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You are an incredible organization with effective programs, great staff, super-human volunteers and you collaborate with the community you serve – all you need is money!

But before filling in that funding application due in four days, you need to take a small step back and first determine if a grant is the best source of revenue to support your program.

There are multiple sources of revenue for charities which include individual donors, corporations, government, religious groups, foundations, and service clubs to name a few. Different kinds of programs speak to different kinds of funders.

In broad strokes…

• Individual donors support programs people can easily understand, visualize, quantify and empathize.
• Corporations support programs that provide them with a market or profile.
• Government or foundation grants support programs that address systemic issues and offer effective solutions.

If you determine that grants are appropriate, then you need to ask yourself if your organization is prepared to follow the general parameters of grants.

While grants are often enticing, it is important to remember that grants:

• are tied to performance outcomes;
• have little flexibility regarding spending; and
• require compliance and reporting.

Let’s say you are comfortable with all three parameters, then you need to ask yourself if your program is grant-ready. A grant-ready program has:

• clear objectives and outcomes;
• objectives and outcomes address the need or problem;
• outcomes can and will be measured;
• activities are relevant and realistic; and
• the program aligns with the mission and vision of the organization.

Let’s say you are comfortable with all three parameters and the program is grant-ready, then you need to ask yourself if your organization has the time and expertise to write the application. If your answer is yes, here is my one piece of advice – Collaboration.

I am not talking about collaborating with like-minded agencies- funders have been pushing for partnerships and collaborations for over a decade now. I am talking about infusing a strong tone of collaboration in the prose of your application. You want potential funders to read applications that make them feel excited to be part of your proposed solution.

Here are my top three tips to make your grant application feel collaborative.

1. Avoid sad and accusatory language. In an effort to describe the problem, we sometimes use severe or catastrophic language while also blaming society for allowing the problem to develop. This leaves readers feeling sad and guilty. Despair and shame do not motivate people to join causes. To excite and empower readers, articulate the problem within a context of hopefulness.

2. Infuse a tone of inclusivity. In an effort to highlight your organization's strengths and unique offerings, it is easy to run the risk of using exclusive language. For example, it is common to say that an organization is the "only one of its kind in Canada." While that may be true, it may also give the impression that your organization is a "lone wolf." Lone wolfs are not collaborative. Use exclusive-like statements wisely and ensure to couple them with sentences that restore a tone of inclusivity.

3. Use funder language and do not use jargon or industry-specific terminology. There are multiple ways to say one thing. Make sure you say it in a way that resonates with the readers. A funding proposal is not an academic document to break ground and secure tenure. There is no need to impress with obscure words and references. Use language that eliminates disparity between the readers and your organization.

In a way, your proposal is an invitation to join a cause. Make your invitations inviting.

If you are interested in working more with me to help your organization flourish with winning proposals, please join me in one of my upcoming workshops. You can get more information here: http://www.annemorais.com/workshops.html

Anne offers CFRE-approved grant seeking and grant writing workshops to help you transform your proposals into winners. You can find workshop descriptions, registration information and other services at annemorais.com.