1. Grant Writing Basics
Brook Wingate & Rich Whittington
TRIAD STAGE

2. What is a grant?
O A structured way in which a corporation,
foundation or individual chooses to share their
philanthropic resources with an organization
whose mission they care about.
O The application questions and format allow the
grantor to review consistent information from
prospective grantees.
O Most grants are project-specific.

3. Before You Begin
O Make sure you know AND can articulate:
O Who You Are
O What You Do and Why it is Important
O Who You Serve
O Consider creating a Style Guide (especially
when several people are writing for the same
organization).
O The look of the organization – logos, fonts, colors
O What names you use (and how you spell them)

4. The Basics – Who You Are
O Tax Exempt Status
O Organizational structure (board and staff)
O Organization mission
O Brief History of Organization
O Overall Budget

5. The Basics – What You Want
O Program or Project Description
O Project Budget
O Total Cost
O Amount of request
O Other funding sources
O Population(s) Served
O Outcome/Benefits to community

6. Examples – Who You Are
O Brief description of your organization's history,
mission and primary activities.
O State the organization’s mission.
O Briefly describe the organization and its
background. Indicate whether it has any
standing programs and if the organization has
paid staff, or operates using consultants or
volunteers.
O List all Board members by name and include
area of expertise, gender, and ethnicity or race.

7. Examples – What You Want
O Explain how the grant funds will be used, what will be
accomplished, who will benefit and what will change in
the community if this request is funded.
What is the time frame for the project?
What is your desired outcome?
O
How will progress be tracked?
O
Describe collaborative efforts-formal or informal-you
have established or plan to establish with organizations
O
working on similar issues or providing similar services.
O
Discuss the plans and methods being used to raise all
funds necessary to accomplish the project as proposed.
Indicate all commitments already obtained.
O

8. Which comes first?
O Ideally, your programs will be chosen based
on your mission and goals and you will find
grants to support those.
O Sometimes the reverse approach is
necessary. Understand major grant
opportunities and consider if your
programs need to align (NEA, NCAC).

9. Getting Started – Before Writing
O FIRST: Does your program align with their
funding priorities as they have described them?
Do not waste your time or theirs trying to
O Grantors have varying degrees of reporting
“make it work”.
requirements. Ensure you have systems in
place to accurately monitor the progress of the
grant and meet reporting requirements.
O When contact information is provided, call the
staff. Begin a relationship, ask questions.

10. Getting Started - Writing
O Read questions and requirements very
carefully. Answer every single part of every
question.
O Write Smart – drafts, proof-readers, readers
unfamiliar with the program.
O Follow submission guidelines carefully.

11. Writing for Fundraising
O Remember – SELL! – every answer is an opportunity
to promote your organization and program.
O DON’T: Triad Stage is a professional theater.
O DO: Triad Stage is an award-winning, professional
theater with eleven seasons of proven success.
O Be Honest – grantors do follow up, so you have to be
able to do what you say
O Own your challenges – don’t gloss over issues;
instead, show how you address them and/or how the
grant will help you meet those challenges.

12. Writing for Fundraising
O Be Specific – stay away from broad generalizations,
especially in impact and outcomes
O DON’T: This program will help hundreds of children
receive a more well-rounded education.
O DO: This program will enable 200 children at
Sternberger Elementary School to receive more
than 10 hours of hands-on arts education each
week.
O DON’T: Arts education helps students succeed in
the classroom.
O DO: Children who participate in arts education have
a 50% higher graduation rate than those who do
not.

13. Writing for Fundraising
O Avoid Jargon – do not assume that every
grant reviewer will know theater
(exception: when the grantor is a theater
organization)
O Include external quotes and/or accolades,
when they support your answer(s)

14. Finding Grant Opportunities
O Foundation Center
O By subscription
O Public Library
O Visit grantspace.org to find locations throughout
the country where information can be accessed
O The Chronicle of Philanthropy (Washington, D.C.)
O Daily on line
O Offers podcasts, webinars, trend information along
with recent grants made
O The Philanthropy Journal
O Blogs, trends

15. Finding Grant Opportunities
O Facebook/Twitter
O Like/follow similar organizations around the
country and watch for grant award announcements
O Local community foundation
O Get to know grant programs and program officers
who can align your organization with prospective
donors.
O Annual reports and website searches
O Who / what organizations are contributing to
similar organizations?

16. Finding Grant Opportunities
O Utilize your board
O Gather information at the onset of each new
fiscal year to help generate opportunities:
O Employers
O direct opportunity for funding?
O Organizationally?
O Departmentally?
O Houses of worship
O Social, Service, Fraternal Club memberships (do
they have grant programs?)

17. Keys to Success
O Understand the grantor:
O What is their purpose/goal for the community?
O Have they funded the arts/theater in the past?
O Who is on their Board? Do you have a connection?
O Understand your organization:
O What is your mission?
O Why are you important?
O How does this project further your mission?
O Understand the grant process:
O Follow guidelines.
O Meet deadlines.
O Answer questions completely.