When is a Non-Profit Ready to Apply for Grants?

Many assume that once a non-profit receives 501c3 status, then it they can automatically start applying for grants.  While this is technically true, here are some questions to consider in determining if you are ready to apply for grants.

💰What exactly do you need funding for?  If you’ve not thought about this, figure out what service you need funding for and how much.  Randomly going after grants and hoping to get something will waste a lot of your time.

💰Do you already have a source of funding?  Grantors do not want to be your only source of funding.  They want to see that you have funding from donors and services so that you will be able to sustain once the grant is over.

💰How long have you been in operation?  Your non-profit should be in operation for at least a few years to show the grantor you have stability and staying power.

💰Do you have time allocated to complete grant applications?  Even if you have a grant writer, you need to allocate time for grant application completion.  Depending on what type of grant you are applying for, this step can take a substantial amount of time.

So before diving into grant applications, be sure to ask yourself these questions!