When an employer hires a candidate for a position, they want there to be no trace of doubt that they have selected the most qualified individual for the job. Similarly, funding sources want to be certain they have chosen to award grants to the organizations or charities that are most ideally suited to implement projects that will create positive change in their communities.
On the other side of the table, job applicants strive to impress prospective employers by highlighting their greatest strengths and accomplishments on their resumes. Charities and organizations equivalently go to great lengths to point out to funders in granting applications their attributes that make them the most prepared, willing and equipped to deliver the projects that enhance their communities’ vitality.
Here are four (4) qualifications that every organization should emphasize when aiming to convince funding sources to invest in their initiatives:
1) Leadership – For real change to occur in any society, competent and passionate leadership must be firmly in place. A true leader understands the needs of the people they serve and dedicates themselves to ensuring all the key pieces are in place to address them. Grant-makers hope the organizations selected for funding are bestowed with respected leaders who surround themselves with high quality talent and inspire their subordinates to deliver optimum results for any task they are assigned. Unafraid to make difficult, unpopular decisions, the ideal leader is a visionary who is able to balance their focus between the pursuit of their organization’s mission with the minute daily steps that must be perfected to progress towards it.
2) Resourcefulness – “What doesn’t kill us only makes us stronger” should be the refrain that is most commonly uttered for organizations demonstrating this trait. There is nothing wrong with possessing a shortcoming or encountering obstacles. What is important is how we respond in our attempts to adapt and overcome them. Whether it is financial challenges, volunteer retention, negative consumer feedback or governance issues, grant-makers always value organizations that successfully pivot or change with minimal disruption to service delivery when confronting adversity. Even more enticing to funders are organizations who view crises as an opportunity to strengthen the quality of their programs and deliver a greater impact in their communities.
3) Responsiveness – Although an organization may have recently celebrated a major milestone like its 25th or 50th Anniversary, this fact should not be regarded as a testament to excellence by itself. Far more crucial is the reason why a charity has existed for such a duration. The ability to adjust both the capacity and the nature of its programming to meet the perpetually evolving needs of the individuals, families and communities served is what enables an organization to stand the test of time. Achieving this requires an organization to have a strong rapport with their consumers and to listen closely and continually to their wishes, needs and aspirations. The willingness to repurpose or modify the resources used accordingly to address those needs ultimately is what determines their longevity.
4) Cohesiveness – The level at which an organization’s staff, board and/or volunteers work together with a singularity of purpose to accomplish a collective goal is a variable that grant-makers heavily scrutinize when approving projects for funding. An organizational environment where those responsible for implementing projects distrust one another or are merely interested in pursuing their own objectives is a recipe for failure. By contrast a supportive atmosphere where a strong degree of team chemistry pervades among all staff, board and/or volunteers greatly heightens the likelihood of an organization accomplishing the outcomes that bolster the well-being of all citizens. Demonstrating that “checks & balances” have been put in place to guard against anyone becoming involved for their own self-interest would make an even stronger impression in the eyes of prospective grant-makers.
By no means are these the only attributes that an organization should concentrate when they are attempting to persuade would-be funders to invest in their initiatives. Yet unveiling them as their marquee features provides every organization with a solid case that will surely result in a productive string of funding approvals.
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In the meantime, the best of luck with your grant-seeking pursuits and be safe.
