THE IMPORTANCE OF A GOOD GRANT STRATEGY

/in , /by

A solid grant strategy is crucial for organisations seeking funding for their projects. Here’s why:

  1. Maximises funding opportunities: A good grant strategy helps identify funding opportunities that are the best fit for the organisation or individual’s goals and objectives. It also ensures that the application process is streamlined, maximising the chances of success.
  2. Clarifies goals and objectives: Developing a grant strategy requires a clear understanding of the goals and objectives of the project or initiative. This clarity helps to focus efforts and resources on achieving those objectives.
  3. Increases accountability: A good grant strategy includes timelines, budgets, and performance measures, which help to hold the organisation or individual accountable for achieving the proposed outcomes.
  4. Improves communication: A grant strategy helps to communicate the project’s goals and objectives clearly and concisely to potential funders. This clear communication enhances the likelihood of securing funding and establishes a shared understanding of the project’s expected outcomes.
  5. Builds relationships: A good grant strategy includes identifying potential funders, establishing relationships with them, and maintaining ongoing communication. These relationships can lead to future funding opportunities and partnerships.

A good, solid grant strategy is essential for securing funding, achieving project objectives, and building relationships with potential funders. It is a valuable tool for organisations and individuals seeking to make a positive impact in their communities and beyond.

WHAT IS THEORY OF CHANGE & WHY IT’S IMPORTANT?

/in , /by

Theory of Change is a planning and evaluation approach that describes how a project or program is expected to create long-term and sustainable change in a community or system. It is a systematic process of defining a clear and measurable pathway from the resources invested, activities carried out, outputs produced, and the intended outcomes achieved.

The Theory of Change approach involves developing a logical and coherent narrative that links a project’s inputs and activities to the desired outputs and outcomes, along with the assumptions and evidence behind each step. It provides a detailed roadmap that outlines the steps and strategies that are required to bring about the intended change.  It helps organisations to understand how their activities and resources contribute to achieving long-term impact, and identify where to focus their efforts and resources to achieve the best results. It also helps stakeholders to identify and address any assumptions or gaps in their logic and evidence base, and adjust their strategies and actions accordingly.

Theory of Change is a valuable tool for project planning, implementation, and evaluation, helping organisations to clarify their objectives, refine their strategies, and maximise their impact.

Get in touch with us today if you would like help develop a Theory of Change for your organisation.

TOP TEN TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE GRANT WRITING

/in , /by
  1. Understand the grant requirements: Before starting to write your grant proposal, make sure you understand the requirements and guidelines. Carefully read the grant application guidelines and any other supporting documentation provided.
  2. Develop a clear and compelling project idea: Your project idea should be clear, concise, and compelling. It should demonstrate the potential for impact and align with the funding priorities of the grant organisation.
  3. Demonstrate a clear need: Clearly demonstrate the need for your project by providing evidence of the problem you are addressing and the impact it has on the community.
  4. Provide a detailed budget: Your budget should be realistic and detailed, demonstrating that you have considered all necessary costs associated with the project.
  5. Focus on outcomes: Your proposal should focus on outcomes rather than outputs. Outcomes are the measurable changes that will result from your project, while outputs are the activities or deliverables that will be produced.
  6. Emphasise your organisation’s strengths: Highlight your organistion’s strengths, such as experience, expertise, and track record of success. This will help to build trust with the grant organisation and demonstrate that you are a strong candidate for funding.
  7. Use clear and concise language: Use clear, concise language that is easy to understand. Avoid jargon and technical language that may be unfamiliar to the grant organisation.
  8. Provide evidence-based solutions: Your proposal should be evidence-based, with a focus on solutions that are supported by research and best practices.
  9. Show collaboration and partnerships: Highlight any partnerships or collaborations you have established or plan to establish to carry out the project. This can demonstrate your organisation’s ability to work effectively with others and leverage resources.
  10. Follow the guidelines and submit on time: Make sure you follow the grant application guidelines carefully and submit your proposal on time. Late submissions or proposals that do not follow the guidelines are likely to be rejected.

 

WHY GRANT WRITING IS MORE THAN JUST WRITING!

/in , /by

Grant writing is more than just writing words on an application form. It requires strategic thinking, lots of data, evidence, supporting documentation and a very clear project or program.

When talking to new clients about how we can help them with their grant applications, they are often just seeking support to put the words together and ‘write’ the grant. There is often little understanding about the depth of detail required to include in a successful application.

There is a perception that all that’s required is a great project that targets a specific audience with a clear need in the community. That if you tick all the boxes, you’re in with a chance.

What is often forgotten is that grant applications are highly competitive. There are many applicants seeking funding for a range of different projects and programs for every grant. Clearly not all applications will be successful.

The purpose of the grant application process is to allow the funders to determine which applicant will successfully achieve the funders ‘social return on investment’. The funder needs to feel confident investing funds in your project and your organisation will provide a better return than investing in other organisations and other projects.

Creative writing and well-formed sentences won’t convince them. Data and evidence of competency and credibility will.

