Grant Ready, Set, Go!
Organizations big and small come to us to find grant resources and prepare proposals. They come with great ideas and amazing projects, and before we can go forward with a grant application we find out if they are ‘Grant Ready’.
What does it mean to be ‘Grant Ready’
One of the most effective ways you can increase your success rate with grants is to be ready to apply for a grant. Of course, this sounds obvious! However, being grant ready is an ongoing process that requires an investment of time and resources which often get overlooked.
Organizations increase their probability of funding when they take the necessary steps to prepare for grant opportunities. Preparation is every bit as important as developing and submitting the proposal.
Grant Ready T.I.P.S.
4 Elements to be Grant Ready: Tracking, Information, Partners, & Strategy
1) Tracking – Do you have an established grant tracking system for grants? Tracking systems should track the grant development process including the proposal, grant status, results, grant development, writing and implementation roles, time, budgets, etc.
2) Information- Have you gathered your organization’s information and standard documentation? Information should include primary mailing address, website, organization and project contact information, annual budget, DUNS number, EIN, Registrations (CCR, grants.gov), organization charts, tax and financial data, governing documents, number of employees and volunteers, and policies and procedures?
3) Partners- Have you identified and communicated your partners? Share your desire to fund your project(s) with your partners, donors, collaborations, volunteers, board and other grant makers and asked for their support.
4) Strategy– Do you have a grant strategy? Your strategy should include a list of projects to be funded, list of past and potential funding sources, steps for prioritization of applications, roles and responsibilities of parties involved in grant development efforts, and a budget for project design and grant development.
Grant Readiness Assessment Form – Updated
Contact JM Grants for quick (free) access to our online Foundation Grant, Local Government Grant and of Federal Grat interactive Grant Readiness Assessment Tools and request Grant Ready T.I.P.S. Checklist
More resources and links!
- Obtain a DUNS Number. If your organization does not have one, visit the Dun & Bradstreet website.
- Register with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR).
- Create a Grants.gov username and password.
- The E-Business Point of Contact (POC) at your organization must respond to the registration email from Grants.gov and login at Obtain a DUNS Number.
Very nice info and straight to the point. I don't know if this is really the best place to ask but do you guys have any ideea where to get some professional writers? Thanks 🙂
Joel,
HI! Thank you for the great feedback!
We know a lot of professional writers. Do you have a specific type of project or type of writting you want to accomplish?
Thanks again for the comments,
Jo Miller
Founder, JM Grants
Yes the can, using the National Student Loan Database System (NSLDS). They are only able to see federal loans and grnats, not workstudent or any other school-based funding. you can also view your financial aid history as well using the same system. The link shows you your history and what any other school you might attend can see.
This is often a fantastic blog, would you be interested in making time for an interview regarding just how you made it? If so e-mail me and my friends!
Hi. Thank you for your interest in JM Grants and for your kind words. You can email me at jmiller@jmgrants.com Thank you, Jo Miller, JM Grants, Owner
to whom it may concern,I am a slinge mother hoping to invest in my future by furthering my skills as a qualified hairdresser and am having financial difficulties in pursuing this career goal.I would like to enquire more on any financial support that may be available to a slinge mother on a parenting payment as a am at the moment unsure on grants and how to apply for them. any assistance would be appreciated. thank you