Guest Post: National Foundation Grants - Everybody wants one, but how?
And now for a special guest post from Christine Schwitzer of Holistic Grant Services to get you through the end of your week!
The elusive national foundation grant. Maybe a partner or similar organization recently got one, maybe a Board member told you they think your organization is a fit for funding. Everyone wants one, but how do you actually get one? As a grants manager for a national nonprofit, I learned a few things about how a little bit of persistence, and patience, can go a long way in your quest.
Ask yourself the right questions
Before we even talk about cultivating a relationship with a national funder, you need to take some time to ask yourself the questions that they will inevitably ask you. If you operate a local or regional program, what about your program makes it a replicable to address the needs of other communities? What are you doing that no one else is? And, what is your demonstrable impact?
If you can answer those questions and have the capacity to share your best practices and knowledge with others in the field, then you are well positioned to think about what’s next!
Make the connection
An introduction from someone in your network is a great way to start. Ask your Board members and donors, and don’t be afraid to ask a program officer who funds you locally. They often have deeper insight into other foundation’s strategies, and might know other staff from conferences or sector partnerships.
There’s a good chance that you don’t have a second degree of connection to a national foundation program officer, and that’s ok! Fortunately, many foundations are moving to more transparency in their funding processes and will outline the process for an initial approach on their website. Find the program officer whose role best aligns with your work and reach out! That initial communication should be brief, but should excite them to learn more and include enough background that your alignment with the foundation’s priorities are clear.
Through this process, make sure you follow the foundation’s guidelines - some funders request a letter of inquiry before they will schedule a call or meeting. Don’t be afraid to go ahead and submit even if you haven’t had a conversation. Often a response (even a decline) will open the door to follow-up with foundation staff.
Be prepared for a long road
Now that a few national foundations have solidified a spot on your annual prospect list, please don’t go forecasting that grant revenue yet. Most national funders require significant cultivation before a grant application is requested. This might mean investing staff time and resources to travel for in-person meetings or conferences. If you are travelling to another city for work and there are funders of interest located in that city, use that as an opportunity to ask for a meeting.
Once a call or meeting is scheduled, follow a few simple tips for success:
Confirm the meeting in advance and list the items that you’d like to discuss. This helps you maintain control of the meeting and ensure your message is received.
Bring strong, succinct communication materials to the meeting. You should bring something they haven’t seen before that gives a quick summary of your work.
Start the meeting with a brief summary of your request. Describe anything that is new or may have changed since the initial contact, and offer to answer any questions they may have.
It’s important to be open to partnering in ways that may not immediately result in grant funds. For example, I’ve had national funders ask organizational leadership to speak at or attend a convening they are hosting. Any opportunity to build a relationship and show the impact of your organization is valuable.
Many national foundations take years to get to know you and build trust in your organization before making a grant. Ensuring continued cultivation is essential, and often worth it in the end! But please, don’t count those revenue chickens before they hatch.
Christine Schwitzer is the Founder of Holistic Grant Services, which goes beyond grant writing to offer nonprofits with thoughtful, realistic strategy that capitalizes on organizations’ resources and capacity. Christine has over 10 years of experience in grant writing and management. Most recently, she served as Director of Development for YouthLink, where she raised $1.7 million annually in contributed revenue, primarily through institutional donors. Prior to joining YouthLink, Christine served as Managing Director of Grants at Fox Advancement, where she provided grant writing consulting to dozens of Twin Cities nonprofits. She began her work in fundraising as a Senior Development Associate at the PBS Foundation in Washington, DC, where she was responsible for managing over $30 million in grants. Christine lives in South Minneapolis with her husband and son.
