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Hi, friend! 👋

A long, long time ago (about 10 years)... In a galaxy far, far away (a place called New Jersey)...

I was in grad school and interning at the New Jersey Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. I was charged with finding grant funding for some needed software and was teamed me up with an NASW member who worked as a grants consultant.

One of the things that she introduced me to has become a staple of my grants system and should be the main component of yours.

She called it the "grant packet" but I've also heard it called a "grant template" or even a "boilerplate grant."

A grant packet (I've stuck with that name) is essentially a collection of pre-written blocks of text and messaging that you can use as a starting point when drafting grant proposals. It contains commonly requested sections that you can easily customize for each application.

Here's why you need a grant packet:

• It saves you time - This is one of the primary challenges nonprofit professionals have when it comes to grants: not having enough time. By having pre-written sections that you just need to customize instead of starting from scratch, you'll save yourself hours.
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• It provides consistency - Having the same starting point for each grant helps ensure clarity, alignment, and quality across all your proposals. This becomes really important as you write more and more grants and have more people involved in the process.
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• It reduces stress - Imagine sitting down to write a proposal and not having to wrack your brain about where to start and worrying about what to say. Most of the time, the hardest part is just getting started. A grant packet takes the guesswork and anxiety out of it all.
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• It strengthens your proposal - Were you awarded a grant? That means the content of your proposal must have been pretty good. So why not use it again and draw from language that you know has been successful?
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• It allows for customization - Not every grant proposal is the same. But the beauty of the grant packet is that it's a starting point on which you can build, customizing what's needed to appeal to each unique funder and opportunity.
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• It's a great training tool - Are you bringing in someone to help you write grants? A grant packet is a great tool to help them get started. Are you new to the field of grants? Hiring someone to help you create a grant packet is one of the best investments you can make because you can then take it from there.

If you don't already have one, it's time to put a grant packet together.
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To get started, dig back through old successful proposals you've written and identify sections to reuse. Make a list of commonly asked questions (check out the examples below👇) and answer them with the content you've identified or draft new content as needed. Keep this editable packet in one document and store it in a folder you can easily access. To maintain it, set a reminder to go through and update it every quarter or 6 months.

Here are some examples of common sections for your grant packet:

• Organizational Background - A high-level overview of your nonprofit, history, mission, programs, target population, and accomplishments. This remains mostly consistent across proposals.
• Problem Statement/Needs Assessment - Data on the specific issue your nonprofit addresses and why this project is needed to impact it.
• Goals and Objectives - Broad goals of the proposed project and specific, measurable objectives you aim to meet.
• Project Description/Methods - Detailed description of the project, key activities, timelines, partners, and methods you will implement.
• Evaluation Plan - How you will measure progress, collect data, and evaluate success.
• Dissemination Plan - How you will share results and lessons learned, both during and after the grant period.
• Budget and Narrative - Financial expenses for staffing, supplies, travel, etc. and justification.
• Sustainability Plan - How the project will continue to have impact after the grant funding ends.
• Key Personnel and Bios - Names, roles, and bios of staff integral to the project.

The grant packet is your #1 tool in your grant system. Having go-to language to work from makes the writing process infinitely less intimidating, saves you time and energy, and makes your proposals stronger!

If the thought of putting a grant packet together scares you or you feel you don't have the time needed to invest in creating it, don't worry. Just reply to this email and we can set up a call to talk about your needs and how I can help.

Kind regards,

Brandon Green, LMSW, GPC
www.brandongreenconsulting.com
bgreen@brandongreenconsulting.com

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Whenever you're ready, here are some other ways I might be able to help you:

• Grant reviewing: Want another set of eyes on your proposal? Send it my way and I'll give you feedback and coaching on how to improve your chance of being awarded.
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• Picking my brain: Have a burning grants question or situation you need some help thinking through? Schedule a 30-minute call and let's chat about it!
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• Coaching: Need more than 30 minutes? Want help building a grants system or working through a specific proposal? Reach out and let's see if one-on-one coaching might be a good fit for you.
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• Online courses: I'm working on a course focused on everything prospecting and I can't wait to share it with you! Stay tuned.

If you'd like to take advantage of any of these, just send me an email asking for more information.