Key Elements To Winning Grants (for nonprofits)

By focusing on quality assurance, building relationships with funders, and understanding funders' past behaviors, nonprofits can significantly enhance their chances of winning grants and achieving long-term sustainability.  Watch this informative conversation into the nuances of grant writing, the importance of quality assurance, and strategies to increase the likelihood of securing funding.

Amanda Stonerock, CEO of StonerockMT.com, leads a team of experts scattered across the globe, providing grant writing, strategic planning, and fundraising services to nonprofits and small businesses. Her approach focuses on creating sustainability and structure within organizations to help them succeed in the competitive grant landscape.

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One of the critical aspects Amanda emphasizes is the importance of a "grant quality assurance review." She explains, “What I start to do is give me your information and show me what you have in your grants so that I can help you target your language and the story that adheres to the requirements of the grant application.” This process ensures that every detail aligns with the grantor's expectations, improving the chances of success. 

Amanda also points to the necessity of relationship building with funders. Despite the increasing digitalization of grant applications, she believes that personal connections remain crucial. She advises organizations to go beyond the portal submissions by picking up the phone and scheduling conversations with funders. She notes, “Picking up the phone and scheduling, you know, a Zoom or a Teams or some sort of online meeting is essential. Just having that verbal communication,  . . . .is important, even if there’s a portal.” 

Another key strategy Amanda discusses with host Julia Patrick,  is the importance of understanding the funder's past grant decisions. Amanda reveals her method of reviewing a funder's 990 forms to get insights into their funding history, which helps nonprofits align their proposals with the funder's priorities, again, increasing the likelihood of a positive response. 

Amanda's company boasts a success rate of 78 to 86% on grants, significantly higher than the industry average of 20 to 40%. This success is attributed to their thorough front-end work and ongoing relationship management with funders. She takes the time in this learning episode to explain the importance of targeting the right opportunities and avoiding the common mistake of trying to fit a nonprofit’s needs into a funder’s priorities without proper alignment.

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