How to write an LOI that opens doors
LOIs, or letters of inquiry, are an important first step in the grant writing process. Often, funders ask to see this short, pre-proposal...
Thanking grantmakers builds positive funder relations
It's important to consider longterm funder relations beyond the grant award. Often, nonprofits receive grants and completely forget to thank the foundation that...
Using board connections to help get foundation grants
Receiving foundation grants can be an exercise in futility, especially if your nonprofit is new and/or not well connected. But your board of...
Why was my grant request denied?
One of the most common questions we get asked is, 'Why was my grant request denied?' And the answer is that there can...
Strengthen your grant proposal by talking up your organization’s successes
Strong grant proposals have lots of important elements: measurable objectives, a sensible budget, and a clear program description. One aspect of a strong...
How grant writing works
Grant writing can be a confusing endeavor, especially for new nonprofits, or even established nonprofits that have simply never gone through the grant...
Targeting local foundations with your nonprofit’s grant writing
Lately the word "local" is on everyone's lips. Local food movements inspire locavores to eat produce and meat from local producers. Local small...
How to prepare for a successful site visit from a foundation
Foundations and other funders may request a site visit before they approve funding for a grant. This is often a typical part of...
Four questions to ask when your grant request is denied
Receiving a denial of your grant request from a foundation is extremely frustrating. All those hours of hard work, of agonizing about the...
Improve your grant’s chances by calling the foundation
The best way to get a foundation's attention and increase your grant application's chances of succeeding is to simply pick up the phone...