- 1). Apply for 501c3 status through the federal government. This is a tax-exempt status for nonprofit organizations and it is required for many grants. This status will also give a tax benefit to private individuals or businesses that want to donate money or goods to your organization.
- 2). Find suitable grants. You can search government grants at Grants.gov, a website in the Resources section. Many private grants also are available from organizations like the Bill Gates Foundation and other major corporations. Many websites and books list these grants. Read each of the grant's eligibility requirements to make sure that your organization fits the requirements.
- 3). Fill out an application. Some grants can be applied for online while others will need to be prepared on paper and mailed in. Complete the application thoroughly, being careful to provide all requested information. These applications are very competitive and incomplete applications are usually discarded or returned.
- 4). Prepare a proposal. As part of the application process, you will probably be asked to submit a proposal. This will include a mission statement for your organization, the problem or need that your organization is trying to address, a plan for how your organization will address the problem, other funding sources and a budget. Grant-writing books can help you prepare a professional proposal or you can hire a professional grant writer to help you.
- 5). Submit your package. Submit the completed application and your proposal along with any other requested support documents by the date deadline for your grant. Once the application is submitted, it can take a long time to hear back whether your grant was approved or denied. There will be many applications for them to process. Be patient and hopefully you will get a letter of funding. If not, you are eligible to apply again next year.
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