Grant writing is not easy. Annoying character limits, trying to decipher what the funder is looking for, answering what sounds like the same question three times three different ways.
And did I mention those farshluggina character counts?!
I worked as a grant writer. I know how much time and effort it takes just to submit the application, let alone afterwards preparing reports, data, budgets etc.
I also served as global director of communications for a global family foundation. I got to see how the other half lives. (It’s not bad!) I enjoyed the perspective of sitting on the other side of the table, as part of the team that’s giving rather than asking.
Both experiences gave me a front row seat to see how the grant world operates. One of my biggest learnings:
Prep in advance.
Applying and getting grants is like fundraising and marketing: It’s about building relationships. You want to connect with the funder, keep them informed and hopefully this increases your chances of getting more grants in upcoming years.
But none of that happens without prepping far in advance… even before you submit a single application.
Your organization needs to be prepared to accept foundation gifts. The money you receive? That’s the smallest part of it. You have a whole checklist of things to consider and plan out in order for the grant to be considered a success.
Waiting to figure things out until after the money arrives in your bank account can be disastrous. You’ll end up doing a lot of scrambling which can cause delays which means programs and services are held up which means less impact on fewer people which could mean not fulfilling what you promised in the application.
Having sat on the funder’s side I can tell you this is a BIG problem!
The solution is knowing what to get ready as early on as possible.
The W questions of post grant award management
To help you, I have published a video which provides all the questions you need to ask and have answered.
The goal: Successfully implement the grant while building a good relationship with the funder.
In the video I provide a list of “W” questions that will help you get ready to receive not just one grant but many. Take notes and then start getting your organization ready.
Watch as I share how to prepare IN ADVANCE for post grant award management:
For those who prefer short content bites, I have broken down the above video into quick videos:
- Introduction to post award grant management (2 minutes)
- The Who of post award grant management (1 minute)
- The What of post award grant management (1 minute)
- The Where of post award grant management (1 minute)
- The When of post award grant management (2 minutes)
- The How of post award grant management (2 minutes)
- The Why of post award grant management (2 minutes)
It’s great when a funder sends you a letter informing you that your application was accepted and you’ll be receiving funds. It’s even better when you’re all ready to use those funds from day one to serve people and impact their lives.
