In order to assist local league volunteers with the process of requesting grants, Little League has created these “Grant Writing Tips” to assist the grant-writing process. Careful planning and writing can greatly improve your chances of being selected to receive a grant. Please take a few minutes and read through the provided tips, and when in doubt contact the grant provider.
Grant Writing Tips
- Carefully read all guidelines/requirements to make sure your league qualifies for a specific grant.
- Pay close attention to application deadlines or application periods and start as early as possible.
- Understand geographic restrictions of the grant you are applying for.
- Be prepared with appropriate documents of your nonprofit paperwork (e.g. tax exempt status and number).
- Make sure to provide whatever information or documents are asked for. This could include financial reports, pictures, project quotes, other contributors, etc.
- If you are requesting funds for a large capital project, include details of any fundraising you have done already.
- Be sure to maintain a copy of all financial records associated with the grant funds received that are to be curated by the league Treasurer.
- Assure that these documents are transferred whenever a new person assumes the Treasurer position and/or there is a change in league leadership.
- Pay attention to the time frames in which the project(s) needs to be completed.
- Have a clear understanding of what your league was approved to use the grant funds for.
- For example, you may receive funds that are to be directed toward a specific part of a larger project. Be sure to understand parameters and follow them exactly.
- Keep records of your progress and expenditures and follow all reporting guidelines.
- Some grants are “Invitation Only” but a letter of initiative may be accepted to be considered.
- Read all post-grant requirements to be sure you can perform them. Ex. Impact reporting, site visit, grant reports, photographs, receipt tracking, etc.
- Do your best to stand out and tell a story when writing your application. Be concise, specific, and focus on the solution instead of just the problem.
- When appropriate, target a specific project you would like to achieve when filling out your application.
- Share other fundraising efforts your league has engaged in and why you have come up short thus far.
- Attend grant workshops hosted by the company/foundation offering the grant when possible.
- Don’t hesitate to contact the grant organization and ask any questions.
- Make note of when the grant money would be presented if you were awarded a grant.
- Consider having a non-affiliated person read through the application before submission. This will help ensure that you are clearly describing the organization, not using any vernacular that is unique to internal groups and that the application represents the needs of the organization.
- Make sure your responses clearly answer the questions or application requirements.