Six Basic Questions to Answer Before You Apply for a Grant

We all want to sit down and start writing as soon as we get the grant guidelines, so we can demonstrate real progress. But this approach results in wasted time and effort and, in the worst case, failure to be awarded the grant.

A focused approach works much better, and is, in fact, necessary for repeated success. A good rule of thumb is to spend 10% of your time understanding the guidelines, 60% answering the six questions listed below, 10% organizing boilerplate, 10% writing, and 10% proofing, printing, collating, and delivering the application. If you have boilerplate from prior applications, such as budget details and board biographies, you can spend less time there. Electronic delivery of proposals may also save time.

You should use the time saved to further answer the six questions. Here are the six questions, with examples from a real application.

1. What problem are you trying to solve? 

Example: 800 flood-damaged homes have yet to be repaired. 800 families are without homes.

2. What is your approach to address this problem? [This is your strategy]

Example: We will supply materials and use volunteer and contracted labor to rebuild homes.

Example: We will obtain free lots from the city, build affordable new homes, and sell them to homeowners.

Example: We will supply materials and volunteer and contracted labor to rebuild affordable apartments.

Example: We will deal with asbestos and lead-based paint and orangeburg drains up-front. [This shows we know what we are doing.]

3. What will the situation be after you complete your strategy? [This is your vision; the problem is mitigated or solved]

Example: All the flood-damaged homes will be repaired and reoccupied.

4. What are the issues or obstacles to accomplishing your strategy?

Examples: Competition from for-profit efforts.

Examples: Lack of support from Labor Unions, City Codes Enforcement, Neighborhood Associations

Examples: Need for long-term financing.

Examples: Generally held belief that the work is done.

Examples: Ability to get free or low-cost lots from the city.

5. What are your very next detailed actions. [These are your tactics]

Example: Apply for grant(s) from local community foundations

Example: Meet with neighborhood associations

Example: Identify specific properties.

Example: Transition facilities and people from an earlier coalition

Example: Set up new 501(c)3 to isolate cost and liability and to focus efforts

Example: Meet with city officials

6. Why should they fund us instead of others? What are we doing differently?

Example: Use of volunteer labor lowers cost.

Example: Support from Neighborhood Associations

Example: Experienced management

Example: Easy transition from the prior coalition

Example: Focus on people instead of just real estate [Homeowner training and mentoring]