There are many grant opportunities available through Federal, State and Local governments as well as philanthropic bodies.  Finding them is not easy but we have some links on our website that can get you started.

A good place to begin is to clearly outline and agree what it is you wish to fund, is it equipment or an activity?  If it is an activity, does it need to occur at a particular time? If so, make sure you have enough time between the funding outcome and your activity to allow proper planning and to reconfigure the event if you are not successful.  Who will fund benefit?  Can you clearly demonstrate the results or benefits it will bring. 

Applying for grants is very competitive so it is extremely important that you carefully read the grant guidelines.  If you are unsure if you fit the guidelines contact the funder directly.  There is always someone who can help you decide if the grant is right for your organisation.

Check the legal requirements.
Do you need to be a registered charity?  Do you need to be an incorporated association?  Can you be auspiced and if so, have you an organisation that has agreed to do that for you?  Can you fulfill the acquittal requirements?

Check what the grant money can be used for. 
Often the funder will provide a list in the guidelines of what will and will not be funded.  E.g. - in the Families and Communities Volunteer Grants which supports volunteer engagement and amenity it will fund some whitegoods such as dishwashers and fridges but not fixed items such as an installed gas oven or an installed walk-in cooler room. 

You may like to research what the funder has supported in previous rounds.  This may help you to understand what they are looking for.

Does your budget add up? 

Do you need quotes for equipment, or estimates of volunteer hours?  Do you need to contribute cash/in kind to the project?

Do you have the necessary staff and support to ensure the project can be successful?

You are ready to go once you have understood and addressed all the questions – start to fill out the form.  If it is an online form, you may find it has a character limit.  It is useful to write in a word document first, word count and spell check carefully, then copy and paste it into the form.  Have someone else read it for clarity and provide feedback.  Use as much positive language as you can – not “we hope to” but “we are planning to”. 

Do you need to supply supporting information? 
If so, please make sure that you do.  Failure to do so will weaken your application. 

Three of the most common reasons grants are unsuccessful are:

·         The project did not fit the purpose of the grant.

·         The entity/organisation did not satisfy the eligibility criteria.

·         The application was incomplete, did not include all the requested material or didn’t answer all the questions.

Once you receive the grant start collecting the information and evidence you need to acquit the funding.  Take photos, count numbers, check demographics – all the things you said you would do needs to be shown in your acquittal.

And above all, keep good records in a place that is easily accessible by others in your organisation in case you move on.  Make it simple for someone else to complete the grant conditions. 

Be aware that not everyone can be successful and be prepared to try again.

Good luck!