Getting Grants | Tips from local experts on how to approach private foundations for funding
Securing grant money is a tricky business. There's tons of paperwork involved, and it can be an extremely intimidating process for first-time grant seekers.
But there's one easy place to start when you are looking for a grant from a local private foundation, according to Warner Fletcher, a trustee for a number of charitable foundations in the Worcester area and a director at the law firm of Fletcher, Tilton & Whipple.
Proofread and use spell check.
"Badly written proposals are a turn off for foundations," Fletcher said. "If it's a new organization, a badly written proposal is a first impression that might rub the trustees the wrong way, especially if they have more than enough requests for funding."
Research Time
Beyond the issue of poor spelling and grammar, Janice Yost, president and CEO of the Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts, recommends that grant seekers do their homework.
The Health Foundation helps speed up the process of grant seeking by asking applicants to contact staff before they even apply for a grant. That way a grantee can know if they are eligible for funding before filling out tons of paperwork.
"We are very specific in what our fit is," Yost said. "We only have a certain amount of resources and in order to make a difference it's about being specific. A lot of the time applicants have wasted time in sending an application if they don't fit and sometimes it is more obvious than other times."
Ann T. Lisi, executive director of the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, said her organization's web site has "tips for grant seekers," which include "making your goals clear, and not over reaching or making impossible claims about what you can accomplish with your limited resources." The Greater Worcester Community Foundation is one of the largest community grant makers in Worcester County and awards more than $4 million annually.
A grant seeker should also be open to comments from the foundation, according to Fletcher.
"It is noticeable when suggestions are made and the applicant does not consider them," he said.
And once a grant application is denied, Lisi said it's not over.
"We especially urge organizations to call after receiving a rejection letter...to learn what might have gone into the decision," she said.
Overall, Fletcher said it's important to keep communications open between grant seekers and foundations.
"Foundations don't look at it as a game. We want to help everyone. It's about good proposals and don't be reluctant to call especially if you're a new name," he said.
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