How often do we find ourselves feeling more than a touch of envy when we hear of another charity – much like our own – winning a grant? Followed by the strong desire to learn exactly how or why they won it?
First things first. There are some tangible reasons that a grant is awarded. A prior relationship with the funder. A well-written/well-presented grant application. Excellent timing. The right match with the funder’s priorities.
But go beyond these things and you will find that, in many cases, the grant was awarded because the charity presented a set of intangible reasons that helped convince the foundation staff and board to make the commitment. Over the years, I have been fortunate to have served as counsel to more than 125 grant-winning organizations and I think there are some common traits you’ll find among them.