How do you assess your grant readiness and capacity for future opportunities?

1 Identify your goals and needs

The first step is to identify your goals and needs as an organization. What are the problems or issues that you want to address with your programs or projects? What are the outcomes or impacts that you want to achieve? How do you measure your success and progress? Having clear and realistic goals and needs will help you align your grant-seeking strategy with your mission and vision.

2 Research potential funders

The second step is to research potential funders that match your goals and needs. You can use online databases, websites, newsletters, or networks to find grant opportunities that are relevant to your field, location, population, or focus area. You should also learn about the funders' priorities, requirements, deadlines, and expectations. This will help you narrow down your list of prospects and tailor your proposals accordingly.

3 Assess your resources and capabilities

The third step is to assess your resources and capabilities as an organization. How much staff, time, money, and equipment do you have to implement and manage your programs or projects? How much experience and expertise do you have in grant writing, budgeting, reporting, and evaluation? How strong are your partnerships and collaborations with other stakeholders? How well do you communicate and engage with your target audience and beneficiaries? Assessing your resources and capabilities will help you determine your strengths and weaknesses and identify areas for improvement.

4 Develop a grant sustainability plan

The fourth step is to develop a grant sustainability plan for your programs or projects. A grant sustainability plan is a document that outlines how you will continue or expand your programs or projects after the grant period ends. It includes strategies for generating income, diversifying funding sources, maintaining quality, and demonstrating impact. A grant sustainability plan will help you show funders that you have a long-term vision and commitment to your programs or projects.

5 Review your policies and procedures

The fifth step is to review your policies and procedures as an organization. Policies and procedures are the rules and guidelines that govern your operations, governance, finance, human resources, and ethics. They help you ensure compliance, accountability, transparency, and efficiency in your organization. You should review your policies and procedures regularly and update them as needed. You should also make sure that they are consistent with the funders' expectations and standards.

6 Seek feedback and support

The sixth and final step is to seek feedback and support from others. Feedback and support can come from your staff, board, partners, peers, mentors, consultants, or funders. They can help you improve your grant readiness and capacity by providing insights, advice, suggestions, or resources. You should seek feedback and support throughout the grant-seeking process, from planning to implementation to evaluation. You should also be open to learning from your successes and failures.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?