HOW TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE GRANT READY

/in , /by

How to address the 4 most common criteria for grant applications

The 4 most common criteria you need to meet as part of your grant applications are:

  1. Demonstrated need for the project
  2. Detailed project description
  3. Organisational capability
  4. Corporate Governance

They may seem like simple criteria, but there’s an art to demonstrate how you best meet these criteria. Remember, you are in a competitive environment when applying for a grant. You need to be able to demonstrate why your project and organisation is the BEST suited to receive the grant funds you are applying for.

Demonstrated need for the project

  • To meet this criteria you need to provide the following information at a minimum:
  • Who the key beneficiaries will be
  • Qualitative evidence to prove that a need exists
  • Quantitative research to support the need
  • Evidence of community consultation and input
  • Proof that the program is unique
  • Supporting documentation from affected communities and organisation

Detailed project description

To meet this criteria, here are some of the key things you need to include. Again this is at a minimum. Successful grant applicants will often exceed the listed criteria.

  • Clearly and precisely outline the details of the project.
  • Include the inputs,for example the time required, the resources required.
  • How you will project manage it
  • How you will measure and evaluate the outcomes
  • How the project will be marketed
  • A detailed budget
  • Evidence to back up the budget (quotes, invoices etc)
  • A Program Logic

Organisational capability

In this section you need to be able to:

  • Demonstrate that you have the people, resources and infrastructure to deliver the project
  • Provide biographies of the team delivering the project
  • Outline the team’s roles and responsibilities and why they are suited to the roles.
  • Demonstrate past successes – outcomes
  • Provide details about how you will track the finances
  • Show how you will track the KPIS
  • Provide testimonials – from past beneficiaries, participants, collaborators

Corporate Governance

Tight governance around finances, people, policies and consultation is important for a successful grant application. Here are just some of the things that funders will want to know about:

  • Your Board
  • Risk analyses
  • Business strategies
  • Governance documents
  • Your Constitution
  • How decisions are being made by senior management
  • Processes and procedures
  • Delegation of authority for finances
  • Dispute resolution
  • Stakeholder relationship
  • Community consultation
  • Diversity & Equity policies
  • Relevant agencies you to report into and how you comply with them.

If you are really ready to start applying for a grants to support your project/s you need to have most of this information at hand.

If you don’t have access to this information and the relevant documentation to include in, and support your grant application, funders will most likely tag your application as ‘not grant ready’.

DIAMOND WOMEN – SOCIAL SECTOR TRANSFORMATION FUND

/in , /by

Social Sector Transformation Fund

  • Service – Grant Writing
  • Grant Name – Social Sector Transformation Fund
  • Funder – NSW Communities & Justice
  • Sector – Government
  • Amount Requested – $50,000
  • Amount Awarded – $45,000

About the Grant

Organisation capacity funding for small and medium-sized charities and not-for-profits in the health and social sector. Specifically funded IT and online systems and processes to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness.

About the Applicant

Diamond Women supports women and their families experiencing distress caused by an unplanned pregnancy. Provides 24/7 support through counselling, mentoring, peer-to-peer activities, and crisis intervention.

About the Application

  • Established synergy between grant strategy and organizational needs of Diamond Women by workshopping current pain points and future needs
  • Developed project strategy which included: quantifying need, established measures of success, procurement and project management plan, risks and mitigations, budget, evaluation
  • Development content development plan to meet deadline
  • Wrote and submitted grant
  • Provided stewardship advice

Client Comment

“Not just an incredibly professional service, but honest, reliable and responsive. They don’t just write grants, they take the time to know you, your organisation and your purpose. Truly outstanding. I can’t recommend them enough!! Thank you Kylie and Linda!”

Jennifer Gurry

CEO – Diamond Women

 

DIAMOND WOMEN – DOMESTIC & FAMILY VIOLENCE GRANT

/in , /by

COVID-19 Domestic & Family Violence Grant

About the Grant

Grant created in response to the spike in domestic and family violence (DFV)due to COVID-19 lock downs. Funding strategy was to enable DFV supports services to:

  • Modify service delivery, for example by making service adjustments to respond to changing client needs or social distancing requirements.
  • Expand service delivery, for example by increasing capacity to deliver more services to more clients.
  • Introduce new services, in accordance with demand arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

About the Applicant

Whilst Diamond Women core services are to support women and their families experiencing distress due to unplanned pregnancy, 86% of clients confidentially report they are victims of domestic violence.

About the Application

  • Established synergy by researching funding strategy and purpose and the increased demand for Diamond Women’s DFV services
  • Developed project strategy: establishing effectiveness, need and sustainability of project, reputation/experience and skills of staff and organisation, established measures of success, impacts expected, and evaluation methodology, budget
  • Developed content development plan to meet deadline
  • Provided advice on support material and entities to approach for letters of support
  • Wrote and submitted grant
  • Provided stewardship advice

Client Comment

“Not just an incredibly professional service, but honest, reliable and responsive. They don’t just write grants, they take the time to know you, your organisation and your purpose. Truly outstanding. I can’t recommend them enough!! Thank you Kylie and Linda!”

Jennifer Gurry