Your grant application must tell an unforgettable story.
What will distinguish it from the hundreds of others the funder is considering?
Researching a funder's guidelines is the beginning. But equally important are the previous giving patterns. When do funders give? Where? To whom? And how much? The answers help me target your proposal to the most likely match.
Funders want evidence that your program addresses an important need. I research the statistics and I dig for anecdotes that drive home the point.
Identifying board members who have business or social relationships with a donor can also make a difference. But if you don't have a connection, I can contact the donor or program officer to jump start a conversation.
Your grant application has to be a good read. Distinctive, informative, and user-friendly.
Jargon and organization-speak are your enemies. Clear, tight writing grabs the reader's attention.
I do not assume that funders are looking for a reason to say "Yes." Instead, I spell out why they should care.
My writing partner (and husband), Andy Segal, is an award winning journalist and former CNN documentary producer. He brings abstract ideas down to earth by transforming complex information into engaging stories.
Andy's skills complement mine. We sum it up without dumbing it down.
I use periodic reports to funders as an opportunity to strengthen the relationship.
I keep track of human interest stories from your program so there's fresh material when it's time to renew a grant.
And if a grant proposal is rejected, I solicit feedback from the funder to improve the odds in the next funding cycle.
Your work has never been more important.
The challenges have never been greater.