Are You Ready to Hire a Grant Writer? Questions Grant Writers Ask Before Working with Nonprofits Carrington Consulting www.JonathonCarrington.com

Grant writers will ask you several questions...

...and it is important to be as honest and candid as you possibly can.

Do you have a recently developed strategic plan?

Do you have a fundraising plan?

Do you have a volunteer or paid person who can devote at least 3 hours a day to fundraising?

Have you updated the organization's mission and vision statement in the past year?

If your staff and board were asked to state your organization's vision and mission statement, would their statements match?

Does everyone on your Board of Directors help raise funds for your organization?

Is everyone on your staff and board sincerely committed and enthusiastic about your organization's programs and services?

Can you or someone in your organization list the key markets for your services?

Do you have a board-approved annual operating budget for the most recently completed year?

Do you have copies of your most recently completed 990 form, audited financial statements, balance sheets, statements of cash flow, or other certified financial statements?

Do you have revenue/income streams from other sources to maintain normal business practices while grant application statuses are pending?

Do you have resources earmarked for fundraising?

Do you have funds in your organizational budget for training?

Do you have resources in place to hire consultants?

Does your organization have a system of capturing data when receiving contributed funds?

Do you have collaborative relations with other nonprofits in the community?

Do you have strong relationships with corporate leaders in the community?

Do you or someone in your organization keep regular contact with the media about your organization and its events?

Is your office technology up-to-date?

Over the course of three years, has your organization received any honors or awards from outside agencies, from funders, professional associations, or government agencies?

Do you have any evidence of letters, certificates, or awards of appreciation for your service in the community?

Do you document or track evidence that your programs are making a difference in your target community?

Has your organization developed brochures, newsletters, annual reports, press releases, or a case statement?

If you have answered NO to 2 or more of these questions, then you are NOT ready to hire a grant writer.

It is difficult to raise funds without a solid foundation in place.

Need help with building your foundation? Carrington Consulting offers a free client grant readiness assessment to determine what your priorities and needs for your organization. E-mail us @ Jonathon@JonathonCarrington.com Visit our website @ www.JonathonCarrington.com