Filling out an application for grants is an exciting but complicated process. Despite what various internet, television and radio marketers are implicating, grants are not easy to get and completing an application does not necessarily guarantee anything at all. There are billions of dollars in available grant money each year in the United States. Some of these funds are from government sources, while some are from businesses, professional associations, charitable or other organizations, and private individuals. Regardless of the source, the process for applications is similar in structure from type to type. The following are five important considerations when contemplating an application for grants.
Five Steps to Complete an Application for Grants
Step 1- Find the Right Source.
The first step in completing an application for grants is to use the right source. For government grants, the CFDA or Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance is a valuable resource. This federally-managed entity maintains up-to-date data on which agencies are offering grants, how much money is available, and what a business or individual needs to do in order to correctly make an application.
Large corporations and businesses often offer a wide variety of grants, but data collection of these grants is minimal. Interested parties must contact companies directly to find out what types of grants are available and how to request an application. Likewise, professional associations offer a multitude of grants to students or individuals who may be associated with their profession in some way.
Organizations, foundations, and private individuals also offer various types of grants. However, most grants offered by other-than-governmental organizations are not advertised, which means individuals seeking to request an application must conduct research in order to determine what grants are available.
Step 2- Review and Gather Information.
When the right source has been located, the application for grants should be studied intently prior to filling it out. Knowing what material is on the application and what instructions to follow when filling out the grant request is essential to doing it right the first time. Make a list of all data and documentation that the application requests, and then set about gathering this information. Only when everything required by the application is available should the form be completed. This will help to ensure accuracy and consistency of the information provided, as an incomplete or incorrect application for grants is often summarily rejected.
Step 3- Utilize the Right Resources.
After thoroughly reviewing an application, many individuals find that the process is too complicated or time-consuming to continue. In cases such as these, there are viable alternatives to self-completing the grants request. Grant kits are available, which have been specially developed to assist people in completing applications by consolidating materials, providing simplified instructions, and offering educational assistance in the form of tutorials and detailed explanations. Additionally, there are people whose business it is to fill out the application forms on behalf of the applicant. This allows an applicant to relax, knowing that their application is in professional hands. However, it can also be quite expensive to employ one of these individuals or companies.
Step 4- Submit and Follow-Up.
An application should be submitted ahead of the deadline stated by the reviewing authority. Late submissions are almost always rejected. However, even if an application for grants is received far ahead of the deadline, there is still more to do. Depending on the submission method, applicants should always follow up to ensure that the grant request was received. This should generally be done 7 business days after submission. Another follow-up call or email should be conducted approximately 2 weeks after the application deadline has passed. However, applicants should keep in mind that it might take months for the granting authority to make an award.
Step 5- Try again, and Try Often.
Individuals who complete and submit a request for a grant should not be dismayed if their application is rejected. There is fierce competition for grants, and money is usually only allotted on a yearly basis. In order to maximize the chances of being awarded a grant, applications should be made with as many qualifying authorities as possible. This should be done often. For instance, if an entity offers grants 4 times per year, an individual should consider making an application 4 times, or until they have been approved. Consistency and tenacity often pays off, as reviewers of application for grants become quite familiar with applicants and their needs.