1. America’s Fundraising Counsel
Grant Development Services
Securing Foundation Support
Norma R. Murphy June 2012
Executive Vice President

2. Foundation & Corporate Support
Facts and Figures
 The total giving for 2010 – including foundations,
corporations, bequests and individuals was $290.89
billion.
 Foundations awarded $41.21 billion in 2010 or 14%
 Corporations gave $15.29 billion in 2010 or 5%.

3. $290.89 Billion Given in 2010
Individuals
$229.03
74.8%
Source: Giving USA FoundationTM/Giving USA 2010

4. Where it went
Source: Giving USA FoundationTM/Giving USA 2010

5. Submitting vs. Getting
The difference between organizations that submit
numerous grant applications, but get only nominal
foundation support for their organizations can usually
be attributed to the absence of a formalized plan.

6. Submitting and Getting
 Nonprofit organizations can no longer afford to apply for
grants simply because the RFP has been announced or the
deadline is approaching for a foundation’s grants program to
which it always applies.
 A coordinated and strategically driven program will allow
your organization to focus its grant seeking efforts on those
grant makers most likely to fund your projects rather than
those grant opportunities that simply land on your desk.

7. Preparation
Define your project:
 Clarify the purpose of your project and write a mission
statement.
 Define the scope of work to focus your funding search.
 Determine the broad project goals, then identify the
specific objectives that define how you will focus the
work to accomplish those goals.

8. Preparation
Identify the right funding sources - Foundation centers,
computerized databases, publications, and public libraries are
some of the resources available to assist your funding search.
Do not limit your funding search to one source.
Look for a match between your project and the grants you seek
by looking for consistency between the purpose and goals of
your project and the funder.

9. Contact the Funder
 Think of the funder as a resource.
 Identify a project officer who will address your questions.
 Some funders offer technical assistance, others do not.
 Ask for technical assistance, including a review of
proposal drafts.
 Inquire about how proposals are reviewed and how
decisions are made.

10. Contact the Funder (continued)
 Inquire about budgetary requirements and preferences.
 Are matching funds required?
 Is in-kind acceptable as a portion of applicants’ share?
 What may be counted as in-kind, and how might it be
applied.

 Learn about payment processes, including cash flow.
Remember, the contacts you make may prove invaluable,
even if not for now.

11. Acquire Proposal Guidelines
Guidelines usually tell you about:
 Submission deadlines
 Eligibility
 Proposal format: award levels, margins, spacing,
evaluation process and restrictions on the number
of pages, etc.

12. Guidelines usually tell you
about…
 Budgets
 Funding goals and priorities
 Award levels
 Evaluation process and criteria
 Who to contact
 Other submission requirements

13. Additionally…
Read the guidelines carefully, then read them again.
Ask the funder to clarify your questions.

14. Know the Submission Deadline
 Plan to submit your proposal on or preferably before
the deadline.
 Be realistic about whether you have time to prepare a
competitive proposal that meets the deadline.
 Know the funder’s policies on late submissions,
exceptions, and mail delays.
 Find out how the funder will notify you about the
receipt and status of your proposal.

15. Determine Personnel Needs
 Identify required personnel both by function and, if
possible, by name.
 Contact project consultants, trainers, and other auxiliary
personnel to seek availability, acquire permission to
include them in the project, and negotiate compensation.
 Personnel compensation is important budget information.

16. Update Your Timeline
This is a good point at which to update your timeline,
now that you know about submission deadlines and
review timetables.
 Factor into your schedule time to write multiple
drafts, gather relevant and permissible materials,
and prepare an impartial critique of your proposal
for clarity, substance and form.

17. Writing the Proposal
Structure, attention to specifications, concise persuasive
writing, and a reasonable budget are the critical elements
of the writing stage.
There are many ways to organize proposals. Read the
guidelines for specifications about required information
and how it should be arranged.

18. Standard Proposal Components
 Narrative
 Budget
 Appendix of support materials
 Authorized signature
Sometimes proposal applications require abstracts or
summaries, an explanation of budget items, and
certifications.

19. Tips on Writing the Narrative
Narratives typically must satisfy the following questions:
 What do we want?
 What concern will be addressed and why?
 Who will benefit and how?
 What specific objectives can be accomplished and
how?
 How will results be measured?
 How does this request relate to the funder’s purpose,
objectives, and priorities?
 Who are we and how do we qualify to meet this
need?

20. The RATIONALE
Sometimes called “the Hook”
There are many ways to represent the same idea.
However, the RATIONALE tailors the description of
the idea to the interest of a particular funder.
The RATIONALE aligns the project with the
purpose, and goals of the funding source.
This is a critical aspect of any proposal narrative
because it determines how compelling reviewers
will perceive your proposal to be.

21. Budget
Budgets are cost projections.
They also are a window into how projects will be
implemented and managed.
Well-planned budgets reflect carefully thought out
projects.

22. Budget Tips
Many funders provide mandatory budget forms that must
be submitted with the proposal.
Do not forget to list in-kind and matching revenue, where
appropriate.

23. Supporting Materials
Supporting materials are often arranged in an appendix.
Find out if supporting materials are desired or even
allowed.

24. Authorized Signatures
Authorized signatures are required.
Proposals may be rejected for lack of an authorized
signature.
Be sure to allow time to acquire a needed signature.

25. Specifications
Tailor proposal writing to specifications found in the
guidelines.
Include only the number of pages allowed. Observe the
format.
Caution! – the beautifully bound proposal is not always
appreciated or allowed.

26. Submission Checklist
 The proposal must be NEAT, COMPLETE, and ON
TIME, with the requested number of copies and
original authorized signatures.
 Address the proposal as directed in the guidelines.
 Be sure to include required documentation.

27. Follow-Up
 Contact the funding source about the status, evaluation,
and outcome of your proposal.
 It is important to request feedback about a proposal’s
strengths and weaknesses, although the information is
sometimes unavailable, especially with a large volume
of submissions.

28. A final note about
good proposals
 Quality writing is critical in all good proposals. It
should be clear, concise, and free of jargon. There
should be no spelling or grammatical errors, and the
proposal should be easy to read.
 Sloppy proposals and proposals laden with jargon do
not provide a positive image of the funder, nor do they
lend confidence that solid research will follow.
 Proposals that are well-written and attractive are a
pleasure to read, and they make a good impression
with reviewers.

29. Questions,
Comments,
Observations

30. America’s Fundraising CounselSM
Thank You!
PO Box 410046 Kansas City, Missouri 64141
www.hartsookcompanies.com
info@hartsookcompanies.com
866.630.8500