While applying for a grant is an exciting process, you want to make sure that you know what you need before you start. Otherwise, you might find yourself running all around your office scrambling to find documents — and no one needs that kind of stress.
Read our complete guide to business grantsFor business owners who haven’t yet settled on a grant, you can start by researching and finding a grant that fits your business. You want to find a grant that aligns with your business goals and vision, giving you a higher chance of winning the grant.
If you’re stumped on where to start your search, the Fundid grants marketplace is an excellent place to begin. You can narrow down your search by using filters such as government grants, state grants, or even grants specifically for women of color.
However, the question remains, what do you need to apply for a grant? So let’s dive right in and find out.
Before compiling all the documents needed for a grant application, you need to know about the documents required to complete it. Your grant application should answer questions like:
Here is a basic grant application outline to follow when preparing to apply for a grant:
Depending on your company, each business plan will vary. However, most business plans include these components:
What should your budget include? While each business is unique, a basic grant proposal budget should have the following sections:
Be sure to include a document in this section about your audited financials, as your prospective funder will want to see this information as well.
If you’re not sure what to include, we recommend submitting these five financial statements and documents:
In this section, shine a light on what makes your business unique. Outline your business history and how you got your start. Aim to answer these questions in this section of your proposal:
How was your business founded?
What is the mission of your business/company?
Where do you see your business going in the future?
What does your business bring to the market that doesn’t already exist?
How will the grant help you fill the space in the industry?
Blow the readers away with your story and show off how passionate you are about your mission. You want to appeal to their emotions in this section and connect to the funder’s mission too.
After outlining your vision and describing the goals you have for your business, it’s time to tell the funder how you plan to achieve them. You can pull details about personnel, equipment, and other items from your budget to outline how each of these items will help you succeed as a business and accomplish your mission.
Share information about methods and strategies you have in place now that are helping your business. You can also explain how you will apply these methods if you receive the grant.
Feel free to provide examples of how the methods described applied to previous projects you took on. Clear explanations will give your potential funder an idea of your work ethic and past accomplishments.
Although this is often the last piece you write, the cover letter is arguably the most crucial part of your grant application. While the rest of the information in your proposal could be top-tier, an ill-prepared cover letter could turn potential funders away.
Think of your cover letter as a formal introduction to your business. When you meet someone for the first time, introductions are usually short and sweet, and you leave the interaction with a decent idea of who they are and what they do. Your cover letter should be the same.
Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind when structuring your letter:
Keep it simple: Your cover letter should only be about one page long, ranging from three to four paragraphs. Make it brief, and don’t be afraid to get to the point after your opening.
Address the Funder: Directly address the founder by their name. Greet them with “Dear” followed by their title (Mr., Mrs, Ms., Dr., or Miss) followed by their last name. You don’t want to get this wrong, so call ahead to the foundation to make sure that the person you’re addressing in your letter is correct.
Hit the Key Points: Introduce yourself and the name of your company. Explain why your business needs the grant, your mission and vision, and the budget you’re requesting. Include at least one statistic to emphasize the need for your business.
Include Business Structure: Incorporate two to three sentences that briefly cover your business structure and when it was founded.
Explain Your Organization's Goals: Next, state the goals and purpose of your organization and how it aligns with the funder’s goals and missions.
End on a Positive Note: End your letter with a paragraph that summarizes what this grant will mean for the future of your business, and use a friendly closing remark such as “Sincerely” or another closing statement that sounds thankful and hopeful.
Once you’ve compiled and submitted all the documents needed for your grant application, all that’s left is to wait patiently. While the funder will generally notify you about the rejection or approval of your grant application, it’s best to wait between three to six months before following up.
While you can always flesh out your grant application outline with more information, starting with these sections will give you a strong foundation when applying for multiple grants. If you’re really at a loss for what to include, don’t hesitate to reach out to the grant organization to get some clarity.