For non-profit leaders looking to increase their funding in new ways, grant writing services are a great option.

Recently, A survey distributed at the end of 2020 showed that due to Covid-19, 64% of non-profits were concerned with generating revenue due to canceled events/fundraisers. Meanwhile, 45% of non-profits were experiencing loss of donors or corporate partners.

Is your organization looking for a way to make up for a decrease in funding? When you begin to think about investing in grant writing, there are a few key components needed to be in place before submitting grant applications.

What is the Purpose of a Grant Proposal?

To put it simply, the purpose of a grant proposal is to persuade an organization/funder to provide your organization with proposed funding.

For instance: A non-profit that gives finance lessons to individuals in underprivileged neighborhoods aiming to receive a grant will submit an in-depth explanation of how they use the current funding they have, how they plan to use the potential grant funding to reach more individuals, and why the funding is necessary to benefit the overall livelihood of the community.

What Do You Need To Write A Grant Proposal?

Is Your Organization a 501(c)(3) non-profit?

The primary difference between a 501(c)(3) and other organizations is in the donations’ tax-deductibility. This means that donors to your organization are eligible for a tax deduction when filed.

There are many different purposes a 501(c)(3) organization may fulfill:

• Charitable
• Scientific
• Literacy
• Educational
• Testing for public safety
• Fostering of national or international amateur sports
• Prevention of cruelty to animals and children

These different organizations will all fall into one of three categories:

• Public Charity
• Private Foundation
• Private Operating Foundation

Note that organizations MUST be classified as a 501c3 non-profit to be eligible for most grant funding. 

What Metrics to use When Grant Writing 

These need to be quantifiable KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) that showcase how your organization successfully draws in donors and meets goals. A few recommendations are: 

• How many gifts are received within a specific amount of time?
• The number of beneficiaries the organization has served?
• In what capacity are you serving the beneficiaries?
• What are the measurable outcomes and success rates of the program?
• How many donors are repeatedly giving?
• What is the fundraising return on investment? 

The list of potential metrics to include is extensive; however, remember to stick to that goal of telling the story. Ensure that the metrics are relevant to your organization’s overall goals and the grantor’s organization. Selecting the ideal grants is a crucial component to the success of grant writing services. The 712 Marketing Solutions team is experienced at researching and selecting grant opportunities that produce desirable outcomes.

Who Does Your Nonprofit Benefit?

Make sure potential donors know what they are contributing to. The more narrowly you can define it, the better. Are they donating to fund meals? Special events? Don’t be afraid to lay out all the details and budget line items on how much it costs to keep the organization running and continue offering community services.

How Do You Measure Success of a Nonprofit?

Measure contributions – NOT attributions. 

In the late 1990s, the Girl Scouts of the USA commissioned a large-scale study into whether or not they were meeting their mission statement of “helping young girls reach their full potential as citizens.” Notable, the mission isn’t the easiest to measure. However, what they found is that their members had, in fact, become more successful and responsible citizens overall. 

Does your organization provide classes to teach youth how to cook? How is this new skill going to help them as they grow? When measuring the success of your non-profit, you want to assess what long-term effects your organization are having on the community it serves.

How We Can Help

Grant writing can be overwhelming to many, especially to the untrained eye. At 712 Marketing Solutions, we are experts in translating the vision of your non-profit into grant proposals and awards. Our team will thoroughly break down your non-profit organization and present a comprehensive overview of how your organization works towards bettering the grantors chosen cause. We work with your team to understand what makes your organization shine and showcase the positive influence on the community.

If your organization is ready to grow it’s impact, contact our team today to discover how grant writing services can help!