BR
