Comments on: How Much Should You Request in Your Grant Proposal? How Much Do You Need?!

By: Jacquie Woodward

Jacquie Woodward — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 16:11:43 +0000

Thank you all for these detailed and intuitive comments. These insights are essential to me, a volunteer grant writer, as I sincerely seek relationship building and honest communication in financially underwriting the essential community programs of our organization (a small rural YMCA). I appreciate you taking the time to “teach”.

By: What’s the One Secret to Winning Foundation Grants?

What’s the One Secret to Winning Foundation Grants? — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 11:32:56 +0000

[...] Study the foundation’s giving histories, preferably for the past three years. Note the range of grants – and tailor your request accordingly. Is this your first request? Come in on the low end. [...]

By: Pamela Grow

Pamela Grow — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:29:41 +0000

I wondered about that as well. It is entirely possible that the missing piece might be attributed to employee turnover.

Thank you for your insight.

By: Richard Marker

Richard Marker — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 09:14:01 +0000

I too am on the side of the funders [I used to be CEO of a substantial foundation and now teach funders and grantmakers]. But I am a bit puzzled by Ms. Harnisch’ reply. If there has indeed been a history of several grants, there seems to have a missing piece in this story. I would have assumed that a conversation would have been appropriate prior to submitting this proposal. If there hadn’t been enough of a relationship to have talked about next steps prior to submitting a proposal, then something was amiss. Seekers shouldn’t be in the position of playing guessing games, and funders shouldn’t be put in the position of being surprised. If the scope and nature of the request is at odds with the conversation, then Ms.Harnisch’ reply is absolutely appropriate. But it should never have come to that.

One more thought: funders also have a responsibility to help an organization present honest needs. It is long term unhelpful to encourage low ball requests if the real needs are greater. The key is that there should be some credibility to the budget which leads to that request, not a sense that “we hope for $5000 so we will ask for $10000.”

Bottom line: the grant proposal is not the same as entitlement, but, especially where there has been some history, it should never be a surprise. And that relationship should allow a funder to fully understand the real needs of a potential grantee prior to receiving a request.

By: Ruth Ann Harnisch

Ruth Ann Harnisch — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:42:13 +0000

I appreciate Pamela’s advice to ask for the lower amount.
People who say “it doesn’t hurt to ask” simply don’t understand that it can indeed hurt to ask.
Your unrealistic request can signal to a grantmaker that you are not smart about money or relationships.
When we get a grant request for a large amount when we don’t already have an established grantmaking pertnership, we question the grantseeker’s judgment.
We sometimes ask how grantseekers decided upon the size of their ask, and when they say “we saw you gave X to ____,” we find that incomprehensible.
How can you possibly know what factors went into that decision? How can you assume your relationship with us merits a similar figure?
With us, and with many other foundations, you are FAR better off to lowball. Make it easy for us to say yes. Exceed our expectations. Be a good investment. Report back to us. And then ASK us what would be a good ballpark figure for the next request.
We’re struggling right now with a request that is five times the size of the previous grant. We would have been pleased to double last year’s grant, but our Grants Manager described this request as “a gut punch.”
When we asked “what factors went into this huge leap?” the answer was, “you ‘get’ us, you like us, and we saw what you gave to others.”
Well, we DO like them. We DO get them. But this outrageous request reduced our affection level considerably.
Whatever we end up giving, we will feel less than generous because they asked for so much. There’s no “feel good” for us here. There’s only “feel bad, feel cheap, feel as if there’s no understanding in the relationship.”
No matter how professional the process of grantmaking may be, emotions arise.
Be careful when you overreach and overask – you may trigger resentment. You may lead grantmakers to believe you don’t know the proverbial value of a dollar.
And you may poison the relationship beyond repair.

By: Sandra Sims

Sandra Sims — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:03:24 +0000

I am curious about the ABC Foundation example above, why the nonprofit would be advised to go in at such a low amount. If it\’s a first time request you don\’t want to ask for the maximum, as there is not a strong relationship there yet. However, if the foundation\’s giving history shows general operating grants in the $1,000-25,000 range, as long as the amount requested can be justified with the nonprofit\’s needs analysis and case for support it would seem that somewhere in the middle would be more appropriate.

I would rather ask for 10,000 and end up get 5,000 instead of lowballing them at 2500 or 1000. In the business world of negotiations, the old adage is that the person who says a number first loses. (Especially if that offer is too low!)

By: Twitted by PamelaGrow

Twitted by PamelaGrow — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 01:58:28 +0000

[...] This post was Twitted by PamelaGrow [...]

By: Twitter Trackbacks for How Much Should You Request in Your Grant Proposal? How Much Do You Need?! | Pamela's Grantwriting Blog [pamelasgrantwritingblog.com] on Topsy.com

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:55:12 +0000

[...] How Much Should You Request in Your Grant Proposal? How Much Do You Need?! | Pamela’s Grantwriting B… http://www.pamelasgrantwritingblog.com/2009/08/how-much-should-you-request-in-your-grant-proposal-how-much-do-you-need – view page – cached One of the most common questions I’m asked is “How do you know how much to request when drafting a foundation grant proposal?” Well, how much do you — From the page [...]

By: Thedailyreviewer

Thedailyreviewer — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 09:32:42 +0000

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