The document provides essential tips for writing grant proposals during a pandemic, emphasizing the importance of avoiding redundant crisis discussions and focusing on specific community needs. It encourages organizations to request funds for non-emergency needs, highlight operational continuity, and share compelling stories that resonate with funders. Additionally, it suggests using this time to strengthen connections with stakeholders and to utilize available resources for further fundraising guidance.

1. Your Quick Guide to Pandemic Proposal Writing
Lauren Brownstein
PITCH: Fundraising and Philanthropy Consulting
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2. Writing a grant proposal for the
first time, or the zillionth time?
Either way, some of this feels
brand new.
Here are my top tips for you…
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3. Don’t waste space writing about how this is a
crisis.
• You might be tempted to start your proposal by writing about how
this is an “unprecedented time” or we are “in a crisis.” Your potential
funders already know that.
• You can write about things that are specific to the population you are
working with (e.g. children on the autism spectrum have additional
challenges to overcome when forced to learn in a distance education
format…), but you should resist the temptation to waste precious
proposal space telling the funder what they already know.
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4. It is OK to request funds even if you are not
meeting emergency social service needs.
• You might think that funders are only supporting meals for people who are
food insecure, personal protective equipment for healthcare workers,
emergency shelter for people experiencing domestic violence, etc. That is
not the case.
• There are millions of donors with millions of different interests. There are
funders out there who care about your work (and your workforce) and
want to ensure that you can stay afloat until the immediate crisis starts to
recede.
• Connect with your previous donors and update them on what you are
doing to stay afloat and maintain staffing continuity.
• Seek out potential donors who are giving unrestricted support – funds that
you can use in any way you wish, in order to stay afloat.
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5. Write about continuity.
• If maintaining consistent levels of staffing matters for your
organization and will save you money in the long run, write about
that.
• If you operate a physical facility, and keeping that facility in good
working order even while there are few (if any) people in the building
will save you money in the long run, write about that.
• Position your request as a way to make sure you can “hit the ground
running” once pandemic restrictions start to lift.
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6. How are you still of service?
• Are there things your organization is doing to maintain its operations
and serve the community even during this crisis?
• Use your proposal to highlight your agility and commitment to your
mission.
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7. Data matters; stories stick.
• Data matters: include compelling data that is relevant to your
community and mission.
• Stories stick: People remember stories, and they donate more when
they hear stories about individuals. Stories are “sticky” – they stick in
the mind of the reader.
• If you have stories about individuals or families that have been impacted by
your work, include those stories in your grant proposals now, when some
funders are overwhelmed by requests.
• If you don’t have those stories, try to gather them (interviewing stakeholders
and gathering stories could be a great task for staff who have a lighter work
load right now, or for board members!).
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8. Use this time as an opportunity to connect.
• Connect with your volunteers. Connect with your board members.
Connect with your social media followers and people on your email or
mail lists. These are the people who can share your stories with their
networks. And that can lead to greater support from unexpected
sources.
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9. Do you need more great fundraising ideas?
Visit pitchconsulting.com for:
Blog posts with more tips and resources
A free guide to 20 Things to Never Write in a Grant Proposal
Grant Writing Quick Tips – the last grant writing resource you’ll ever need
Small & Mighty – a special membership program for small(er) nonprofits
Sign up for PITCH’s monthly newsletter – fundraising tips with a dash of humor!
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