The Fastest Way to Lose a Grant

Building strong, lasting relationships with funders is just as crucial as the grant application itself. Making them feel like a mere transaction will diminish your chances of success very fast.

Make Connections Early On: Networking Matters

Starting a relationship with funders before you apply for funding sets the stage for a more effective partnership.

• Do Your Research: Before reaching out, understand the funder’s mission and priorities. Show them that you’re committed to aligning your project’s goals with their objectives, whether they’re focused on economic growth, environmental impact, or social equity.

• Feedback: Funders sometimes offer suggestions or feedback during the application. Make sure you don't ignore this input as they bring valuable insights. They want to see their potential investment succeed, ignoring their advice is a fast way to lose a grant.

Communicate Clearly and Consistently

Clear, timely communication during the application process is essential for building trust and ensuring that both parties are aligned.

• Be Transparent About Goals and Needs: When discussing your project, explain the benefits your project will bring to the community, especially how it aligns with the funder’s objectives. Highlight the impact of your work on the local community and explain how their support will help meet specific needs.

• Address Challenges Honestly: Funders are used to hearing about challenges, and they value honesty. If there are potential risks or setbacks, communicate these openly while also presenting your strategies for overcoming them.

Make Funders Look Good: A Win-Win Mindset

When you can connect your project’s success to broader community or societal goals, you make your funders look good as well, especially in the public eye.

• Connect Project Benefits to Broader Goals: Show how your project supports community development, public health, environmental improvement, or economic growth. When government funders, for instance, can highlight the local impact of funded projects, it helps them demonstrate positive outcomes to the public and they will become advocates for your project.

Don’t Disappear after Funding:

Receiving the grant doesn’t mean the relationship ends. On the contrary, maintaining a positive relationship after funding is crucial for future opportunities.

• Provide Regular Project Updates: Share milestone updates, insights, or community stories to illustrate the real-world impact of the funding. Use visuals, like before-and-after photos, testimonials, or short videos, to make the updates more engaging.

• Invite Funders to Project Events: If your project includes events, community showcases, or open days, invite funders to see the project’s impact firsthand. This not only gives them a sense of the project’s progress but also creates networking opportunities that may benefit them.

• Send a Formal Thank You and Offer Recognition: Recognising funders in public forums or at project milestones can reinforce your gratitude and give funders positive visibility. Share social media posts or include them in your project’s website or newsletters as a sign of thanks.

Treating funders as financial backers rather than as partners can be a short-sighted approach. Funders are looking for meaningful, impactful projects to support, and they appreciate being involved in the broader journey.  By investing time and effort in effective communication, you foster a positive, professional relationship that increases your chances of future funding and positions your project as a source of community impact. Even if you end up being unsuccessful, the foundation will have been laid for future rounds.

For more tips just like these or for help with your grant application contact me via info@activatecommunity.com.au