Plan for Grant Opportunities This Fall

Summer presents an opportune time to plan for grant opportunities for fall submission to propel their missions forward. Preparing now sets the stage for leveraging the upcoming fall season, renowned for an influx in grant opportunities across various sectors. Foundations, government agencies, corporate giving programs and other funding bodies traditionally release new grants during this time. To maximize your chances of securing fall grants, it’s essential to start with thorough research and preparation. 

1. Research Foundations and Agencies: Begin by researching foundations, government agencies and corporate giving programs that align with your nonprofit’s mission. Subscribe to their newsletters and monitor their websites for new grant announcements tailored to the fall season.
    
2. Establish Relationships: Your Member of Parliament (MP) and Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) can provide valuable insights into government funding initiatives and connect your organization with relevant grant opportunities. Attend local community meetings, reach out for one-on-one discussions with them or their staff and participate in constituency events to foster these relationships. Monitor government websites and social media channels for new grant announcements tailored to the fall season. Reach out to your Board Members and volunteers to leverage relationships they may have with government or potential funders – ask them to advocate on behalf of your organization.
3. Utilize Grant Databases: Grant databases provide comprehensive listings of grants available across various sectors. Some require a subscription, and others offer a free trial and resources. Use keywords like “fall grants” or “autumn funding” alongside your mission area and geographical preferences to identify relevant funding opportunities. Review each grant’s eligibility criteria and application requirements carefully before proceeding with an application to ensure alignment with your organization’s goals and needs.
4. Network and Collaborate: Engage with other nonprofit professionals and participate in local or regional nonprofit networks. Networking can provide valuable insights into potential grant opportunities and successful application strategies.
5. Explore Local and Corporate Foundations: Investigate grant opportunities offered by local community foundations and corporate giving programs. These entities often have specific funding cycles aligned with the fall season. 

10 Key Questions to Consider Before Applying: 

• Does your project align with the funder’s mission, vision and objectives? 

• How would the funding fill a gap, need or create impact? 

• Can you leverage any pre-existing relationships or connections to the funder? 

• Does your organization meet the funder’s criteria? 

• Do you have all the required documentation? 

• Are your stats, metrics, and budget ready? 

• Have you obtained all necessary approvals? 

• Have you researched past funding to determine the right amount to ask? 

• Have you considered the deadline and created a realistic workback schedule? 

• Have you reviewed all fine print, including application and disbursement periods and grantee obligations? 

Preparing and Applying for Fall Grants 

Once you’ve identified promising grant opportunities, careful preparation is key to crafting compelling grant applications: 

1. Review Grant Guidelines: Review the eligibility criteria, funding priorities and application guidelines for each grant opportunity. Ensure your nonprofit meets all requirements and can effectively align its mission with the funder’s goals.
2. Budget Planning: Prepare a detailed budget that accurately reflects how the grant funds will be utilized. Provide clear explanations of expenses related to your project or program, demonstrating fiscal responsibility and transparency.
3. Develop a Strong Proposal: Create a persuasive grant proposal that clearly outlines your organization’s mission, the specific project or program for which you seek funding, anticipated outcomes and the impact of the grant funds. Tailor your proposal to resonate with the values and priorities of the grant funder.
    
4. Engage with Funders: Whenever possible, engage with the grant funder before submitting your application. Attend informational webinars, networking events or seek one-on-one consultations to gain deeper insights into their funding priorities and application expectations.
5. Submit a Polished Application: Double check for completeness, accuracy and alignment with the grant guidelines to enhance your application’s competitiveness. Ensure you have all the required information and documents ready to submit a polished application package on deadline or before. Some funders may review and award grants earlier than the stated deadline, especially if they receive a large volume of applications or operate on a rolling basis. If they receive high-quality proposals early in the application period, they may decide to award grants to these organizations before the deadline. 

Preparing for fall grant opportunities requires strategic planning, thorough research and compelling communication of your nonprofit’s impact and needs. By adopting a proactive approach to identifying, preparing and applying for grants, your nonprofit organization can enhance its capacity to serve the community and achieve sustainable growth. 

The Dennis Group Inc. can help your organization create strategies to achieve success in all areas of non-profit management, including research, campaign and fund development expertise, organizational development and planning, communications and stewardship. Contact us to learn more.