Dos and Donts for Grant Writing

1. TeamMates Mentoring Program
Grant Writing Dos and Don’ts
DOs
Do registeron www.guidestar.orgtoconductFREE researchonfundersinyourarea.
Do lookfor donorprospects – foundationsandcompaniesthathave supportedlocal communityprojects,
communitymembersand/orformerresidents.
Do knowyour funder–who are the boardmembers,whatare theyinterestedin,how muchisa typical gift?
Do write andproofreadyourproposal. Have anotherpersonproofreadalso.
Do make contact withthe foundationleaderorboard member(s)totell themaboutyourchapterand learn
more about theirfoundation’sinterests.
Do be sure youhave answeredthe foundation’squestionsinfull onanyapplicationyousubmit.
Do practice good stewardship –thankthemand sendperiodicupdatesonthe progressof the program.
Do keepanopenrelationshipwiththe donor. Theygave youmoney,theywantyouto be successful wi thitso
alertthemof yournews – good andbad.
Do use your chapter’sEIN numberto applyforgrants.
Do keepa file of yourgrantssubmitted. Make a copy of or printthe completedapplicationandsupporting
documents. YouWILL needto refertothese if youreceive the grant. File all writtencorrespondence withthe
donorin the same folder. Make notesonyour calendarto remindyoutosendreportsand updates.
Do ask JenBenson(jbenson@teammates.org) before youapplytoa foundationoutside yourlocal community.
If you are inthe Omaha or Lincolnarea,ask JenaboutANY foundationyouare prospectingbefore applying to
avoidduplicationanddonorconfusion.
DON’Ts
Don’tbe afraidto inquire aboutafoundationtoboardmembersorstaff. Foundationsmustgive away5%of
theirnetassetsannuallysotheyare lookingfororganizationsthattheytrustwill spendtheirmoneywisely.
Don’thesitate toask questionsaboutapplyingforgrantstoJen Benson,Brandon Leppke
(bleppke@teammates.org),yourregionalcoordinator ortothe local foundations themselves.
Don’tomititemsrequestedbythe foundation. Includeall requesteddocumentsandanswerall questionsinfull.
Don’tforgetto say thankyou! Call or write a letterwhenyoureceivethe gift. Then,follow upwithafinal
reportafterthe fundshave beenspentandthe project/activityhastakenplace.
Don’treturn unspentfundstothe foundationwithoutvisiting withthe donorandwithJenBensonorJulie
Wente (jwente@teammates.org)atTeamMates. Ratherthan returnunspentfunds,lookforwaysto
renegotiate the grantfundsto benefityourchapterinanotherway.