Being awarded a grant can be a challenging task. You must research your grant sources well, fill out all required forms to perfection, and provide all of the requested information without overwhelming the granting foundation with volumes of material. If possible, you will want to look at other submissions that have won grants in the past to get an idea of what sorts of projects and approaches have been successful.
Instructions
1. Examine carefully the guidelines for the grant you are seeking and see if it matches up with your program at the museum. Foundations that make grants have specific rules for how they grant funds. Sometimes it doesn't matter how unique or beneficial your project is. If it does not fall within the purview of their grant, you will be rejected. Many foundations are set up as trusts and have little flexibility to work outside of preset internal rules. Go to sites such as Guidestar or the Foundation Center, where you can find detailed information on granting sources, links to foundations' websites, IRS 990 forms for nonprofit foundations (which will show previous grantees and amounts), guidelines and more. The better you craft your grant proposal to fit the foundation's profile, the better your chances of winning the grant.
2. Prepare the application with the utmost care. Some foundations receive so many requests for grants that the first step is to reject all applications that do not adhere to the application rules. Give the granting organization what it is looking for in the exact format it wants. Be sure your cover letter is clear and concise. Reviewers will be looking over a lot of applications and don't want to read a long account when a short one will do. For the same reason, use fonts that are clearly readable and not too small; you don't want the reviewers to have to struggle to read your application. Contact the granters if you have questions, unless instructed not to, and contact them early. They are usually happy to help, and it's better to resolve questions as soon as possible, so as to avoid a last-minute rush. Maintain a cheerful and positive tone in all communications, and write your proposal with confidence but not arrogance. Submit all materials on time and in full. This is vital. Make sure you check whether the deadline is referring to postmark date or arrival date--unless it is a rolling deadline.
3. When you get the good news that you have received the grant, immediately write a thank-you letter. If the granters have requested further information or materials, gather them and submit them within the time frame specified. If you do not receive the grant, contact the granters and try to speak to a program officer, who may be able to give you information about why the request failed. (Sometimes, though, they will be prohibited from discussing applications.) Again, maintain a positive and professional demeanor at all times, and thank them for their help, as they are helping you craft your next application.
