PhilanTech

PhilanTech and GrantStation are pleased to announce the release of the State of Grantseeking Spring 2012 Report.

Ongoing declines in government and other funding and the resulting decreases in fundraising staff and resources continue to challenge grantseekers.  The 812 survey respondents indicated that the size and number of grants awarded are not keeping pace with the increased demands for their services.

Other findings from the survey included:

• Most organizations applied for the same number or more grants, and increased efforts resulted in more grants for 31% of respondents, an improvement of 5% since the last survey.
• The average size of grants increased from the same period last year.
• Larger organizations struggled more with economic conditions, whereas smaller organizations continue to struggle more with the mechanics of grantseeking.
• Despite ongoing reductions in government grants and increased competition for all types of grants, 78% of respondents felt optimistic that their grant funding would increase or continue at the same level for the next six months.  This represents a slight decrease in optimistic responses since the Fall 2011 survey.

The survey was open in February and March 2012.  While nonprofit organizations of all sizes responded to the survey, the majority could be considered small to mid-sized organizations:

• 43% had one to five staff members.
• Over half (63%) had budgets under $1,000,000.

The next State of Grantseeking survey will be conducted starting in August 2012.

PhilanTech and GrantStation are pleased to announce the release of the State of Grantseeking Fall 2011 Report.

Grantseeking activities seem to be stagnating as nonprofits try to find new sources of funding to replace reduced government and other funds.  The 928 survey respondents indicated that while they were still actively searching for grant funds, the state of the economy and increased competition for fewer grant dollars presented challenges.

Other findings from the survey included:

• A majority of organizations applied for more grants, but increased efforts only resulted in more grant funds for 26% of respondents;
• The average size of grants decreased from the same period last year;
• Economic and organizational conditions present the greatest challenges to nonprofits’ grantseeking efforts.  Researching and finding grants was cited as the greatest challenge by 31% of nonprofits, while competition for a reduced amount of funding dollars was the greatest challenge for 23% of nonprofits;
• And yet 81% of nonprofits think their grant funding will be consistent or better in the next 6 months.

The survey was open from August 18, 2011 until October 2, 2011, and received 928 complete responses.  While nonprofit organizations of all sizes responded to the survey, the majority could be considered small to mid-sized organizations:

• One third (33%) had one to five staff members; and,
• Over half (60%) had budgets under $1,000,000.

The next State of Grantseeking survey will be conducted starting in January 2012.

Download the full State of Grantseeking Report.

It’s 97 degrees in DC right now.  The heat index is over 100.  In addition to making me appreciate air conditioning and wish that I had a swimming pool, days like this make me think about how best to expend energy.  Doing anything outside causes me to think about the most efficient ways to accomplish what I need to accomplish.  At the risk of sounding lazy (I’ll blame it on being Canadian and generally disliking temperatures over 80 degrees), I think there are some good lessons for nonprofits seeking grants.

• Conserve energy by doing homework first. Before writing a letter of inquiry or a full proposal to a foundation, do some homework.  Use the foundation's website, the Foundation Center, and/or GrantStation to find out about its programs, its grantmaking priorities, and what types of organizations and programs it has funded in the past.  If the foundation's priorities and grantmaking history don’t relate to your organization or program, submitting a proposal (even an LOI) is not going to be a good use of your energy.  There are other funders out there that may have more of an interest in what you do.  Find them before expending energy on low-likelihood grant pursuits.
• Stay cool. When talking to a prospective funder, whether on the phone, in a written inquiry, or in a proposal, stay cool and present your case, ensuring that you're taking the foundation's perspective into account.  If things don't go the way you want them to (if the program officer tells you that your program doesn't fit the bill, or if your proposal is declined), stay cool and try another avenue.  Doing your research ahead of time, and focusing your energy on the prospective funders that are the best match for your organization or program will also help on this front.

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/matchity/27049516/