Loading...

8 Ways To Showcase To Funders Your Sustainability
Grant-Writing Book

People generally agree that the wonderful work done by nonprofits should continue. Another area of agreement is that the work should receive financial support — from someone else.

In their book “The Only Grant-Writing Book You’ll Ever Need,” Ellen Karsh and Arlen Sue Fox offer advice about seeking a grant at a time when everyone is feeling the economic pinch and looking for someone else to foot the bill.

Grant requests could run aground because of the fear on the part of grant-makers that a funded project will die once their grant runs out. And don’t think, or tell a funder, that it can’t happen.

    Instead, one good idea is to show that a funded program, or parts of it, will continue. Some ways to do that include:

  • Show that other grant-makers are interested in the program;
  • Explain that long-term government support will be available once you have developed the program;
  • Show underlying support from a larger program;
  • Demonstrate your organization’s commitment to and experience with fundraising;
  • Consider asking participants to help;
  • Show how your community partners will be part of the fundraising process;
  • Use grant funds for activities and/or resources that have a life beyond the grant period; and,
  • Remember that coalitions that develop and implement projects collaboratively might have a better chance of sustaining projects.