If you think about a grant as an investment by a foundation or government body, it’s easy to understand why that entity would want to know more about your nonprofit’s qualifications in a grant application. Any investor wants to know that their investment is secure, that their money is in good hands.

You can prove nonprofit’s qualifications in a grant by speaking to your organization’s credibility. This involves outlining the ways in which your organization is equipped for and capable of solving the problems you’ve laid out in your proposal’s needs statement.

How to prove your nonprofit’s qualifications in a grant

You should consider including the following in this section:.

• Information about past accomplishments, awards, and milestones
• Individual success stories or case studies proving your organization’s efforts change lives
• Track record with other grantors
• Information about board members and key staff’s skills and experience
• Success in meeting past performance measures such as goals, objectives, outcomes, and outputs

All of these elements will go a long way in proving your nonprofit’s qualifications in a grant. Don’t skimp on these details. Remember, funders are conservative in how they make grants. And chances are they have a slew of applicants. They’ll want to feel secure knowing their check is going to a stable, successful nonprofit. That is, a nonprofit that truly moves the needle for the people and places it aims to help.

These elements will certainly differ depending on your nonprofit and the type of work you do. Try to include as many of these elements as possible, with the understanding that each situation is a bit different.

How else can you improve your organization’s chances at getting grants? We’ve also written a blog entry on “How to build a successful grant writing program.”

Interested in learning more about our grant writing services? Contact us.