March 9, 2015 | Read Time: 3 minutes
The memory of writing my first proposal still brings me chills and laughter.
I was told that the grant was highly competitive and that only the few and favored received grants from this foundation. Nevertheless, I believed that I had a great idea that was worth support.
Even though I was so new to the process, I realized that I needed to speak with the person in charge of these grants. I traveled to New York to meet with her. As I walked into her office, she seemed so important. My fate was in her hands, and I am certain that my naiveté was evident—but so were my determination and the value of my idea.
And, yes, I received the grant, due in part to the power of optimism, a major ingredient of my success.
The same is true for any grant writer: A positive outlook sets the stage for the entire grant application, and donors will notice.
Grant writers must believe that they will obtain the funds they need to turn important ideas into reality. Donors look for applicants who have the strength to undertake projects and are optimistic about their success. Hearing the details described in positive and optimistic terms gives a donor confidence.
I recently reviewed 25 proposals that had been funded and 25 that had not. The common denominator of the funded proposals was the level of enthusiasm and optimism.
Optimism shines through when a grant applicant:
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Is proud of the organization’s work. Donors can see when an applicant takes pride in what the group is trying to accomplish. This gives grant makers confidence in the organization’s ability to be a good steward of the promised goal and the money it receives.
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Is proud of the organization’s mission and strategic direction. Donors are impressed with an applicant’s ability to execute grants in an organization with a strong mission and clear direction that demonstrates experience, strength, and previous success.
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Has a passion for the cause and is willing to share that enthusiasm. Ultimately, applicants are undertaking a project that will make a difference for their constituents and will enrich lives. It is this cause that shapes their identity.
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Believes that the organization will receive the grant. If the grant seeker has written an excellent proposal, has a well-researched and well-developed idea, adheres to the guidelines of the request, and builds a relationship with the donor, the grant will come through.
My journey into the world of donors and grant proposals began with the small step of reaching out to a mentor who would help me understand how to arrive at my destination. That encounter gave me the knowledge I needed to successfully navigate many years of developing relationships with foundations and submitting grant applications.
As a grant writer, I never lost sight of my goal, which was to make a difference in the lives of the constituents that I wanted to serve.
As an evaluator of applications, I have been saddened by the lack of vision and purpose of many requests. But there are always those that stand out and are able to make the important difference.
