Here is a quick way to determine if a grant source is worthy of an application.
A Quick Grant Source Evaluation Tool
Rank these factors from zero to three, using three for a high score:
- Amount of Corpus. They have a lot to give.
- The Average Gift Size. Larger is better until the smallest gift is greater than one-third of your yearly budget.
- Tight Mission Fit. They focus on activities that involve your mission, the more focused, the higher your rank. Using the scale, a community foundation that funds in twenty areas receives a two. The animal rights foundation is a three if you are an animal rights nonprofit.
- Backyard Funding. They frequently fund in your locale—this means more than one grant five years ago.
- Live Contact. You have or can form a relationship with someone who is part of the process. Over time, you anticipate applying as an “insider.â€
- Simpatico. You like and respect them and their approach.
- Positive Gain. Over time, the work to apply and any reports are reasonable for the returns involved.
- Welcome Mat. You receive a positive response to your interactions with staff and board members. That is, you are viewed as a potential partner, not as a supplicant.
- Improved. You can enhance each subsequent application to the grant donor. You can learn more than if you were funded or not.
- Money Talks. They funded you before.
Total Your Score and Discover Your Answer
22 and above: Go for it
14-21: A maybe
13 and below: Skip it
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For more answers, check out this Nonprofit CEO Library.
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