From Proposal to Partnership: Writing Grants That Advance Both Your Goals and the Goals of Your Funders
The following information on grant writing is excerpted from the Berklee Online course Grant Writing: Funding Your Creative and Teaching Projects, written by Roya Hu, and currently enrolling.
Individuals and organizations raise money for a wide variety of purposes. Whether you’re an educator, artist, entrepreneur, or scholar looking to fund an independent, creative, or research project, grants can be powerful tools for solving problems.
For educators, grants can support classroom innovation, professional development, curriculum enhancements, or research projects—whether it’s funding for new technology, anti-bullying programs, field trips, or arts integration in schools. Artists can use grants to finance creative projects, residencies, or the production of new work, allowing them to focus on their craft without financial strain. From recording, mixing, and mastering an album to producing a documentary or launching a community theater program, grants provide artists with resources to bring their visions to life. Entrepreneurs, especially those in social enterprises or creative industries, can secure grants to develop prototypes, purchase specialized equipment or software, scale sustainable businesses, or fund research and development for innovative solutions.
Grant funding can open doors that might otherwise stay closed. Here are some tips to help you get started with the grant-funding process.
What Is a Grant?
In short, grants are non-repayable funds awarded for a specific purpose. Unlike loans—which must be repaid, often with interest, over a set period—grants are essentially free money awarded for a specific purpose. However, grants require a detailed proposal outlining the project, expected impact, and budget, among other things, and are typically awarded based on merit, need, or alignment with a funder’s mission. They are most often disbursed by governments, foundations, corporations, or individuals. The federal government and state and local governments give grants (often in the form of contracts) that generally require paperwork, audits, and accountability. Private foundations and corporations give grants. Individuals give grants, usually through a fund or a trust set up for that purpose and administered by a bank or foundation.
At its essence, a grant is an exchange. It’s a partnership that is mutually beneficial between the funder or grantor (one giving funds) and the grantee (one receiving the funds). Both parties get something out of the deal. While the grantee receives funds to pursue a project, the grantor’s agenda, mission, or goodwill is promoted through that exchange.
To be successful in grant writing or fundraising, you must effectively articulate your vision and the impact of your work in a way that compels the reader or funder to invest in your project. The goal is to present it as a mutually beneficial exchange—one that aligns with the funder’s values and mission while advancing your work in meaningful ways. Funders are essentially investing in work they cannot accomplish on their own, supporting initiatives that complement their goals.
Why Do You Need Funding?
Writing a successful grant proposal is more than just filling out an application or completing some forms—it’s about telling a compelling story that aligns your needs with the priorities of potential funders. Understanding the purpose behind your funding request and the impact it will have is the foundation of a strong proposal. Before you begin the grant writing process, it’s essential to take a step back and evaluate who you are, what you want to do, why you need funding, the amount of funding required, and which funders align best with your goals.
Key Questions to Ask Before You Apply
As we begin the process of grant writing, it’s important to take a moment to reflect on some questions before you decide to invest the time and energy it takes to find the right funder and write your grant proposal. For example:
- Are you applying as an individual for a personal project that needs funding or on behalf of an organization (whether it’s a school district, a nonprofit, or your business)?
- Are you looking for seed money to pilot a new program or initiative? Or, do you need sustaining funds to maintain or continue an existing program?
- Are you looking for funds to cover operational expenses related to a project, like covering stipends, supplies, training, or travel? Or, are you looking for funds to cover capital expenses, such as the acquisition, construction, renovation, or improvement of physical assets such as buildings, equipment, and infrastructure?
Every time an individual (or an organization) identifies a need or gap in services that isn’t covered by a budget, that person should be thinking about programs and grants to address the problem. Whether your funding needs may range from a few hundred or thousands to many millions of dollars, it’s important to find the right funder whose goals align with your project’s goals to help you solve the problem at hand.
Primary Benefits of Grants
The primary benefits of grants can be slotted into a few main categories:
- Growth opportunities: With the right grant, you or your organization can pilot new programs, expand existing ones, or enter new areas of service. This ability to grow and adapt is essential in a world where your needs or the needs of the communities you serve are constantly evolving.
- Credibility and trust: Securing a grant, particularly from a well-known funder, can significantly enhance your credibility, as well as that of your organization. It signals to other potential funders that you are trustworthy, capable, and aligned with larger goals.
- Diversification of income: Grants allow individuals and organizations to diversify their income streams, reducing dependence on any single source of revenue.
While grant funding stands out as a powerful option, it often comes with specific conditions, reporting requirements, and a clear expectation of impact. This means that, while grants can be a lifeline, they also require accountability, transparency, and strategic planning. It’s imperative to deliver on the promises you made in your grant proposal. In essence, when you receive a grant, you’re entering into a partnership or exchange with the funder; one that’s built on mutual trust and a shared vision for change.
Test Your Grant Funding Knowledge
Below are seven short descriptions or examples related to grants. For each one, use the dropdown to select the category it best fits: Growth Opportunities, Credibility and Trust, or Diversification of Income. Some descriptions might seem to overlap, but think carefully about which main benefit is being demonstrated.
Reframe How You Think About Asking for Funding
Asking for money can be intimidating at first and many of us have cultural hang-ups about it, or even discussing finances at all. The ability to ask for funding—whether for yourself or on behalf of an organization—is a skill that can be learned and improved. Just like children have no hesitation in asking for what they want, those seeking grant funding should approach the process with confidence and persistence. If a child is denied money, they often try again, rephrase their request (“I’ll only use it for books”), or offer an alternative (“What if I clean my room first?”). This natural resilience is something we can apply when seeking financial support for meaningful projects.
Our beliefs about money, including the discomfort around asking for it, are learned behaviors. In many cultures, discussing finances openly is common, yet many of us have been conditioned to view money as a private matter, making it difficult to request funding, even for important causes. However, securing grant funding is not just about personal gain—as we’ve already established (and will continue to emphasize), it’s about advocating for a project that creates impact and aligns with the funder’s mission.
Just as we evolve in our thinking about social issues, health, and education, we must also reassess our attitudes toward money and funding. Applying for grants requires us to shift from seeing money as something to avoid discussing to recognizing it as a tool that enables progress and innovation. By adopting a mindset that values strategic funding as a means to support important work, we can confidently and effectively advocate for the resources needed to bring our projects to life. It’s good to remember that grants are not a handout, but rather a hand-up. It’s a mutually beneficial exchange.
