Читать книгу Grant Writing For Dummies - Stan Hutton, Beverly A. Browning - Страница 16

If you’re searching for funding to support an entire organization or a specific program, the first rule in grantseeking is that you don’t write a grant request without first completing a comprehensive planning process that involves the grant applicant organization’s key stakeholders. This is the target population members (the people your organization serves), administrative staff, and the board of directors.

Without key stakeholder input on what your target population needs and the plan for closing the gap on these needs, you’re jumping off the cliff without a parachute. You must have an organized funding development plan to guide your organization in adopting priority programs and services and then identifying all potential grantors you plan to approach with grant requests. A funding development plan answers questions such as the following:

 What programs are strong and already have regular funding to keep them going? Are they likely to be refunded?

 What community needs aren’t being addressed by your organization or other organizations providing similar services?

 What new programs need funding and is there evidence of the needs?

 What opportunities exist to find new funding partners and who will be responsible for making the initial contact with each funder?

 What existing grants expire soon and can you reapply or do you have to find new funding?

When the stakeholders answer these questions, you can begin to look at the plethora of areas where grants are awarded and start prioritizing the type of funding you need. (For more information on funding development plans, see Chapter 2.)