From launching a start-up or growing green economies to providing emergency shelter and assisting newcomers, grant funding is available to help support almost every type of business or charitable organization. 

The question is, are you using grant money to your advantage? 

Grants are non-repayable money. Unlike a loan which does need to be paid back, a grant does not. This can be an ideal solution for businesses or organizations in need of additional financing.  

While this sounds ideal, there is a process to follow. However, these quick tips will help you get started. 

Tip #1. Identify Your Need: Before you start looking for a grant, consider why you need support. Think about the challenges you’re experiencing. This will help you decide on what type of support you need and what grant you may want to apply for. 

Tip #2. Prepare in Advance: Grant timelines are short. Preparing in advance helps. Luckily, many grant applications ask for the same types of documents and ask similar questions. Spending 1-2 hours preparing these items in advance of any grant application will help get the job done early.   

Tip #3. Finding Grants: In Canada there are over 10,000 foundations, 680 corporate foundations and 550 federal and provincial programs that give out grants. To access them, you can sift through websites, follow organizations on social media to know when grants are available, watch local media sources, or use paid search engines to help you find them. Public libraries may provide free access to these sites. 

Tip #4. Read with a Pencil: Closely read through the grant application to avoid missing any details. Use a pencil to underline key ideas or phrases, making sure you are both eligible for the grant and that it meets your organization’s needs.  

Tip #5. Write to Your Audience: Be sure to tweak the answers you prepared in advance to the grant’s requirements. Provide specific details, such as stating what percentage your organization grew last year not just that it grew. But get to the point. Adding unnecessary words is not needed. 

Grant writing is both an art and a science, and it does take some practice. Yet, these tips will help you successfully start the process.

Best of luck!

Lauren

P.s. If you need support with the grant writing process, we are here to help. FREE 30-minute consultations are available.