Should our organization use a volunteer grant writer?
Organizations desperate for grant money often rely on volunteer grant writers. They don't have the funds to pay for a professional, so they...
Nonprofits
Be sure to avoid these common grant proposal mistakes
Especially when a grant application has a long list of guidelines and requirements, it can be pretty easy to mess something up. And...
Applying for grants without a 501(c)(3)
What happens if your charity is waiting on its 501(c)(3) status? You've sent the paperwork into the IRS, but you're still waiting on...
How to write the sustainability section of a grant
One of the most neglected aspects of any grant proposal — federal, state, or foundation — is the sustainability section. Funders often ask how...
Including volunteer hours in a nonprofit budget
Many nonprofit organizations rely on volunteers in some capacity. Food banks use them to pack meals, Habitat for Humanity uses them to build...
Why your nonprofit should outsource
While outsourcing in nonprofits is relatively rare compared to most other businesses, the idea has become more popular. The economy is changing, with...
When foundations contribute only to preselected organizations
One of the most frustrating things we've encountered as grant writers is discovering that a foundation only gives grants to preselected organizations. They...
Direct versus indirect costs in a nonprofit budget
The budget is often one of the most difficult parts of a grant application. One common point of confusion surrounds direct versus indirect...
How to find foundation grants for U.S. nonprofits
The first step in grant writing is finding the right grant opportunity. But where to look? Nonprofits often wonder where to find foundation...
The basics of goals and objectives
Some grant applications will ask specifically for a project goal and a list of objectives, and rarely will the foundation take the time...